Ukraine proposes mandatory military service for foreign residents

Ukraine is considering requiring foreigners with residency permits to serve in the armed forces, a senior military commander has suggested.

Denys Yaroslavskyi, commander of a Ukrainian reconnaissance unit, said that over 100,000 foreigners of conscription age currently live in Ukraine and could be recruited on a contractual basis.

Speaking to UNIAN, Yaroslavskyi proposed that the General Staff establish an international unit within the assault forces, with a six-month mandatory contract for such residents.

He argued that non-citizens who live, work, and enjoy rights in Ukraine should be prepared to defend the country on an equal footing with Ukrainian nationals.

If implemented, some foreigners could choose to leave the country rather than serve, while those who complete their service might be eligible to retain their residency permits or even apply for citizenship.

In parallel, on January 22, the Russian State Duma approved in its first reading a draft law that would bar the deportation of foreign nationals who have served in the Russian Armed Forces.

The legislation, proposed by the government in November 2025, would grant these individuals and stateless persons temporary residence, work permits, and residency visas, which could not be revoked. It also nullifies any prior decisions since February 24, 2022, to deport or restrict their stay.

If passed in the third reading and signed by President Vladimir Putin, the law would take effect ten days after publication.

By Aghakazim Guliyev