At the IX International Veterans Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the launch of a new state program to support veterans. According to him, the key task for the government is to develop changes that will redirect state and local resources to provide effective and targeted assistance to defenders after their return to civilian life. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the head of state's speech.
Essence of the initiative: targeted allocation of resources
Zelensky emphasized that support should be based not on formal procedures, but on the real needs of military personnel returning to society. The President set a specific goal for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs — to effectively direct state resources and coordinate community resources. "We need to effectively direct state resources and coordinate community resources. I count on this as one of the key goals of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs," he noted.
The role of veteran communities and patronage services
The head of state placed special emphasis on the fact that the greatest support for defenders often comes not from state institutions or formal support specialists, but from fellow combatants themselves. "Often, it is not the state with its potential and resources that is the greatest helper of a veteran, nor the community, and not even the person formally called a veteran assistant in society or a veteran support specialist in a civilian hospital, but only another veteran, an effective patronage service of a brigade, or a general brigade," Zelensky emphasized. Thus, the new program is expected to rely on already functioning informal mechanisms of mutual aid within brigades and veteran communities.
Deadlines: program of changes by Pokrova holiday
The President set a clear deadline for the government: the corresponding program of changes must be prepared and presented by the Pokrova holiday (October 14). This means that in the coming weeks, the Cabinet of Ministers must form a package of proposals for reallocating budgetary and municipal funds in favor of the veterans' sector. The wording "prepare and present" indicates that it is about the public presentation of the document, not its immediate adoption.
Context: National Pantheon and memory policy
Against the backdrop of the support program announcement, Zelensky also reminded of the fate of the Ukrainian National Pantheon. According to him, the memorial complex will definitely be created, and the decision on immortalizing the memory of outstanding figures will be made exclusively by the Ukrainian people. The legal basis for the project has already been laid: on July 1, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada supported the establishment of the Ukrainian National Pantheon in general. At the same time, as noted, there are still several important legislative and organizational stages ahead for the full implementation of the memorial complex.
Regional context: veteran structures at the local level
The President's initiative fits into a broader trend of institutionalizing veterans' policy at the regional level. Thus, the Veterans Council has begun its work in the Mariupol City Military Administration, demonstrating the formation of local support structures for defenders. It is precisely such community and municipal mechanisms, according to the logic of Zelensky's statement, that should become part of a single system that needs to be coordinated at the state level within the framework of the new program.
