Ukraine May Legalize Private Military Companies as Zelenskyy Backs Veteran Security Sector

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to prepare legislation regulating the operation of private military companies in Ukraine, describing it as part of a broader effort to create new opportunities for veterans after the war.

Speaking during his evening address on May 6, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian authorities are working on a legal framework that would allow former servicemembers to apply their wartime experience in the international security sector and earn income through security-related work.

According to the President, the initiative is being developed with the involvement of the Interior Ministry, intelligence agencies, government officials, and the Presidential Office.

Zelenskyy said he instructed officials to prepare “the most optimal format” for Ukraine and secure adoption of the necessary legislation before the end of the year.

The President also noted that many leading countries already use various forms of private military and security companies, arguing that Ukraine should develop its own model in response to growing global demand for security expertise.

The proposed system is expected to focus heavily on employing veterans and former military personnel after the war, while creating a regulated market for security services connected to Ukraine’s battlefield experience.

Read more

Category

Opinion

How Can Europe Rearm? By Scaling Ukrainian Innovation

Apr 23, 2026 16:22

Discussions around legalizing private military companies in Ukraine are not new. In 2024, lawmakers registered draft bill No. 11214 to regulate PMC activity in the country.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry had also previously supported legislation proposing the creation of so-called “international defense companies” that could operate within a legal and state-controlled framework.

If adopted, the legislation could open the door for Ukraine to develop a formal private security sector built around combat-tested veterans and military specialists.

At the moment, Ukraine has already integrated private companies into the national air defense system and has already downed Russian drones in the Kharkiv region.

Earlier, reports emerged that NATO has been increasingly using Ukrainian drone operators as a simulated adversary during military exercises, exposing alliance forces to the realities of modern drone warfare.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW