Ця публікація також доступна такими мовами:

The war has drastically altered the reality we live in today and will shape the world we will inhabit after our Victory. A significant portion of the population has taken a stand to defend the people of Ukraine and its territorial integrity. This, in turn, defines the future of our society. Those returning from the front lines—our veterans—will require societal support, quality rehabilitation, social guarantees, and assistance in fully reintegrating into civilian life.

Current Challenges in Veteran Care

At present, Ukraine's approach to supporting its military personnel is outdated. It often views soldiers primarily as "combat units," emphasizing their swift return to active duty following injuries or health challenges. This approach frequently neglects critical aspects such as mental health, emotional well-being, and social reintegration into peaceful civilian life.

Key gaps include:

Support for Families: Families of veterans often bear the emotional and logistical burden without adequate resources or guidance.

Mental Health Services: There is a lack of accessible, tailored psychological care for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety.

Social Adaptation Programs: Structured initiatives to help veterans rebuild their lives, reconnect with their communities, and find purpose in civilian roles are underdeveloped.

The Need for Modern Approaches

Such outdated practices, rooted in Soviet-era policies, no longer meet the challenges posed by the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Ukraine's veteran social protection system requires a new, efficient, transparent, and straightforward mechanism for reintegrating veterans into civilian life, emphasizing the principle: "Not the veteran for the state, but the state for the veteran."

This modern approach should include:

Medical and Psychological Care: Comprehensive healthcare services, including specialized rehabilitation and mental health care.

Employment Opportunities: Programs to match veterans with meaningful jobs, including retraining for civilian careers.

Educational Support: Scholarships and flexible learning opportunities for veterans to acquire new skills.

Accessible Housing: Initiatives to provide affordable and high-quality housing for veterans and their families.

Building a Human-Centered Model

For this reason, the Health Solutions Foundation, with the support of Isar Ednannia, under the framework of the Civil Society Sectoral Support Initiative, has launched a research project. The goal is to analyze the experiences of other countries that have engaged in active military campaigns (e.g., the United States, Israel). This research will aim to develop a human-centered rehabilitation model and a clear, effective system of social protection and veteran reintegration in Ukraine, incorporating the perspectives and needs of veterans themselves.

Stay Updated

In upcoming publications, we will highlight the activities and progress of this research, clarify complex issues related to the study, and keep you informed about the latest developments concerning rehabilitation, social protection, and the reintegration of veterans.

Follow our updates under the hashtag #VeteranSupport.