On November 5, 2026, RBC-Ukraine, citing the Military Ombudsman's Office, reported a new mechanism for transferring military personnel based on family circumstances. According to the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on October 31, 2026, requirements have been communicated to branch commanders and heads of military administration bodies regarding the implementation of the Regulations on Military Service when reviewing reports for transfer due to family circumstances. The key target group is military personnel raising and supporting children with disabilities under the age of 18.
Who can be transferred and under what conditions
Under the new rules, such military personnel will be able to request a transfer to a military unit or military administration body located at the child's place of residence or in the nearest possible area. As RBC-Ukraine notes, citing the Military Ombudsman's Office, this will allow parents to participate more actively in their children's lives and provide necessary care. According to the my.ua portal, an important condition is that transfer is only possible to equivalent or lower positions, with mandatory consideration of the manning levels of military units. The source emphasizes that this indicates a systemic approach that allows maintaining the army's combat capability while simultaneously caring for families with children with special needs.How the Ombudsman's Office reached the decision
According to my.ua, the history of this decision began with an initiative from the Military Ombudsman's Office, which drew attention to the difficult situation of military personnel combining the defense of the country with the care of children with disabilities under the age of 18. The need to ensure these parents have the opportunity to participate more actively in the life and care of their children became the key argument. On October 31, 2026, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made the corresponding decision, opening the way for the movement of military personnel due to family circumstances.
Extension to other military formations
The Military Ombudsman's Office also reported that it had sent similar appeals requesting that fighters be given the opportunity to serve closer to the child's place of residence in other military formations. Specifically, this concerns the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard. Thus, the mechanism first introduced in the Armed Forces may become a general practice for the entire military-law enforcement block of the country.Context: other changes in service procedures
The introduction of the new transfer order is happening against the backdrop of other changes in military service regulation. As RBC-Ukraine recalls, the Ministry of Defense stated that military personnel who voluntarily return after AWOL (SZCh) can only be assigned to combat tasks after being officially enrolled in the unit's personnel lists and provided with supplies. Together with the decision on transfer due to family circumstances, these measures form a package of steps aimed at taking into account the personal circumstances of military personnel while maintaining the combat capability of military units.
