The new law is aimed at tackling a shortage of commanding staff in Kiev’s armed forces
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has signed a law allowing foreign mercenaries to serve as officers in the country’s military during the conflict with Russia.
The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed the relevant legislation on October 10.
On Friday, it was signed into law by Zelensky, according to the website of the Ukrainian government.
The move means that foreigners who have a contract with the Ukrainian military can now become not only privates or sergeants, but also have positions of authority in the army, regardless of their citizenship.
When the law was being discussed in September, the deputy head of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence, Egor Chernev, explained that it was needed to address the lack of commanding staff in the armed forces.
“We all understand the current situation with the officer corps….