In the eleventh year of the war, efforts to develop a comprehensive and effective policy for reintegrating Ukrainian veterans into civilian life are still ongoing. Central and local authorities, civil society, international technical assistance organizations, and veterans’ organisations have all been involved in these efforts. In 2024, 13.5542 billion UAH were allocated to finance state veteran policy. However, progress has been slower than expected. Dissatisfaction with the Ministry for Veterans Affairs’ work led to Minister Yulia Laputina’s resignation in February 2024.
In a recent survey conducted by the Ukrainian Veterans Fund among veterans and servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in January, it was found that the key priorities for improving government services include reducing bureaucracy, addressing the specific needs of veterans, enhancing information about available services, and improving service quality. This raises the crucial question: What barriers are impeding the reintegration of Ukrainian veterans to meet their demands?
First of all, after the full-scale invasion, the number of servicemen increased from 260,000 to 880,000. The Ministry estimates that due to the prolonged nature of the war, the number of veterans and their eligible family members for services will increase to 3-5 million people. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s state budget deficit for 2023 reached 1.33 trillion UAH, nearly six times higher than the pre-war figure of 2021.
Secondly, the complexity of the task. A report on deepening American-Ukrainian cooperation for the reintegration of veterans, prepared by Ukrainian and American experts, identifies 11 key areas: optimising state governance and coordinating stakeholders’ actions; employment, education, vocational training, and requalification; medical assistance and rehabilitation; psychological support; community-level veteran support; protection of veterans’ rights; designing accessible spaces; veterans’ political participation; memory policy; realistic portrayal of veterans in the media; and support for veterans’ and veterans’ civil organisations.
Each of these areas encompasses a wide range of tasks and corresponding services, and this list is by no means exhaustive.
What has already been done?
If there’s one thing the Ukrainian government can’t be blamed for, it’s inactivity. However, according to a former minister, efforts before 2018 weren’t systematic and relied on outdated Soviet approaches.
To improve coordination, which was spread across at least 20 agencies, and to follow global best practices, Ukraine established the Ministry for Veterans Affairs in 2018. This ministry aims to work ‘with veterans,’ not just ‘for veterans.’ Currently, the ministry needs to audit its management processes. Veteran organisations advocate for better forecasting and coordination at the vice-prime minister level.
Since 2021, the Ukrainian Veterans Fund has operated under the ministry, serving as an informational coordination centre for reintegrating veterans into civilian life. Over two years, the Fund has financed veteran entrepreneurship with over 201 million hryvnias, supported 508 veteran-owned businesses, and launched a crisis support hotline as part of Olena Zelenska’s nationwide mental health programme, ‘How Are You?’. Additionally, the Fund provides legal consultations, conducts research, and runs informational campaigns and special projects.
An online platform dubbed e-Veteran has just been launched, operating off the Unified State Register of War Veterans. This platform serves as a hub for a range of information, including available state services, benefits, and ongoing projects. From medical and psychological assistance to housing provision, educational and employment support, utility benefits, and even burial services, it’s all there. However, we’re still working on getting precise statistics on the number of veterans.
And that’s not all. Within the same platform, there’s a big push for developing adaptive sports. Veterans can now throw their hat in the ring for the national team selection process for the ‘Invictus Games’. Or, if they prefer, they can become a veteran’s assistant as part of an experimental project aimed at building a network of community experts. These experts, operating on the principle of ‘equal to equal’, provide tailored support to veterans as they navigate the transition to civilian life.
The Ministry for Veterans Affairs collaborates closely with several key players, including the ministries of education and science, economy, finance, the reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, social policy, defence, the State Employment Center, the National Qualifications Agency, and local authorities. A law passed in 2022, titled ‘On the comprehensive review of the system of social guarantees for veterans’, mandates a thorough review of veterans’ services and their providers every five years to prevent redundancy.
But here’s the exciting part: many of these initiatives are happening in partnership with civil society, businesses, and international organizations providing technical assistance. Civil society groups aren’t just delivering services directly; they’re also shaping state policies. It’s a dynamic collaboration that’s not just about providing support but also about shaping the future for veterans in Ukraine.
Consider, for instance, the civil society organisation Legal Hundred, which has already offered legal consultations to over 100,000 veterans and played a key role in shaping the legal landscape for the establishment of the Ministry for Veterans Affairs.
As a result of the war, approximately 50,000 individuals are in need of prosthetic devices. The Superhumans Centre for Prosthetics, Reconstructive Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Psychological Support for War Victims steps in, providing these services free of charge, thanks to generous support from businesses and donations.
Meanwhile, the charitable foundation Veteran Hub, established back in 2017, is actively involved in a variety of initiatives. These include promoting conscious parenting, assisting veterans in reintegrating into sexual life post-injury, supporting veteran families, and normalising the process of seeking psychological assistance.
At the close of 2023, five civil society organisations – ‘Veteran Hub’, ‘Principle’, ‘Legal Hundred’, ‘Space of Opportunities’, and the Movement ‘Veteranka’ – unveiled a groundbreaking Concept for a new veteran policy. This document stands as the most comprehensive proposal yet, aiming to revamp the Law on the Status of Veterans and Their Families, overhaul the regulatory framework, enhance service coordination, and pivot towards a more people-centric approach.
Speaking metaphorically, Masi Nayyem, co-founder of the human rights organisation ‘Principle’ and a veteran himself, shed light on the necessity of this initiative: “Veteran policy is like God. Everyone has heard of it – but no one has seen it… Our role as civil society is to fortify the state. Currently, various agencies are running their own veteran projects, which is commendable. However, what’s lacking is a unified veteran policy. I speak as someone who’s directly impacted by it.”
Looking ahead, with Russia’s imperial ambitions looming as a threat to Ukraine’s security in the next decade, bolstering defence readiness becomes paramount. Veterans play a pivotal role in this readiness; hence, an effective veteran policy stands as a crucial contribution to national security.
What else needs to be done?
It would be inaccurate to suggest that the country has simply neglected its veterans. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that the services designed for them are not operating as efficiently as possible. Rather than waiting until 2027 for a comprehensive review of veteran services, we should initiate the process of mapping out these services and identifying the stakeholders involved today.
At the same time, enhancing the quality of these services requires careful monitoring of the mechanisms behind each one. This step is crucial for pinpointing the root causes of any issues, whether they stem from flaws in the state mechanisms, human errors, funding shortages, or inefficient fund allocation.
Consider, for example, Ukraine’s initiative, inspired by the Netherlands, to establish a network of modern rehabilitation centres across each region, as outlined in the President’s Decree of 2023. This initiative includes the recognition of the profession of rehabilitologist and the establishment of international internship programs. It represents a bold step forward, rooted in real-world examples, aimed at enhancing support for our veterans.
However, the renovation of the Kyiv Veterans Hospital in Pushcha Vodytsia, near Kyiv, to create a modern rehabilitation centre is facing significant delays, pushing its completion date more than a year past the initial projection. Additionally, there are ongoing issues with conducting tenders for construction work.
Turning to the provision of psychological support, the challenge extends beyond overcoming the stigma associated with seeking help. There’s also a shortage of specialists equipped to handle PTSD effectively. Even those with specialized education often lack sufficient practical experience, and obtaining a certificate after completing short courses doesn’t necessarily translate to improved service quality.
A similar issue arises with family doctors, who frequently lack knowledge about protocols for managing the chronic consequences of combat participation.
This year, the state budget has allocated 5.75 billion hryvnias for monetary compensation towards housing purchases. Initial estimates suggest that around 2,000 individuals will benefit from this assistance. However, with a total queue of 35,000 war veterans, it’s evident that the existing funding falls short. At this rate, it could take nearly 20 years to address the current needs without even factoring in inflation or the increasing number of veterans.
Improving targeted assistance relies heavily on updating data on veterans. Presently, the state lacks a comprehensive view of each veteran, resulting in budget allocations occurring blindly, without a clear understanding of the volume of services required by each individual. Addressing this issue may involve further development of digital solutions, such as enhancing the Unified Register of Veterans and expanding the electronic case management system initiated by the Ministry of Social Policy.
Ukrainian veterans, many of whom were forced into military service because of a full-scale Russian invasion rather than choosing a military career, are mostly of working age. Their contribution to the economy’s recovery after demobilisation is invaluable. Therefore, depending only on preferential policies will not be enough to address their reintegration challenges.
It is crucial to improve the effectiveness of state programs and services designed to retrain and employ veterans. Currently, only one-third of registered unemployed veterans are finding jobs through employment centres, indicating the need for more efficient strategies. Encouraging employment in the public sector, modelled after the United States, particularly in the military or the State Emergency Service, could be advantageous. Veterans should also be directed towards industries that will grow in line with reconstruction and development plans, such as construction and the defence industry.
Veterans will need assistance in translating their military skills and experience into recognized civilian qualifications. The first step in this direction was the creation of a directory designed to explain the essence of military professions in a way understandable to human resource managers. Based on the United States’ example, this experience can be expanded by creating a resource that offers civilian job openings relevant to military experience.
More than 50% of veterans aspire to start their own businesses, highlighting the need to expand state grant programs and foster initiatives such as mentoring and business incubators to support veteran entrepreneurs. Developing short-term educational programs with guaranteed employment opportunities and promoting dual education also remains crucial.
Currently, 136 veterans and family members of combatants have received grants totalling 54 million UAH under the state grant program ‘Own Business.’ However, the growth of veteran entrepreneurship hinges on broader efforts to alleviate pressure on businesses and enhance transparency in law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.
Regarding education and employment, the Ministry of Veterans has spearheaded the establishment of 6 Centers for Veterans’ Development at leading universities. These centres provide veterans and their family members with opportunities to enhance their professional skills, undergo retraining, and even train future assistants to veterans.
The program that provides education vouchers for veterans needs significant improvement. Currently, the vouchers only partially cover education and offer limited program choices. It may be worthwhile for educational institutions to consider creating and offering packages of services that veterans need, with costs corresponding to the amount of state support and veterans’ needs. Experts also stress the need to form networks for interaction and exchange of experience among employers who hire veterans.
Take Interpipe as an example. They’ve essentially revamped their PR department into a support hub for mobilised individuals, offering tailored assistance for veterans’ reintegration. This includes everything from medical treatment and psychological support to adapting to the workplace. Currently, 10% of MHP employees, a Kyiv-based company, are veterans. In 2022, the company launched the MHP Together Programme to further bolster support for its employees and their families.
One major challenge lies in creating inclusive workspaces and public areas that accommodate people with disabilities. Rather than relying on punitive measures for minor deviations in accommodation requirements, a more effective approach would involve incentivising employers to hire veterans with special needs.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to acknowledge that some veterans may have visual or hearing impairments resulting from injuries or concussions. However, they still require opportunities for successful integration into the workforce. Tackling this challenge involves cultivating military cultural awareness among employers, teams, and society as a whole. Recommendations have already been outlined to cultivate a supportive atmosphere for veterans in the workplace, with initiatives such as the Veteran Hub introducing an award for companies recognised as “Veteran-Friendly.”
“In movies, veterans are often depicted as returning with uncontrolled aggression, battling PTSD, turning to alcohol, and grappling with other dependencies. This portrayal fosters a stigma,” explains Anna Klyuka, a prominent specialist in corporate development projects at the “Biosphere” corporation and an active participant in the Veterans’ Reintegration Program.
As such, portraying veterans more realistically in media, film production, and advertising can foster a healthier societal attitude towards these defenders. The Ukrainian Veterans Fund has already provided recommendations for journalists on “How to Write About Veterans.”
On a concerning note, the unemployment rate among Ukrainian veterans has surged to 30.95%. Nearly as many believe that their status as combatants has resulted in job rejections, according to research by IREX.
According to the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, veterans cite significant barriers to employment, including issues with physical health (63.61%), societal misconceptions (63.32%), and psychological challenges (50.57%). Overall, more than half of veterans find the existing state support for professional and career development post-demobilization to be ineffective.
Using the Veteran Affairs Roadmap of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a foundation, Veteran Hub identified six elements of well-being: physical and mental health, relationships (from family to community), a sense of purpose realised through education, employment, or meaningful activity, housing, material needs and security, and life skills and spirituality. The journey of a veteran begins with enlistment in the armed forces and continues for many years after demobilisation, essentially spanning their lifetime. At each of these stages, the state should offer multifaceted assistance to those who have bravely defended its existence.
