Government Action Plan: Veterans’ policy among key priorities for 2025-2026

On Monday, 18 August, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, alongside members of the Cabinet of Ministers, presented the Draft Government Action Plan for 2025-2026. The document outlines the priorities of state policy and includes proposals for implementing key reforms.

The presentation was attended by Ukrainian MPs, relevant civil society organisations, experts, and think tanks.

Minister for Veterans Affairs Nataliia Kalmykova spoke during the question-and-answer session “Dignity of the Nation. Unity.”

“Support specialists are people who stand by veterans during critical moments of transitioning to civilian life. They help navigate opportunities and services, offer solutions when support is needed, and, most importantly, create a sense that you’re not alone with your questions. Today, nearly 1,400 specialists are working in communities across Ukraine, with 40% of them being veterans with combat experience. Their presence fosters unique trust and strength, as they speak the same language as the community. Expanding this network is one of our key priorities, as these specialists make veterans’ policy vibrant and effective,” said the Minister in response to a question about the support specialist network.

The Draft Government Action Plan is based on four strategic directions: security, economy, dignity, and recovery. These form the foundation for 12 key priorities, each with specific implementation plans and performance evaluation criteria.

Veterans’ policy is a central focus. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been assigned the following tasks:

• Preparation and adoption of the Code of Laws on Defenders of Ukraine’s Statehood and Independence. This will streamline existing legislation, enabling veterans and their families to easily understand their rights and guarantees. The Code will also standardise regulations, eliminate inconsistencies, and simplify legal application.
• Digital ecosystem for veterans. Primarily, expanding the capabilities of “Veteran Pro” within the Diia app. New features are planned, from finding dental clinics and prosthetic centres to applying for car insurance compensation, significantly reducing bureaucracy and ensuring online service accessibility.

Offline Services

• Support specialists in every community. By year-end, 3,000 specialists will be working in communities, providing 500,000 support and assistance services.
• Veterans’ spaces in every region. Deployment of a network of modern, multifunctional spaces where veterans can access medical-psychological, administrative, educational, and cultural support under one roof. The first seven such spaces are planned to open by the end of 2025.

Unified Government Veteran.Housing Programme

• New approaches to eHousing for veterans.
• Continued subsidies for veterans with disabilities.

Health as a Priority for Transitioning to Civilian Life and Beyond

• Standard pathways combined with individual needs.
• Services for specific needs: adaptation for those who have lost vision; expanded palliative care; addiction treatment; recovery from burns and scars.
• Expanded National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) packages.
• Mental health support.
• Veterans’ sports.

The state will fund grants for developing sports infrastructure (UAH 600,000 per project).

Vehicle Support Programmes for Veterans

• Retrofitting vehicles to meet the needs of veterans with disabilities.
• Compensation for 50% of third-party car insurance costs.

Capacity Development

• Education and retraining.
• Unified government Veteran.Work programme.
• Unified government Veteran.Entrepreneurship programme, with at least 600 grants planned for veteran businesses (UAH 500,000 and above).

Memorialisation of the Fallen

• Introducing a memorialisation system and dignified burial sites for the fallen.