Vitaliy Kim, Ukraine's Minister for Veterans' Affairs, presented the strategic framework for the ministry's work over the next two-year period — 2026 and 2027. In his own words, the key principle is that "the state must be organized around the veteran, rather than the veteran spending energy to gather the state around himself in order to obtain the necessary support." The minister announced this in his Telegram channel, as noted by the RBC-Ukraine editorial team.
Five priority areas and a project-based approach
Under the new strategy, the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs has identified five priorities for its veteran policy work. Among them, according to the publication "Dilo," are rehabilitation, employment, and cooperation with the business sector. Kim emphasized that key projects will be implemented under each of the five areas, with clear implementation requirements and measurable performance indicators. This approach, as the minister intends, is meant to move away from abstract declarations toward concrete, verifiable results.
Ministry audit: strengthen results, stop imitation
In parallel with the launch of new projects, an internal audit is already underway within the ministry: projects, processes, and the efficiency of budget spending are being reviewed. Kim stated the selection criterion plainly: "What delivers results, we will strengthen. What exists only for the sake of process — we will change or stop." In doing so, the minister signals his intention to carry out a structural cleanup in the ministry's work, eliminating bureaucratic elements that bring no real benefit to veterans.
Report in one year: real results instead of a count of events
Kim stated that in a year his reporting will be based not on the number of events held or programs launched, but on answers about visible results. "Yes, I see real results, not imitation," the minister emphasized. He added that the generation that defended Ukraine deserves a state that works for it every day, and expressed hope that this very generation will become the one that changes the country for the better.
Context: Zelensky announced redirecting resources to support defenders
Kim's remarks coincided with a series of steps at the level of the head of state. On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new program to support veterans and said he had instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to develop amendments that would redirect state and local resources toward effective assistance to defenders. Taken together, these statements point to an attempt to build a coordinated vertical: from a presidential directive through government regulatory acts to the project-based work of the relevant ministry.
What this means for veterans
For the veterans themselves and their families, the key shift is the move from a "veteran seeks help" model to a "the state finds and provides" model. A five-year horizon has not been declared — the emphasis is on a two-year cycle with interim reporting, which theoretically allows the course to be adjusted. However, real effectiveness will depend on how successfully the audit identifies and eliminates inefficient processes and on how fully the business sector engages in employment and rehabilitation programs.
