Official status for those involved in Ukraine’s defence but not in combat: Government approves draft law

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, during a dedicated meeting on veterans’ policy, approved a draft law titled “On Persons Involved in Ensuring Measures Aimed at Protecting Ukraine’s Independence, Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity.”

The draft law establishes the status and rights of citizens who contributed to strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities but did not directly participate in combat. This includes those who supported the operation of military infrastructure, assisted units, carried out logistics, communications, or other critical defence-related tasks.

Classifying such individuals as war veterans was deemed inconsistent with principles of fairness and objectivity, as it could diminish the contribution of those who fought on the front lines. Therefore, the bill proposes creating a distinct, officially recognised status to acknowledge the unique contribution of these citizens.

The draft law proposes to:

• Define the terms and scope of the status of “involved person,” “involved person with a disability,” and “family member of a deceased involved person” for citizens who contributed to Ukraine’s defence without engaging in combat;
• Specify the categories of citizens eligible for this status;
• Establish the procedure for granting this status;
• Provide state guarantees for these citizens.

The draft law will formally recognise the contributions of thousands of citizens who, while not on the front lines, performed vital tasks to protect Ukraine, ensuring they and their families receive appropriate social guarantees.