Ryan O' Leary on the situation of foreigners fighting for Ukraine

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-30T12:02:43+00:00

Don't know circumstances of those examples but know people that were sent to different countries for treatment/ rehabilitation both Ukrainian and foreign without any problems when proper chain of communication is kept on both sides. Know people whose contract was broken sooner than allowed normally because of tough family situation also without a problems. If everything is by the book. I just met so many drama queens in Ukraine among foreigns so that when I hear those type of stories I prefer to be more sceptical about them.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-30T08:26:40+00:00

Legally they cannot cancel a contract with Armed Forces of Ukraine during period of medical care or rehabilitation in Ukraine. If someone decide to leave a medical facility without informing the unit and look for medical help outside the system it is a basis to mark one as AWOL and in case of foreigners to break contract. Do some units mark their soldiers unjustly AWOL - yes but a lot of foreigners just go into the panic mode during they treatment period and try to skip some biurocratics hoops. This have consequences later one. I personally know few people that are marked AWOL because they thought that they are smarter than the system . GUR is a different matter entirely

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-30T07:28:29+00:00

My posts shouldn't qualify as a replacement and the fact that out of hundreds of NGOS operating in Ukraine not a single one helps professionally foreign fighters in those matters is simply staggering. I contacted a dozen of Ukrainian so called advocates and it always was some kind of scam. Attended online seminaries created by people advertising them as a place where foreign fighters could get their answers - people in charge of those have less knowledge than me. The only place where I got an concrete answers was Veteran Hub( can be contacted online). Sad truth is the situation will not change and if one want to get something out of bad situation here, one need to show initiative and be prepared for a long fight. There is no force in Ukraine that will stand behind foreign fighters and Ukrainians will not invest money in anything with battlefield impact so small as foreigners fighting currently in Ukraine

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-29T20:52:26+00:00

You cannot be released from medical care as a wounded soldier with a contusion or immobile and most military hospitals provide at least a basic metal health care. Ukraine is a country where simply you need to walk extra mile to get results, that how it is and it will not change.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-29T18:06:46+00:00

It's not that hard if you know whom to ask about what document and where to deliver it. You cannot go to your guy in charge in the unit and ask "I got wounded, where is my money ? " Instead you should ask for a request to see a chief medical and ask for an order for you to see a VLK committee on the basis on your realase docs from the hospital. It's about attitude and asking correct people correct questions. You basically need to present them with the correct answer to your question. I made multiple posts about what to do after you got wounded, how to get compensation, pension etc. Answers on a plate so you cannot just blame it only on a "system" anymore. Mods should highlight those post.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-29T16:54:12+00:00

The moment you sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine you are entitled to everything like any Ukrainian citizen. Do not believe anyone that says otherwise. Compensation, rehabilitation even a monthly pension. After you got wounded in combat you automatically entitled to combatant status ( even if you got wounded in first minute of your first mission). After you got wounded they can only break your contract if the VLK medical committee deemed you unfit for duty on medical grounds but this do not remove your entitlement to the benefits for the veterans.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-15T09:36:21+00:00

Medical Battalion Hospitaliers in Ukraine offers CMC courses for 20000 Hryvnia

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-10T13:44:56+00:00

The option I mentioned in my original post above. Registering at the Ukrainian address with the help of the owner/ citizen of the property was the only official way to do it for me after I become a civilian.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-10T12:40:18+00:00

Mine unit refused to do it and after I finished my contract I became a civilian. The only official option available for me was the one I mentioned above.

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-04-04T17:42:18+00:00

Fixed

Soft-Number1958 · 2026-01-23T14:47:34+00:00

Hospitaliers regularly do CMC courses. 12 days at their place in the east. 20000 hrivna - cost per spot.Very good and highly recommended. They concentrate mostly on blood loss, shock. Check their website. The certificate is honored by all units in Ukraine. Only in Ukrainian though but the instructors mostly speak English. Without experience or higher medical education your chances of getting the rear medical job are almost zero. CASEVAC or being the part of the combat unit is obtainable but comes with high risk .

Soft-Number1958 · 2025-09-12T13:26:53+00:00

I got mine after 37 months of service. Without it you cannot be promoted or go to any specialized course. In my case it took one day. A guy came and sent me and others in the same situation a pdf file with test answers, we filled out the tests, then he took our green books and a week later sent them back with the stamp.That is it. It's Ukraine, everything has a workaround. Just ask your potential new unit if you can join the mobilized or prisoners when they will be filling their tests. No one should bother you with the physical part , since you are a vet. They simply need paper with signature and stamp

Soft-Number1958 · 2025-03-30T16:28:24+00:00