--- title: "Zelenskyy signs new law on IDPs: what will change in support for displaced persons from 2026" description: "Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a comprehensive law on the rights of internally displaced persons. The document introduces new stages of support and needs assessment, but will only come into force in October 2026. βš–οΈπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦" date: 2026-07-21T13:26:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-signs-new-law-on-idps-changes-in-support-from-2026 tags: [zelensky, ukraine, verkhovna-rada, vpl, law-12301] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy signs new law on IDPs: what will change in support for displaced persons from 2026 ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs a new law on IDPs in his office](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/21/zelensky-podpisal-zakon-o-vpl-novye-pravila-podderzhki/zelensky-podpisal-zakon-o-vpl-novye-pravila-podderzhki-1.webp) On July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 12301 "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons". The document introduces fundamentally new mechanisms for supporting people forced to leave their homes due to the war and enshrines their rights at the legislative level. ### New definitions and stages of assistance According to information published by RBC-Ukraine, citing the law card on the Verkhovna Rada website, the document clearly defines the concept of an "internally displaced person" (IDP) for the first time. In addition, the law details mandatory state support measures at every stage of a displaced person's life: from the moment of arrival in a new region to final integration into the local community. A key innovation is the approach to providing assistance. State support will now be provided not on a residual basis, but based on an individual assessment of the needs of each IDP. The level of the person's integration into the new community will also be an important factor. ### Effective dates Despite the urgency of the issue, the law will not come into force immediately. According to the text of the document, the provisions will take effect three months after its official publication β€” tentatively from October 2026. This will give authorities and local self-governments time to prepare for the implementation of new standards. ### Context and previous decisions The adoption of the law was the result of long-term work by the parliament. On July 1, the Verkhovna Rada supported draft law No. 12301 in the second reading and in general. 307 people's deputies voted for the document. Parallel to the work on the law, the Cabinet of Ministers updated the procedure for the functioning of temporary accommodation facilities for IDPs in July. The new rules include changes regarding settlement conditions, housing monitoring procedures, and grounds for eviction. ### Important nuances for aid recipients Experts and legislators draw attention to one of the critical aspects of implementing the new rules. Families who received IDP status back in 2014 but did not move again after the start of the full-scale invasion may face refusals to appoint assistance for children. This is due to a review of the criteria for need and the relevance of the status in the conditions of the current war.