Denys Uliutin at the Barrier-Free Council: Our projects are concrete steps by a state that listens to people

An off-site meeting of the Barrier-Free Council took place in Borodianka, chaired by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and attended by the First Lady Olena Zelenska. The meeting summarised the implementation of projects under the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine over the nine months of 2025.

The meeting also involved Government representatives, heads of relevant Verkhovna Rada committees, and international partners – representatives of the UN system, the Council of Europe, WHO, and other organisations – as well as heads of regional military administrations, territorial community representatives, and civil society.

“Now, the moment has come when all our documents and projects must do the most important thing – come to life in real communities. In the places where people go to work, take their children to school, come to hospitals, stores, or for public services. This is how a person forms their daily impression of the state’s care and its work,” emphasised Olena Zelenska.

The flagship projects of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity were presented by Minister Denys Uliutin. These include “Improving the System of Providing Rehabilitation Aids”, “Early Intervention”, “Supported Living”, and the project in preparation – “Active Longevity”.

“Barriers are not just about architecture. They are also about systems that need updating and attitudes that need changing. That is why our flagship projects are concrete steps by a state that listens to people,” said Denys Uliutin.

The Minister added that every project the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity is working on shares one common goal – to ensure every person feels supported and cared for, with assistance not depending on place of residence, status, or age, but delivered as a right, with dignity, timeliness, and without barriers.

Improving the System of Providing Rehabilitation Aids

In 2025, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity improved several processes in this area, namely:

• simplified access for military personnel and foreigners who participated in combat to sports and high-functional prostheses;
• reduced the number of documents for civilians affected by the war;
• training in the use of rehabilitation aids now takes place during rehabilitation itself for greater effectiveness;
• applications for rehabilitation aids can be submitted online via the Ministry’s Social Portal – soc.gov.ua – if the person has undergone an assessment of daily functioning.

According to the Minister, by the end of 2026, the Ministry team plans to launch an e-service for providing rehabilitation aids, accessible to all categories.

Early Intervention

On average, in the first years of life, up to 15% of children experience developmental delays or risks thereof. To help such children and their families realise their potential and empower parents, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity is introducing early intervention services.

With support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine, 70 teams comprising over 200 specialists across the country have been trained. For the first time, this service is funded from the state budget, and in July 2025, the Government regulated the procedure for its provision.

In addition, the Small Grants project is underway to support and develop social services for families with children in communities, including early intervention.

By the end of 2025, plans include:

• expanding the network of service providers;
• reaching as many families with children in need as possible.

Supported Living for Older People and People With Disabilities

In Ukraine, nearly 22% of older people require state protection, but the support system was previously oriented towards institutional care, isolating people from the community and limiting their influence over their lives. At the same time, the number of civilians and military personnel with disabilities is growing, increasing demand for social services to integrate into community life. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity is piloting the supported living social service.

“Dignified living means the ability to remain in one’s environment, have friends, plan the day, and make choices. That is why we are developing the supported living model: where a person lives in a small home or flat, has specialist support, but leads a normal, full life in their community,” explained Denys Uliutin.

Under the experimental project, 41 service providers operate in 9 regions. Together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, the Ministry has created the Supported Living School course, training 50 trainers and over 650 social workers to date.

Active Longevity

Active longevity is a new flagship project of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, still under development. Ukraine is among the 30 countries with the oldest populations. Nearly 22% of the population are aged 65 and over. Due to demographic challenges exacerbated by the full-scale war, ageing will progress. The Active Longevity project aims to adapt society to these changes and create conditions for older people to remain active, healthy, and socially engaged.

Background

The National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 is being implemented at the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska.