More and more foreign volunteers who joined the Ukrainian Defense Forces and defended Ukraine from Russian aggression are receiving a combatant certificate (or, as foreign volunteers themselves often say, a “blue book”). This status is given to those who performed combat or special tasks in a combat zone. Foreign volunteers have equal rights and obligations with Ukrainian military personnel, and therefore have the same right to receive a combatant certificate.

Ukraine has a veteran policy that is rapidly improving. Thanks to this, combatants are provided with a number of significant preferences.

Veterans have the right to free travel on city and suburban transport, as well as a number of benefits for using other types of transport.

Ukraine cares about the health of those who defended it with weapons in their hands. In view of this, veterans have the right to free:

- receiving prescription drugs,

- dentures,

- annual medical examination with the involvement of necessary specialists,

- priority care and hospitalization in hospitals.

Participants in hostilities and their children (in both cases, persons under the age of 23) are provided with state targeted support for obtaining vocational and higher education in state and municipal educational institutions. In addition, legislative changes are being introduced in Ukraine aimed at simplifying the procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship for foreign volunteers with the status of a combatant.

Participants in hostilities are people who have a very high authority in Ukrainian society. Those who, with weapons in their hands, defended Ukrainian land from the Russian invasion are treated with great respect.

But the benefits of the Ukrainian blue book do not end at the Ukrainian border! After all, this document confirms participation in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which is not only the largest, but also the most technologically advanced conflict of our time. In Ukraine, methods of conducting combat operations are constantly being improved. Those who have passed through the crucible of this war have unique experience of modern combat operations. And therefore, in the future, they have good opportunities to successfully get a job in the armies of other countries or in private military or security companies operating in different parts of the world.

The other day, a volunteer from Peru, Abel Sender with the call sign "Wolf", received a blue book of a combat participant and a thank-you note from the command of the 23rd separate mechanized brigade. According to him, who served in other armies for many years, it was in Ukraine that he received a qualitatively higher level of military training and skills in conducting modern warfare. This, he jokes, allowed him to become, as it were, a "military master". We sincerely congratulate the soldier on receiving a certificate of a combat participant. Thank you for your conscientious service and we wish you health, endurance, and victories in the service of the Ukrainian people!