The government has begun work on the Veteran Code: what will change for defenders

Work on the Veteran Code

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has begun work on the Veteran Code, which aims to consolidate the norms regarding the status, guarantees, and support for veterans. This document covers not only veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war but also veterans of 20th-century wars, the families of fallen defenders of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons who have defended Ukraine, as well as affected participants of the Revolution of Dignity and the families of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes. The Veteran Code provides for amendments to more than two dozen existing legal acts, ensuring comprehensive support for veterans and their families.

Main initiatives

Among the main initiatives accompanying the work on the new code is an experimental project for the correction of scar changes to the skin. This project will start in early January 2024 and will run until December 31, 2026. It is also planned to create 153 state veteran spaces, the first of which will open in Kryvyi Rih, Lutsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The government will allocate 1.7 billion UAH to provide housing for 715 veteran families. In 2025, housing compensation was received by 1,587 families.

Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized that the goal of all decisions is to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life and feel constant active support from the state. The Veteran Code will be an important step in honoring the memory of the fallen Heroes and ensuring the dignified return of veterans to peaceful life through education, work, and rehabilitation.

The development of the Veteran Code is a significant step towards improving the social protection of veterans in Ukraine, considering the needs of not only today's combat participants but also those who participated in past conflicts. The implementation of initiatives such as the creation of veteran spaces and financial support demonstrates the state's commitment to providing veterans with decent conditions for returning to peaceful life. These changes may lay the groundwork for further reform in the veteran social security system in Ukraine, enhancing their integration into society.