Attachments
Excerpt
2. Rationale
2.1 Background
According to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, as of May 2024, there were 1.2 million registered veterans. The Ministry estimates that after the war, the number of veterans and their family members could reach 5 to 6 million people.
Many veterans are discharged due to injuries and experience health conditions. According to a study conducted by the IOM after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, approximately 73% of surveyed veterans reported having sustained an injury or illness directly related to their military service, while 31% had been diagnosed with a disability. Veterans are also at greater risk of PTSD and a range of psychological disorders. The study of the IOM indicated that 75% of surveyed veterans believed there is a need to receive psychosocial support immediately after discharge.
Additionally, returning to a civilian career may be associated with challenges in finding new employment or the need for requalification. According to a survey of veterans of Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation (ATO/JFO) conducted in 2020, 20% of respondents lost a job after their service, and about 40% faced difficulties while looking for employment. Even though there has been no comprehensive evaluation of veterans' employment needs since February 2022, veterans and military personnel perceive that they may encounter barriers to employment such as mental and physical health conditions, insufficient salaries, a lack of vacancies in their location, and a lack of knowledge or loss of skills, among others.
Moreover, veterans’ reintegration is associated with challenges in accessing quality healthcare, rehabilitation, and mental health services that would meet the specific needs of veterans and scale of the demand. Additionally, access to state benefits remains hindered by complex bureaucratic procedures and information barriers.
International organizations, along with Ukrainian NGOs and public institutions, have been conducting studies since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022 to enhance understanding of the current challenges in veterans’ reintegration. Quantitative surveys conducted by IOM, UNDP/Seed, and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation provide information regarding veterans' needs, accessibility, and perceived efficiency of various services, as well as other aspects of social and economic reintegration. There is also an increasing number of qualitative studies that highlight the experiences of veterans and their families during treatment, rehabilitation, and the process of accessing public services and benefits. An area-based assessment was conducted by REACH in 2024 to provide understanding of veterans’ needs, the level of access to services, associated barriers, and veterans’ experiences in reintegration, focusing on Dnipro city. The assessment indicated a wide range of available services, however, veterans reported challenges in accessing some of them and noted varied quality.
Many current studies provide an extensive overview of veterans' experiences at the national level. However, access to services and the process of obtaining benefits may vary significantly across different locations due to decentralisation, the differing capacities of hromadas, and the presence of veterans' NGOs. Access to services and economic integration may also have unique characteristics in areas closer to the frontline, considering the specific security and economic conditions. Thus, there is a need for a deeper understanding of veterans’ reintegration experiences, as well as the availability and accessibility of services in oblasts close to the frontline, including both urban and rural areas.
Some qualitative studies conducted by Ukrainian NGOs, including research published by Pryncyp, provide detailed information on veterans’ and families’ interactions with public institutions and service providers, focusing on the challenges in accessing services offered by governmental actors. It is important to note that the Ukrainian government has piloted and implemented new programmes for veterans that have not yet been comprehensively assessed. This indicates a need for further research on access to public services at the local level, as well as on services and programs provided by NGOs, INGOs, private entities, and those offered in the workplace. This assessment’s approach would enable the recreation of a comprehensive veterans’ user journey and enhance understanding of veterans’ preferences regarding service providers and the quality of healthcare, MHPSS, administrative, legal and employment services.