Prime Minister: We remember the feat of veterans of overseas wars, their social protection - in the constant focus of the Government
The Government regards
ensuring support and proper social
protection for international soldiers, who were at
frontline in Afghanistan, and in the times
of the establishment
of Ukraine's independence were guarding state values and sovereignty
as its inescapable
obligation. This was stated by
Prime Minister of Uraine Volodymyr
Groysman in the course of
the meeting with Afghan war
veterans.
"We meet
to remember those difficult times and remember
the fallen... You all came
to the aid
of the state
during the Revolution of Dignity
and during the Russian
aggression, I must also say about
the volunteer movement (in which
international soldiers took an active
part). Honor and respect for
you are always
in my heart,"
the Head of Government stressed.
The Prime Minister
emphasized the Government has taken certain steps
in solving the problems faced
by veterans. Among them are
the issues of studying in
higher and vocational institutions, provision of housing
for combatants who got disability
and benefits for the families
of the fallen.
The attendees noted
the Government did not leave
without consideration any issue aired
by veterans of overseas wars at the meeting last
year.
"Veterans of
the Afgan war became an
integral part of our military
history. Ukrainians highly value this
experience," Volodymyr
Groysman underscored.
During the meeting
the Prime Minister awarded soldiers the honorary
certificates with a badge of honour
Background
On February 15, Ukraine
observes the Day of Commemoration
of Combatants in the Territories
of Other States. The date
marks the anniversary of the withdrawal of troops of
the Soviet Army from Afghanistan
where the war lasted throughout
1979-1989. About 160,000 Ukrainians
participated in the Afghan war,
3,380 never returned,
12,000 returned from war maimed. Presently,
the veterans of the anti-terror
operations and those of the
Afghan war join together to
solve the problems of rehabilitation
of soldiers, their return to
peaceful life, to help the
families of the heroes killed
in ATO.