The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has introduced changes to the procedure for granting combat veteran status (UBD). The new regulations are designed to assist military personnel who held such status before the full-scale war and returned to defend the country after February 24, 2022.
Eliminating Legal Conflicts
According to the government, previously, service members with existing UBD status faced bureaucratic obstacles when trying to obtain documentation for participating in repelling full-scale Russian aggression. These issues arose due to legal conflicts and the absence of clear mechanisms for such situations. The adopted changes aim to completely remove these barriers.
Now, combat veteran status will be granted under the general procedure regardless of whether an individual received it previously on other grounds. The new rules cover military personnel eligible for status across various periods and types of activities stipulated by the legislation.
New Categories and Document Issuance Procedure
This includes participation in combat operations abroad, demining operations, special missions, as well as participation in the anti-terrorist operation and Joint Forces operations. Separate grounds are designated for resistance movement participants and individuals involved in confidential cooperation.
If a service member is eligible for UBD status on multiple grounds simultaneously, they will be issued a single paper certificate based on their chosen ground. Information regarding status under other grounds can be confirmed via an official extract from the Unified State Register of War Veterans.
Automation and Digital Integration
The government updates also factor in the possibility of automatic status granting through electronic state registers. According to Cabinet estimates, these adjustments will enable approximately one thousand service members to obtain UBD status for participating in repelling the full-scale invasion.
The government stresses that these measures will help prevent technical discrepancies and delays in exercising service members' legal rights. Once the changes take effect, citizens are advised to prepare supporting documents and apply to authorized bodies.
Significance of Changes for Veterans
Simplifying the UBD status procedure resolves a long-standing issue for military personnel with past campaign experience who are defending Ukraine today. Integrating electronic registries and closing bureaucratic gaps is expected to accelerate access to social benefits and guarantees.
