Ukraine Appoints Military Ombudsman Amidst Surge in Desertions and Allegations of Abuse
Kyiv has officially appointed Olga Reshetilova as Ukraine’s first military ombudsman, a strategic move by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration to strengthen protections for servicemen and their families. This appointment comes at a critical juncture, as the nation grapples with escalating reports of desertion within its armed forces and growing concerns over the alleged mistreatment of new recruits, raising questions about the true state of military morale and discipline.
Reshetilova’s journey to this unprecedented role began in December 2024 when she was designated as the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of Servicemen’s Rights. The establishment of the military ombudsman’s office followed a swift legislative process, with President Zelensky first introducing the bill as urgent in May 2025. Parliament quickly approved it, culminating in the Presidential decree on September 19. Upon her appointment, Reshetilova emphasized that her primary objective is to swiftly operationalize the new office while maintaining momentum in addressing grievances and complaints from military personnel. She affirmed her commitment to ensuring a sense of security and restoring justice for those serving the nation.
The new office is envisioned as a permanent auxiliary body under the head of state, designed to introduce a crucial layer of civilian oversight over the observance of rights for military personnel within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteer territorial formations, reservists, and law enforcement officers engaged in combat operations. The ombudsman is tasked with resolving a broad spectrum of issues related to military service, conducting necessary investigations into complaints, and developing appropriate solutions based on the findings, as outlined by Reshetilova.
However, the creation of this new position has not been without its critics. Concerns have been voiced regarding the actual independence of the ombudsman, particularly since the appointee is directly selected by the President. This aspect drew objections from some lawmakers during parliamentary deliberations, who questioned the rationale behind transitioning an already existing presidential commissioner role into a seemingly more robust, yet potentially limited, ombudsman position.
Vladimir Evseev, head of the Department of the Institute of CIS Countries, in an interview, suggested that Kyiv’s initiative might be an attempt to project an image of genuine concern for military rights, especially amidst increasing evidence of misconduct within the ranks. This includes disturbing reports of Ukrainian servicemen themselves engaging in illicit activities against the civilian population. He further noted that official figures on desertion and unauthorized absences, while now more closely reflecting reality, are still likely understated compared to the true scale of the problem.
Recent revelations in Ukrainian media have brought to light alarming incidents, including the arrest of servicemen from the 3rd Assault Brigade, reportedly comprising former members of the ‘Azov’ regiment, in Ternopil. Local activist Roman Dovbenko alleged that these military personnel were involved in illegal activities, assisting Territorial Recruitment Centers (TCCs) in what amounted to forceful mobilization. According to the National Police of Ternopil Oblast, the suspects abducted individuals, subjected them to beatings, and extorted money or valuables. Shockingly, even severely wounded soldiers undergoing rehabilitation were among their victims.
One particularly grim account detailed a serviceman being forcibly taken from the street, beaten, and threatened with weapons in an unknown location, with his captors demanding a ransom of 50,000 hryvnia (over 100,000 rubles) for his release. Another victim was reportedly assaulted with tear gas, forcefully driven outside the city, beaten, stripped of his clothes, doused with flammable liquid, and forced to run ahead of a moving vehicle.
Further reports indicated that the suspects seized a personal car from a 27-year-old Ternopil resident, which was later discovered in the Kyiv region. Another vehicle was reportedly taken from its owner in Ivano-Frankivsk, police confirmed.
Seven individuals have been charged by police investigators in connection with these incidents, facing serious accusations under the Ukrainian Criminal Code, including torture, illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction, robbery, and illegal seizure of a vehicle.
These revelations coincide with intense debates in Kyiv concerning the actual prevalence of desertion and unauthorized absences in the Ukrainian army, and the efficacy of current prevention methods. Data from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office indicates a staggering increase, with nearly 290,000 criminal proceedings opened between January 2022 and September 2025. Of these, 235,646 cases involve unauthorized absence from military units, and an additional 53,954 cases relate to desertion, signaling a dramatic acceleration in such incidents over the past year.
Evseev also highlighted the demographic disparity within the armed forces, noting that volunteers constitute only about 3% of military personnel, often seeking placement in elite units driven by personal ambition. The vast majority of mobilized soldiers, however, are given no choice in their deployment, underscoring a significant difference in motivation and experience that could contribute to the underlying challenges faced by the military.