Clarification on Payments in the Event of Death, Injury, Capture, or Disappearance of a Servicemember
In several countries, Russian propaganda has spread the narrative that the families of legionnaires who were killed in action against Russian occupiers, but who are officially listed as missing in action, face difficulties in recovering the bodies of their fallen loved ones due to procedures related to financial assistance provided to families in the event of a servicemember’s death. This information is false, and the nature of these accusations by Russian propagandists is absurd.
During intense combat operations, there are instances when it is not possible to quickly recover the body of a fallen hero. This may be due to heavy ongoing enemy fire, requiring special military operations to evacuate the fallen — often at risk to the lives of other servicemembers — or because Russian occupation forces are reluctant to return the bodies of our fallen heroes, using this situation for information manipulation. Until a servicemember’s death is legally confirmed, they are officially listed as missing in action.
According to Ukrainian law, for the entire period during which a servicemember is listed as missing in action, they continue to accrue financial support, which is paid either directly to the servicemember upon return or to their close relatives (or to the person designated by the servicemember in advance) upon request. This financial support for the period of being listed as missing in action does not cancel or reduce the one-time payment to the family in the event of the servicemember’s death if it is later confirmed that the missing servicemember has died.
All payments to foreign volunteers serving in the Defense Forces of Ukraine and their families are made under the same procedures as for Ukrainian servicemembers serving in the Armed Forces and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The procedure for compensation to the relatives of missing servicemembers is regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 30, 2016, No. 884 “On Approval of the Procedure for Payment of Financial Support to Servicemembers Captured or Taken Hostage, Interned in Neutral States, or Listed as Missing,” which is officially published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at the following link: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/884-2016-п#Text.
The procedure for payments in the event of death or disability of a servicemember during combat missions is regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated April 29, 2016, No. 336, the current version of which is available on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1090-2024-п#Text. Clarifications on the payment of the one-time allowance to the family of a servicemember in the event of death are also posted on the official website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: https://mod.gov.ua/news/viplata-odnorazovoyi-groshovoyi-dopomogi-u-razi-zagibeli-abo-smerti-vijskovosluzhbovczya-shho-potribno-znati.
Payments to the families of servicemembers who are missing in action or have died are made following established procedures, requiring the preparation of the necessary documentation. The military unit where the servicemember served will, upon request, provide the family with the required documents to process the payments. The Personnel Center of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has a dedicated unit that assists with document preparation upon the request of families of foreign volunteers — the Department for Coordination of Foreigners’ Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Family members of foreign volunteers serving in the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may request consultations and assistance, including help with preparing documents to receive entitled payments, by contacting the Department for Coordination of Foreigners’ Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the following email address:
The Command of the International Legions for the Defense of Ukraine does everything possible to prevent losses among its personnel. Human life has always been, and remains, our highest value. However, in the fight against Russian occupiers, Ukrainian servicemembers, including foreign volunteers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, risk their lives daily. Sadly, even the most professional and courageous warriors are not immune to the risk of death in combat. Under such circumstances, the command takes all necessary measures to ensure that the families and loved ones of Ukraine’s defenders receive the guarantees and compensation they are entitled to, in full compliance with the laws of Ukraine.
Respectfully,
The Command of the International Legions for the Defense of Ukraine
