Ukraine joins Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers – Sources
Illustrative photo: Ukraine became a member of the Joint Confederation of NATO Reserve Officers (Getty Images)
Ukraine has become a member of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR). Its membership was unanimously approved, according to RBC-Ukraine's sources in Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
The heads of NATO member states’ reserve officers' associations voted in favor of Ukraine’s accession. The country joined CIOR through the Ukrainian Association of Reserve Officers and Veterans.
According to the sources, the accession process was supported and coordinated by Deputy Defense Minister, Brigadier General of Justice Serhii Melnyk.
They noted that on January 30, Ukraine did what it should have done 23 years ago - joined the world's largest reserve officers' organization.
CIOR was established in 1948, a year before NATO’s creation. Among NATO partners, only Ukraine, Switzerland, and Austria are members of the Confederation. The official announcement of Ukraine’s accession is expected on January 31.
What is CIOR?
The NATO Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) was founded by reserve officers who had participated in wars. Their goal was to use their experience to strengthen collective security and pass on their values to future generations.
CIOR focuses on integrating reserve service within NATO countries, supporting leadership training for reserve officers, and collecting and sharing best practices, particularly in skill development.
Notably, in 2023, Ukraine became a member of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The Ukrainian flag was raised at the Center's headquarters.
