«Advocate+» has expanded its operations to 18 military units
The «Advocate+» project of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, which assigns advocates to military units, has expanded its operations to 18 units. Specialists have already been assigned to the new participants and are set to begin consultations next week.
The 77th, 78th, 81st, and 121st brigades, as well as the 108th Separate Assault Battalion «Da Vinci’s Wolves» have joined the project. Advocates have been assigned to each of these units.
During their latest field visit, the project team, together with Andriy Yermak, chairman of the UNBA Committee on the protection of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine, compensation mechanisms and European integration legal support for recovery also met with service members from units where «Advocate+» has been operating for several months, including representatives of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade «Kholodny Yar».
Participants discussed the project’s results and new legal issues faced by service members. The experience gained and feedback from the military will be taken into account during the network’s further expansion.
«Advocate+» launched in April 2026 as a pilot project to provide legal support to service members at the brigade level. The model combines digital tools with the direct work of advocates within the units.
Specialists assigned to military units provide free primary legal assistance to service members and their families: they offer advice, help draft reports, statements, and complaints, and determine the appropriate course of action in specific situations. If a case requires full legal representation, it is provided under a separate agreement.
More than 65 advocates who have passed the selection process and are awaiting assignment to military units are ready to join the project.
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