📌 New status for veterans: a help or more red tape?

Bill No. 15267 has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, proposing the introduction of a new status for war veterans who have suffered a significant loss of functionality as a result of wounds and injuries sustained while defending Ukraine. The idea is to move away from the outdated system of assessment based solely on disability and transition to an assessment of a person’s actual functional limitations.

✅ What are the positives?

•⁠ ⁠a more personalized approach to the needs of veterans;
•⁠ ⁠focus on the actual state of health and the ability to live independently;
•⁠ ⁠alignment with current international standards for social protection and rehabilitation.

⚠️ However, the bill poses a number of serious risks:

🔹 Uncertainty regarding disability status.
It is unclear whether the new status will coexist with the status of a person with a war-related disability or replace it. This could lead to conflicts regarding benefits, payments, and social guarantees.

🔹 Lack of clear criteria.
The bill does not specify what exactly would be considered a “significant loss of functionality.” Consequently, key decisions may be left to officials and subordinate regulations.

🔹 The criteria for selecting payments are unclear.
The document allows veterans to choose between different types of benefits, but it does not explain exactly how this will work in practice or whether they will be able to change their decision in the future.

🔹 The legal nature of the payments is unclear.
The bill does not explicitly state whether these payments constitute social assistance or compensation for health damage. This could lead to legal disputes in the future.

🔹 Overreliance on subordinate legislation.
Many key issues are proposed to be addressed later through resolutions and orders, which creates the risk of rules being changed “on the fly.”

💬 Conclusion:

Bill No. 15267 raises an important issue regarding support for severely wounded veterans and, overall, is a step in the right direction. However, without clear criteria, transparent procedures, and alignment with the existing social protection system, it may raise more questions than it answers.

🇺🇦 For veterans, it is not just the new name of the status that matters, but clear guarantees, stable payments, and the absence of bureaucratic hurdles

The author of the article: Assistant lawyer at AXELLEGAL Svitlana Stepashko - on contract law, corporate and military law.