Zelensky announced the appointment of a military ombudsman following reports of abuse against soldiers.

The candidate for the new position of military ombudsman has been selected and will be announced in a decree on December 30, reported President Volodymyr Zelensky in an evening address on December 29.

Ukrainian officials first announced in April that they would appoint a military ombudsman to provide service members with a mechanism for reporting violations of their rights.

The ombudsman will be responsible for "examining appeals and complaints from service members, providing primary legal assistance, conducting inspections, and investigating violations of the rights of service members and their families," the Ministry of Defense stated when announcing this position in April.

Calls for the military ombudsman have intensified in recent days following media reports of abuses within the Ukrainian 211 Pontoon Bridge Brigade, likely pushing the authorities to expedite the appointment of the military ombudsman.

Senior Lieutenant Vladyslav Pastukh is accused of abusing power, beating, and humiliating subordinates, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on December 26, while his godfather, Colonel Oleg Poberezhniuk, was detained on December 29 due to allegations of torture and mistreatment of subordinates.

"There was a request from our military – and this is an objective need – for the establishment of a special institution of military ombudsman. We need someone who can protect the rights of our soldiers, and a systemic capability for the ombudsman, together with the Ministry of Defense and all others who are necessary, to genuinely influence the situation and provide real assistance to the soldiers and the families of our soldiers. We discussed the creation of such an institution with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, with military leadership, as well as with representatives of civil society – there were many perspectives," Zelensky said on December 29.

The incidents involving the 211 Pontoon Bridge Brigade sparked widespread reaction following reports of violations. In one alleged case of abuse, Pastukh reportedly ordered subordinates to tie a soldier to a wooden cross for four hours.

"I have chosen a candidate – a strong candidate. The decree will be published tomorrow. Together with the new ombudsman, the human rights community, and the Ministry of Defense, we will agree on the appropriate draft law regarding the military ombudsman, as well as the relevant systemic foundations for its activities: powers, finances, and everything else. I urge the Verkhovna Rada and the government to timely support the innovations that will be proposed," Zelensky said.

The President added that the work of the ombudsman would begin soon, likely from the new year.

Although the position of military ombudsman will be new for Ukraine, other European armies have long had an ombudsman to oversee the rights of service members, particularly in Norway, Austria, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and Sweden.