Court Ruling Now Replaces Medical Board Approval for Families of Fallen Soldiers

Streamlined Process for Issuing Certificates to Military Families

According to ХВИЛЯ: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved amendments to the procedure for issuing certificates to family members of servicemen who have died, passed away, or gone missing. These changes, proposed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, aim to simplify access to benefits for military families. Under the previous system, families had to navigate multiple bureaucratic steps to obtain the necessary documentation.

According to the updated rules, if a family possesses a court decision declaring a serviceman deceased or establishing the legal fact of their death, a ruling from the Military Medical Commission (MMC) is no longer required to receive the certificate. Previously, applicants had to submit:

• extracts from orders removing the serviceman from personnel lists,
• a death certificate,
• and an MMC ruling.

The revisions clarify and expand the list of exceptions, making it easier for military families to obtain the certificate. Now, a court decision declaring a person deceased serves as a standalone basis for issuing the certificate. To apply, families must provide an extract from the order removing the serviceman from personnel lists (or a certified copy) along with documents confirming the circumstances of death. These documents must demonstrate that the death was not the result of a criminal offense, intoxication, or intentional self-harm.

Social Support for Military Families

As a result, the new decree is expected to ease the process of accessing benefits for families who have lost loved ones while performing their duties. This reform is particularly significant given the ongoing war in Ukraine, where thousands of families face similar challenges.

The updated certificate issuance rules represent a crucial step in supporting those who have lost relatives during service. By cutting through red tape, families can now more quickly obtain the documents needed to claim their entitlements, potentially improving their financial situation during this difficult time. In the context of Ukraine's prolonged conflict, such initiatives are increasingly vital to ensuring social guarantees for servicemen and their families.