Since 2014, veterans in Ukraine are no longer gray-haired grandfathers who fought during the Second World War. New realities, the loss of the country’s territorial integrity as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and the protection of sovereignty within the framework of the ATO, then the OOS and a full-scale war changed the public’s perception of the image of a veteran. After all, veterans sometimes became and are becoming those who have not even turned 30 years old, and new norms have appeared in the legislation that regulate the rights of combatants.
Paying tribute to those who fulfilled their duty and joined the ranks of defenders of Ukraine, the state provides additional social guarantees. In particular, it is about health care, benefits for housing and transport, provision of educational services, etc. Currently, about a million Ukrainians have the status of a participant in hostilities.
War participants and combatants: what is the difference?
The concepts of “participant in hostilities” and “participant in war” should be distinguished, since de jure they have different meanings.
Participants in the war – these are military personnel who served in the Armed Forces of the former USSR during the Second World War, rear-line workers and those who were involved in ensuring the conduct of anti-terrorist operations, the implementation of measures to ensure national security and defense, repelling and deterring Russia’s armed aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as other persons defined by the Law of Ukraine “On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection”.
A participant in hostilities is a person who took part in the execution of combat tasks for the defense of the Motherland. The full list of those who can receive the status of UBD can be viewed at Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On approval of the Procedure for granting and withdrawing the status of a participant in hostilities…”
If it is easier to explain, then the participants in hostilities are exclusively those who performed combat tasks for the defense of the Motherland.
In order to obtain the status of a participant in hostilities and the corresponding certificate, the commander (head) of a military unit (organ, unit), the head of an enterprise or organization, or the person himself who claims the status of a UBD, must apply to the commission formed under the relevant state body with a specified package of documents . The algorithm for issuing a certificate and the list of required documents can be viewed at the link – https://mva.gov.ua/veteranam/poryadok-oformlennya-dublikatu-posvidchennya-uchasnika-boyovih-diy .
The certificate itself is the document that allows you to receive benefits. In case of loss or damage of the UBD certificate, a duplicate can be obtained. To do this, you need to contact the Center for the provision of administrative services or the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Photo: sud.ua
Medical services for veterans
Benefits of this type are almost the most important among the list of services that the state should provide to those who stood up for its protection, risking their health and life. The health of most of the combatants was really damaged. Among the most common problems of veterans are injuries, contusions, loss of limbs, and psychological problems.
That is why veterans have the right to priority service in medical facilities – in hospitals, dental clinics, etc. By the way, in 2024, an innovation appeared – now combatants will have the right to free dental prosthetics not only in state, but also in private stomatology. Alternatively, veterans will be able to receive services that are provided in public institutions on a paid basis free of charge. The relevant project was launched by the Cabinet of Ministers at the end of February. The government allocated 750 million hryvnias for the implementation of plans for free treatment of veterans.
It is worth noting that not all private dental clinics will treat combatants at state expense, but only those that have signed a contract with the National Health Service.
However, this year, none of the 77 health care facilities that can perform dental prosthetics for veterans are privately owned. All 77 hospitals are communal or state stomatology. You can view the list of clinics by following the link – https://edata.e-health.gov.ua/e-data/dashboard/pmg-contracts
Also, provided there is a prescription from a doctor, combatants have the right to receive medicines, immunobiological preparations and medical products free of charge. In addition, by contacting the social security authorities, veterans can receive vouchers for sanatorium-resort treatment, or receive compensation for such treatment.
Education
Legislation guarantees the right to benefits for military personnel receiving educational services. In particular, veterans can get higher or vocational education free of charge in state or communal institutions (universities, colleges, etc.). Full or partial payment for the training of combatants is made from the state or local budgets.
Under the condition of paid education, a veteran has the right to receive a preferential long-term loan to pay for educational services. Also, a person with the status of UBD is provided with social scholarships and the right to free accommodation in a student dormitory.
The state also undertakes to provide veterans with textbooks, if necessary.
Housing and communal services
A separate problem is the provision of housing for the military. IN queues of servicemen who are on the apartment register – tens of thousands of people. Some of them have been in the housing queue since 1991. Some of the participants of the ATO and OOS managed to get apartments at one time, but these are isolated cases. And although getting housing for free is really a problem, taking a soft loan is currently quite simple.
Thanks to the “eOselya” program, both active military personnel and veterans have the right to a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum. Since the beginning of the year, more than 4,000 Ukrainian families have used the loan program for a total of 7 billion hryvnias. In particular, 159 mortgages were granted last week, half of which (80) were issued by the military.
Also, combatants are entitled to housing subsidies. The benefit compensates for 75% of the rent and the cost of utilities (gas, electricity, etc.). The state reimburses 100% of the cost of utility services to veterans who have received a disability.
Other benefits for veterans
Participants in hostilities can use free travel in city passenger transport, in railway, water transport and suburban and intercity buses.
Veterans are also provided with temporary disability benefits in the amount of 100% of the average salary. And if there is a reduction in the company where a person with the status of UBD works, then the veteran has a preferential right to stay at work.
Benefits are also provided to family members of combatants. For example, children of veterans have the right to free health care, priority enrollment in schools or kindergartens. They also have the right to transfer to a budget form of education in institutions of higher education and free accommodation in dormitories of educational institutions.
Importantly! In order to use the benefits, people with the status of UBD must submit two applications: to enter a person in the Unified state automated register of persons entitled to benefits and an application to establish the benefit. They can be submitted offline at any branch of the Pension Fund, or online – through the website of the Pension Fund or through the “Diya” portal.
How to find a job for ex-servicemen?
One of the services that the state provides to combatants is employment assistance. Indeed, at the beginning of the year, thirty servicemen who were no longer serving in the army were looking for work. This is evidenced by the study of the Ukrainian Veterans’ Fund of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs.
In addition to assistance in obtaining an education and improving qualifications, combatants can receive consultations, or attend trainings and employment courses. Also, veterans have the right to take a soft loan for opening their own business.
On the “Education Action” portal, they created a whole course “How to find the desired job after military service.” is a kind of educational series, which consists of several videos explaining certain aspects necessary for successful employment. you can join the course via the link – https://osvita.diia.gov.ua/courses/find-a-job-after-military-service
Among the innovations, more precisely, the plans of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund – the creation of Career Centers for ex-military personnel, similar to those working in the USA.
