OSCE supports staff of Ukraine’s Military Ombudsman’s Office through specialized training

In March, 60 staff members of the Office of Military Ombudsman of Ukraine strengthened their skills in effective communication and alternative dispute resolution methods during a series of training courses held in Kyiv and organized by the OSCE. The Office has been established in September 2025 to protect the rights of service members and strengthen the democratic civilian oversight of the armed forces.
The training aimed to support the Office in carrying out its key functions, including reviewing claims of rights abuse, conducting complex investigations, and addressing workplace disputes. It also provided guidance and effective methods to maintain the psychological well-being of staff members, enabling them to perform with confidence and resilience.
Olha Kobylynska, Military Ombudsman of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of empathetic communication: “Emotions and feelings of injustice in the military are much stronger than in civilian life, and conflicts are more acute. Therefore, empathetic communication skills and an understanding of modern approaches to conflict management are tools that are an asset to the Office of the Military Ombudsman”. 
Shawn Decaluwe, Deputy Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, recalled the OSCE commitments on democratic civilian control over the armed and security forces, stating that: “These OSCE commitments remain highly relevant today and continue to guide our efforts to promote accountable and human-rights-compliant security institutions across the OSCE area.”
Ambassador Petr Mares, Special Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office - Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, referred to Ukraine’s unique experience and determination to create and build the institution of the Military Ombudsman during active hostilities. “What you are doing is important not only for Ukraine, but also for other democratic states. Your experience can become a reference point for other countries,” he said. 
The OSCE’s co-operation with the Military Ombudsman’s Office is part of broader efforts to support Ukraine in enhancing institutional resilience, mitigating the consequences of the ongoing war, and advancing reforms to ensure accountability, transparency, and human rights protection in the defence sector. 
This initiative  was organized under the OSCE extra-budgetary projects  “Democratic Control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – Phase 2” (a list of donors may be found via this link), and “Support, Capacity-Building and Awareness-Raising on Security Sector Governance and Reform within the OSCE,” supported by  Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.