Not Leaving Them Alone with Their Problems: How Social Support for Military Personnel Will Change

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have developed an updated concept of social support for military personnel and their families. The draft has been put up for public discussion in order to collect proposals from servicemen, their families, state bodies, communities and civil society organisations.

Comments and proposals can be sent until 13 November 2026 inclusive to the e-mail address: K.Skorokhod@advisor.mod.gov.ua. You can read the draft concept on the website of the Ministry of Defence.

The draft has already been presented to civil-military cooperation specialists and to the support services of operational commands, corps, brigades, territorial recruitment and social support centres (TCCs) and training centres. 172 representatives of the military took part in the discussion.

“It was important for us to hear them and take their proposals into account before finalising the concept, which will change their work. We will take everything we heard into account,” said Liubov Halan, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

At present, social support in the military is mostly focused on responding to difficult circumstances, and access to it depends on the capabilities of a particular military unit and region.

The updated concept provides for a guaranteed basic level of support for every serviceman and his family, regardless of the place of service.

Support services in military units will coordinate the resolution of issues: they will identify needs, involve the relevant units and see requests through to resolution. If an issue falls within the competence of another institution, specialists will help establish interaction with it.

At the level of TCCs, it is planned to create Support Centres. They will become a point of contact for families from the moment a serviceman joins the military and throughout his service.

There it will be possible to get a consultation, find out where to turn for help and, if necessary, receive support with preparing documents. Digital solutions and hotlines are also meant to simplify access to information and services.

After the end of service, support will continue in cooperation with the civilian veteran support system, so that the transition to civilian life is not accompanied by a loss of contact with the assistance system.

At the same time, support services will not replace civilian bodies or perform their functions. Their task is to coordinate interaction and help a person obtain the necessary support.

After the public discussion, the Ministry of Defence will refine the concept. It will become the basis for preparing the Social Support Strategy.

Source: Army FM (armyfm.com.ua), https://www.armyfm.com.ua/ne-zalyshaty-sam-na-sam-iz-problemamy-iak-zminiat-sotsialnyi-suprovid-viiskovykh/