STATE POLICY FOR SUPPORTING COMBAT VETERANS IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, launched on
February 24, 2022, has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of individuals acquiring the
status of combatants and war veterans. This creates a qualitatively new task for public administration –
the development of a capable, comprehensive, and long-term system of social protection and
reintegration of veterans, aimed not only at the Soviet-style compensation-and-benefits approach, but
also at creating conditions for the full return of defenders to civilian life.
The article analyzes the institutional, regulatory, and organizational foundations of the current state
policy regarding combat veterans in Ukraine. The main areas of support are examined, including medical
rehabilitation and prosthetics, psychological assistance, employment, education and retraining, housing
and financial guarantees, as well as the digitalization of services. Special attention is given to the key
achievements of recent years, namely the establishment of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (2018), the
launch of the Unified State Register of War Veterans, the expansion of the categories of recipients of onetime monetary assistance (Law No. 4351-IX of April 15, 2025), the launch of the digital platform "Diia
Veteran PRO" (October 2025), the creation of the Council of War Veterans for the Independence of
Ukraine, as well as a multiple increase in budget expenditures on prosthetics and rehabilitation.
At the same time, a number of systemic problems remain that require resolution. Among the most
pressing are the fragmentation of available services and the insufficiently developed veteran infrastructure
at the community level. There is also a noticeable shortage of qualified psychologists with experience in
dealing with combat trauma, while bureaucratic barriers complicate access to necessary assistance. A
separate problem is the weak coordination of efforts between state authorities, local self-government,
business, and civil society institutions.
In view of this, key directions for improving state policy have been outlined. These include the
development of a network of veteran spaces in territorial communities, the introduction of a unified
standard of access to services, and the development of an effective model of interaction. At the same
time, emphasis is placed on the need to deepen a personalized approach through appropriate support
programs, as well as to expand opportunities for veteran entrepreneurship.