Two sources of income are at risk: why caring for a wounded veteran affects the entire economy
After the war, the number of veterans and their family members could reach 5–6 million, or, according to broader estimates, as many as 9 million — more than a quarter of Ukraine’s population. Their reintegration, employment, and ability to support themselves will therefore directly affect the pace of the country’s recovery.
In a column for RBC-Ukraine, Olena Bychkova, a veterans policy expert at CASE Ukraine, explains that the shortage of professional long-term care creates hidden economic losses. If an injured veteran is unable to work while a family member leaves their job or reduces their working hours to provide care, the household risks losing two incomes at once. Employers lose workers, the public budget loses tax revenue, and demand for social assistance increases.
Families currently provide around 65% of the required care themselves, or these needs remain unmet. The state can cover only 21% of actual demand. Relatives are responsible not only for daily care but also for arranging rehabilitation, transportation, paperwork, and communication with different institutions. Lost earnings are compounded by expenses for treatment, travel, accommodation, and home adaptations.
Ukraine still lacks representative data on the economic losses experienced by caregivers. However, a RAND study in the United States found that caregivers lose an average of more than $4,500 in potential income annually, while 27% have to reduce their working hours, change jobs, or face discrimination.
Support should be planned before a veteran is discharged from hospital, taking into account both the veteran’s needs and the family’s capacity to provide care. An individual support plan may include professional home care, a personal assistant, day services, accessible transportation, respite care, and psychological support.
The system’s effectiveness should be assessed by whether veterans receive the assistance they need, whether their relatives can remain employed, and whether families are pushed into poverty by caregiving responsibilities. These services are not merely social expenditure but an investment in preserving employment, household incomes, and Ukraine’s human capital.
❗️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.