Benefits and legal rights of veterans of Ukraine: a complete overview and instructions for use

Veterans in Ukraine are entitled to a wide range of benefits, including transportation, social benefits, healthcare, access to education, and housing.

Transportation benefits for veterans

Ukrainian veterans are entitled to free travel on all types of intercity transport once every two years in both directions. This includes rail, water, air and intercity road transport. Alternatively, veterans can take advantage of a 50% discount once a year for these types of transport. In most Ukrainian cities, veterans are also entitled to free travel on public transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams), but the exact conditions may vary depending on the region.

How to use transportation benefits

For intercity travel, veterans must present their combatant ID (UBD) at the box office of transport companies or when purchasing tickets. To use free travel on public transport, veterans must show their ID to the driver or controller. If you are unsure of the current rules for public transport in your locality, it is recommended to contact your local ASN or local government for clarification.

Social benefits and medical care

Social benefits for veterans in Ukraine include a number of rights and guarantees that provide additional support for military personnel returning to civilian life. In particular, veterans are entitled to 100% compensation for temporary disability benefits regardless of the length of service, which significantly eases their financial situation during forced sick leave.

Veterans can also take advantage of additional paid leave of up to 14 days annually, which allows them to pay more attention to restoring their health. In the event of a reduction in the number of employees, veterans have the priority of retaining their job or the priority right to employment in a similar position in another organization.

Medical services for veterans are provided on an extraordinary basis in state medical institutions. For veterans with disabilities, additional medical services and support in medical institutions are provided.

How to take advantage of social and medical benefits

To receive additional paid leave or to secure priority in the workplace, a veteran must contact the human resources department with a UBD certificate or other document confirming the status. In state medical institutions, veterans must also present the appropriate certificate to receive emergency care. For more detailed information on available services, it is worth contacting local social security departments.

Educational benefits for veterans and their children

The state provides veterans and their family members with preferential access to education in state and municipal educational institutions. Veterans and their children can count on free or partially funded education, preferential loans for higher education, social scholarships and preferential conditions for living in dormitories. In addition, children of veterans have a priority right to enroll in kindergartens, comprehensive schools and health camps.

How to take advantage of educational benefits

To apply for educational benefits, veterans or their children must contact the administration of the educational institution and provide a copy of the UBD certificate or other document confirming their status. When applying for social scholarships or preferential loans for education, it is recommended to contact the social protection authorities or the social work department of the educational institution.

Housing benefits and affordable mortgages for veterans

The Ukrainian preferential mortgage program “eOselya” provides veterans with the opportunity to obtain a housing loan to purchase their own housing on preferential terms. Under this program, veterans can take out a mortgage for an apartment or house at a low rate – from 3% to 7% per annum – for a period of up to 20 years.

The preferential down payment for veterans is only 10% of the cost of housing, which is significantly lower than the standard 30% for a regular mortgage. Program participants can choose objects for purchase among apartments, duplexes or townhouses. The program is implemented with the participation of state-owned banks, such as PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Ukrgasbank and Globusbank.

How to take advantage of housing benefits and mortgages

To use the e-Housing program, veterans need to apply through the Diia app, which automatically checks their income and other criteria. After confirming their eligibility for a preferential mortgage, they can choose one of the partner banks, where they need to provide a UBD certificate and a standard package of documents for applying for a mortgage. Additionally, you should consider the requirements for home insurance and possible restrictions on the choice of housing (such as the maximum cost of 1 sq m depending on the city).

Admin service Veteran

“Veteran Administrative Service” was created to facilitate veterans’ access to all necessary services. According to the “single window” principle, veterans can contact the ASC to issue documents confirming their status, apply for benefits, receive information about available services and consultations. Specially trained staff provides legal assistance and crisis support.

How to use the services of “Veteran Adminservice”

To use the services of the “Veteran Adminservice” service, a veteran needs to register in the electronic queue or visit the ASC without the need for prior registration. ASC employees will provide consultations and help with the registration of applications and relevant documents for all benefits.