The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has supported the draft Law on International Defense Companies, which regulates their activities. However, the ministry emphasizes that the document should be finalized. This was reported by UNN with reference to the government portal.
Details
The purpose of the draft law is to regulate the legal status and activities of international military companies established in Ukraine, which participate in defense activities and provide defense services outside the territory of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense noted that the proposed version of the draft law is inconsistent with the Constitution of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine "On Defense of Ukraine" and "On Intelligence".
In addition, it contradicts international treaties, in particular the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, and the recommendations of the Montreux Document, which addresses the functioning of private military companies during armed conflict.
In addition, the idea of creating a regulatory framework for military consulting activities has been discussed in the professional community for a long time and requires the involvement of international best practices in order to integrate the relevant international regulatory framework with national legislation
In this regard, the Ministry proposes to set up a working group to finalize the draft law, which will involve representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and other relevant bodies.
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Addendum
According to the draft law, an international defense company (IDC) is a business entity established and registered in Ukraine that provides defense services outside the territory of Ukraine on the basis of a license.
According to the draft law, only individuals and legal entities that are residents of Ukraine can be founders of an international defense company.
The IOC can be registered and permanently deployed only on the territory of the regions of Ukraine bordering the territory of the states that Ukraine has recognized as terrorist states.
Employees of such companies may be citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons who have reached the age of 21 and have at least 1 year of service in the Armed Forces, the National Guard or other military formations of Ukraine.
An international defense company outside the territory of Ukraine has the right to provide such defense services:
- Organization and practical implementation of security measures aimed at ensuring the safety of individuals and legal entities, their employees and lawful activities.
- Organization and practical implementation of measures to protect buildings, structures, land plots (territories), water areas, vehicles, currency values, securities and other movable and immovable property
- Tactical (theoretical and practical) training of personnel of military formations and law enforcement agencies of other states and international organizations;
- Tactical (theoretical and practical) training of personnel of security entities;
- Demining of territories, buildings, structures and other objects;
- Advisory services in the field of security, law and order, peaceful conflict resolution, mediation in armed conflicts;
- Defense services to Ukraine's allied countries in accordance with the procedure established by law.
The law also provides for the use of armored wheeled and tracked vehicles by international defense companies , which can be armed with no more than a large-caliber machine gun and/or an anti-tank missile system.
They are also allowed to use special equipment, such as bridge pavers, demining and fencing machines.
This equipment must be registered and assigned to international defense companies and can be used in the performance of defense activities and the provision of defense services.
Recall
Finance Minister Sergiy Marchenko said that the estimated resources for the security and defense sector in 2025 will exceed UAH 2 trillion. The budget declaration for 2025-2027 has already been submitted to the Parliament.