Fewer than 2,000 apartments nationwide: veterans were presented with disheartening figures for 2026
17 March 19:02
EXCLUSIVE
Full-scale war has significantly altered the social structure of Ukrainian society: the number of people who have served on the front lines is growing rapidly, and with it, the need for a systematic state policy regarding veterans. This involves not only social guarantees but also housing, medical and psychological rehabilitation, employment, and reintegration into civilian life. Editorial
How many veterans are officially registered
The number of war veterans in Ukraine continues to grow rapidly amid the full-scale war.
In response to a request from the editorial staff
“As of March 1, 2026, information on 1,761,405 war veterans has been entered into the Registry,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
This is one of the highest figures in the entire history of independent Ukraine. The number of veterans is expected to continue to rise due to the demobilization of troops following the end of hostilities.
How many people cannot obtain combatant status
The issue of obtaining combatant status (UBD) remains one of the most sensitive for veterans, as it is this status that grants access to most social benefits.
The status is granted under the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Protection.” Decisions are made by special commissions within law enforcement agencies or by an interdepartmental commission under the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in cases of dispute.
However, the ministry itself acknowledges that there is no accurate data on the number of people who cannot obtain the status due to bureaucratic procedures.
“The Ministry of Veterans Affairs lacks information on the number of combatants who cannot obtain the relevant status,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
This means that the state currently does not maintain centralized statistics on issues related to obtaining status.
How many veterans have received housing
Housing remains one of the key issues for veterans, especially for those with war-related disabilities and the families of the fallen.
According to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the state has been paying compensation for housing purchases in recent years.
“Between 2020 and 2025, monetary compensation for housing to which they are entitled has been provided to 10,991 people,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
This includes war veterans, participants in combat operations on the territory of other states, participants in the Revolution of Dignity, and families of fallen defenders.
However, in 2022, payments were temporarily suspended.
“In 2022, no monetary compensation was paid… expenditures were reduced and redirected to the state budget’s reserve fund,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
How much housing is planned to be provided in 2026
The 2026 state budget allocates funds for housing compensation payments to certain categories of veterans. Specifically, the plan is to support people with Group I–II disabilities resulting from the war and the families of fallen soldiers.
“The Law of Ukraine ‘On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026’ provides for expenditures in the amount of 5,670.250 million UAH to pay monetary compensation to approximately 1,969 people,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
This is significantly less than the total number of veterans in the country, but the program is focused on the most socially vulnerable groups.
Psychological Rehabilitation: How Many Veterans Receive Assistance
Since the start of full-scale war, the need for psychological support among veterans has grown significantly. This relates to the effects of combat stress, traumatic experiences, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, even here, the state lacks comprehensive statistics.
“The exact number of veterans undergoing psychological rehabilitation or in need of it is not known,” says Gramarchuk.
The reason is that services are provided through various systems: state medical facilities, non-governmental organizations, and international programs. Some veterans also do not seek help due to stigma, the agency notes.
“In 2025, 9,595 people received free psychological assistance over the course of 34,790 hours,” says Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
At the same time, the ministry acknowledges that available resources are insufficient.
“The existing programs and resources are not yet sufficient to fully meet the needs of all veterans,” says Gramarchuk.
Among the reasons are a lack of funding, a shortage of specialists, and the constant growth in the number of veterans.
Employment of Veterans
Another important issue is veterans’ transition back to civilian life and the labor market. However, the state currently lacks consolidated statistics on veterans’ employment after service.
“General information on the employment status of war veterans… is lacking, as there is no access to the relevant government registries,” says Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
Currently, the agency is attempting to address the issue through digital tools. In particular, the “Veteran’s Career” platform has been launched to help veterans find jobs.
“The platform functions as an interactive tool for interaction between employers and war veterans, ensuring the selection of job openings based on professional skills and experience,” said Oleksandr Gramarchuk.
The official response from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs demonstrates that the state is already working to support veterans—particularly regarding housing, rehabilitation, and employment.
At the same time, there are still no complete statistics for a number of critically important indicators, including:
- the number of people who cannot obtain UBD status
- the actual employment rate among veterans
- the exact need for psychological rehabilitation
Against the backdrop of a growing number of veterans, these issues may become some of the key challenges for state veteran policy in the coming years.
