Since 2014, Ukraine Has Granted Citizenship To 52 Belarusian Volunteers
- 26.08.2026, 17:08
Another 22 cases involving Belarusians have been referred to the Presidential Commission on Citizenship of Ukraine for review.
Since the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, 52 Belarusian volunteers who fought on Ukraine’s side have been granted Ukrainian citizenship. Another 22 cases involving Belarusians have already been referred to the Presidential Commission on Citizenship of Ukraine for review. This was reported by the State Migration Service of Ukraine in response to a request from the publication "Suspilne".
Before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, 12 Belarusian volunteers had obtained Ukrainian citizenship, and another 40 did so after February 2022.
In June 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine amended the legislation on obtaining and retaining citizenship. In particular, the requirements were simplified for foreigners serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Now, to be eligible for citizenship, they need only serve one year under contract, instead of the previous three.
Typically, the processing of a citizenship application—provided no additional verification is required—should take no more than eight months. Applications from foreigners who have participated or are participating in the defense of Ukraine are given priority.
Belarusian volunteers fighting on Ukraine’s side, as well as their family members, can legalize their stay in Ukraine even with an expired Belarusian passport. They can obtain a residence permit or apply for citizenship. However, this requires the original document.
The State Migration Service notes that for many Belarusian volunteers, replacing their passport is impossible without returning to Belarus, which could be dangerous for them. At the same time, there is currently no clear mechanism for renewing a Belarusian passport in Ukraine.
To resolve this issue, the State Migration Service has drafted a corresponding bill and submitted it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for approval. In the meantime, foreign military personnel who have lost their primary identification document may apply for refugee status or status as a person in need of subsidiary protection.
In addition, from May through August 2026, 45 Belarusian citizens serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces received temporary residence permits—either for the first time or as a replacement.
Records of such documents began to be kept in May. Previously, a military ID and a contract were sufficient for foreign volunteers to confirm the legality of their stay in Ukraine. Now, all active foreign servicemembers of the Ukrainian Defense Forces must complete the legalization process by November 10, 2026.