Support depends on where you live: why it is harder for veterans in small communities to return to work
The return of veterans to work and entrepreneurship is a key factor in Ukraine’s economic recovery. However, the ability to earn a living again is often determined not only by a person’s state of health or professional experience, but also by where they live.
According to the International Organisation for Migration, in 2025, 63 per cent of veterans surveyed lived in villages or small towns. This is why the availability of services outside major centres affects not only the well-being of families, but also employment, entrepreneurship and the economic capacity of communities.
Key challenges include a lack of information about veterans’ actual needs, limited funding, a shortage of specialists and poor coordination between hospitals, social services, employment centres, military units and local authorities. There are 2,158 support specialists working in 1,318 communities across Ukraine, but the sheer number of posts does not guarantee access to a psychologist, rehabilitation specialist or care services.
Even assistance that is technically free of charge can prove costly for a family. If the services required are only available in another town, there are costs associated with travel, accommodation and support. Regular journeys also make it difficult to balance rehabilitation with work or study. When institutions operate in isolation, it falls to relatives to coordinate support — and the family risks losing two incomes at once: that of the veteran and that of the person caring for them.
A guaranteed basic package of support, regardless of place of residence, can level the playing field. This does not mean that every village must have its own rehabilitation centre. Solutions could include shared services across several communities, visits by specialists, organised transport and remote consultations. At the same time, the state and local authorities must clearly allocate financial responsibility.
A plan for ongoing support should be drawn up before the veteran is discharged from hospital. And the effectiveness of the system should be assessed not by the number of programmes or posts, but by tangible results: the speed at which assistance is received, the person’s level of independence, the possibility of returning to work, and the financial burden on the family.
The right to necessary support must be the same for everyone — regardless of where they live or their ability to work.
❗️The publication by the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE Ukraine) was made with the support of the Civil Society Home of ISAR Ednannia as a part of the project «Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a driver towards reforms and democracy,» funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE Ukraine) and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.