Ukrainian troops treated abroad can now get military medical board rulings remotely
Ukraine's Defence Ministry says service members receiving treatment abroad can now go through the military medical commission process remotely. The board has 10 days to review a full document package.
Ukrainian service members who are being treated abroad can now complete a military medical examination remotely and receive a ruling from the military medical commission, known by its Ukrainian acronym VLK, the Defence Ministry announced on 13 October 2026.
The ministry said on its official Telegram channel that amendments to Defence Ministry order No. 402 clarify the procedure, set out the list of required documents and establish clear deadlines for their review.
What the VLK does
The VLK is the military medical commission that assesses a service member's health. Its rulings determine whether further treatment is needed and whether a person is fit for military service. The ministry did not describe the commission's wider powers in this announcement.
How the remote procedure works
Under the amended order, medical documents issued by the foreign facility must be translated into Ukrainian and certified. On that basis, the VLK can decide:
- whether the service member needs further treatment;
- whether the service member is fit or unfit for military service.
The ministry set two deadlines:
- The VLK reviews the full document package within 10 days.
- The service member's military unit must inform them of the decision within three days of receiving the VLK certificate.
The decision is issued in electronic form. A copy can be obtained through the military unit, including by email, according to the ministry.
No repeat confirmation on return
After returning to Ukraine, a service member does not need to confirm the remotely issued ruling again, the ministry said.
The announcement did not say when the amendments take effect. It also gave no figures on how many service members are being treated abroad or could be affected. It did not specify who certifies the translated documents. The ministry linked to a longer description of the changes, which RealUA has not independently reviewed.
The change follows another administrative move by the ministry this week. As RealUA reported on 12 October, the Armed Forces adopted a single template for the order recording a service member's wound, which commanders must issue within five days.
