Ukraine's Constitutional Court Reviews Cabinet's Power to Set War Disability Payouts

Constitutional Court of Ukraine Hears Key Case

According to Конституційний суд: On February 24, 2026, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine considered a case submitted by the Supreme Court. The case examines the constitutionality of a legislative provision concerning the amount of a one-time payment for individuals disabled as a result of war. This review stems from amendments introduced by Law No. 2983-IX, which delegates the authority to determine the payment amount to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. This case is part of an ongoing effort to define the balance of power between the legislature and the executive in post-war social policy.

The hearing was conducted as a written proceeding during the open part of a plenary session, presided over by Judge-Rapporteur Viktor Kychun. The subject of the constitutional petition is the Supreme Court. The Court is reviewing the constitutionality of Subsection 2, Section 1, Chapter I of Ukrainian Law No. 2983-IX, adopted on March 20, 2023. This law amends Ukrainian Law No. 3551-XII of October 22, 1993, 'On the Status of War Veterans, Guarantees of Their Social Protection,' specifically Part Five of Article 13.

Proceedings and Next Steps

According to the amendments, the amount of the annual one-time payment to war-disabled persons before Independence Day is to be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers within budgetary allocations. The petitioner argues that the contested provision violates Articles 17 and 22 of the Constitution of Ukraine. To prepare for the case review, Judge-Rapporteur Kychun sent inquiry letters to the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), the Prime Minister of Ukraine, and scholars from four academic institutions.

The session was attended by representatives of the Supreme Court, including Acting Head of the Supreme Court Apparatus Rasim Babangli, the Permanent Representative of the Verkhovna Rada to the Constitutional Court Maksym Dyrdin, and the Representative of the President of Ukraine to the Constitutional Court Serhii Dembovsky. After examining the materials, the Court proceeded to a closed-door session to deliberate and reach a decision. A video recording of the open session is available on the official website of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the 'Video Broadcast of CCU Sessions – Archive' section.

The academic institutions that received inquiry letters include:

• V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv

This case is significant for defining the legal status and social protection of war-disabled individuals in Ukraine. The final ruling could influence future legislative initiatives regarding financial support for this category of citizens. The constitutional review of these legislative changes represents a critical step in upholding human rights and social guarantees for war veterans, whose needs remain a pressing national concern.