Draft bill #11123 of March 25, 2024 

Sponsor: the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 

Status: sent for review to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Social Policy and Veterans’ Rights Protection 

Who is affected: war veterans, their family members (as of August 1, 2023, over 900 thousand people), and war veterans public associations 

Summary: 

  • the bill introduces a legal definition of “war veterans public associations” as non-profit public organizations and unions that are registered in accordance with the law and established to protect the rights and freedoms, satisfying the public, economic, social, cultural, and other interests of war veterans, family members of deceased veterans, and defenders of Ukraine 
  • it will be allowed to use the adjective “veteran” in the title of a public association to emphasize its status. 

What is right: the bill provides a clear definition of a war veterans public association 

What is wrong: the bill does not offer mechanisms for improving policy on veterans’ affairs 

Alternative solution: the state has to develop and implement a comprehensive and effective policy on veterans’ affairs 

Additional information: 

  • article by Yuliia Pietsko: No place for veterans? How the state policy on veterans in Ukraine should look like. 
  • Points Considered podcast: (Un)protected defenders: how does the state care for the military, and what is wrong with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs?