Since the start of Russian aggression, 52 Belarusian volunteers who fought on Ukraine’s side have been granted Ukrainian citizenship. Another 22 cases have been submitted to the Commission on Citizenship under the President of Ukraine for consideration. Ukraine’s State Migration Service told Suspilne this in response to a request.
Before the start of the full-scale invasion, 12 Belarusian volunteers were granted Ukrainian citizenship, while another 40 became Ukrainian citizens after February 2022.
The migration service also said it had reviewed 22 cases involving Belarusian volunteers and submitted them to the presidential commission on citizenship.
In June 2025, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada amended legislation on acquiring and retaining citizenship. In particular, for foreigners serving under contract in Ukraine’s Defense Forces, the period of service required to become eligible to apply for citizenship was reduced from three years to one year.
According to the migration service, the total processing time for applications for citizenship, when no additional checks are required, should not exceed eight months. Applications from foreigners who have participated or are participating in the defense of Ukraine are considered on a priority basis.
Belarusian volunteers fighting on Ukraine’s side, as well as their family members, can legalize their stay in the country even with an expired Belarusian passport. In particular, they can obtain a residence permit or apply for citizenship. However, they must have the original document.
The agency noted that for many Belarusian volunteers, replacing their passports is impossible without returning to Belarus, which could pose a threat to them. At the same time, there is still no clear procedure for restoring a Belarusian passport in Ukraine.
To address the issue, the migration service drafted a bill and submitted it to the Interior Ministry for approval and subsequent coordination with other government agencies. For now, foreign military personnel who have been left without their primary document can apply for refugee status or for status as a person in need of additional protection.
In addition, from May through August 2026, temporary residence permits were issued for the first time or as a result of replacement to 45 Belarusian citizens serving in Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Records of such residence permits began to be maintained in May. Previously, foreign volunteers only needed a military ID and a contract to confirm the legality of their stay in Ukraine. Under the updated rules, all current foreign military personnel serving in the Defense Forces must complete the legalization procedure by Nov. 10, 2026.
