On the Issue of Transformation of the Social Protection System for War Veterans in Ukraine

Abstract

Problem setting. The sphere of social protection has always been a key aspect of the formation and implementation of Ukraine’s social policy. The right to social protection guaranteed by Article 46 of the Constitution of Ukraine emphasizes that Ukraine is a social state, the activities of which are aimed at ensuring the right of citizens to social protection. This right includes provision in the event of loss of working capacity, loss of breadwinner, unemployment, old age and other cases stipulated by law. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has become a challenge for all areas of state policy, including social policy, which is aimed at supporting low-income and socially vulnerable categories of the population. In connection with the conduct of active hostilities and the introduction of martial law throughout the territory of Ukraine, a number of changes were made to the system of legislation in the field of social security for military personnel and war veterans, which have a significant impact on the content and scope of their legal status. In general, the transformation of the social security system for war veterans in Ukraine involves a set of measures aimed at improving social protection and their financial situation. This includes reviewing legislation, introducing new social services, developing a system of benefits, and adapting veterans to civilian life. The conducted study of state veteran policy on the protection of the basic constitutional rights of citizens with the status of war veterans allows us to assert that there are several options for the development of state systems of social protection for war veterans, the priority areas of which should be: a) implementing special legislation; b) ensuring the effectiveness of a special state body; c) creating a digital platform for war veterans; d) reviewing and improving all mechanisms that facilitate war veterans’ access to social benefits. The relevance of the scientific study is due to the rapid increase in the number of war veterans in Ukraine and the need to provide them with decent living conditions. Analyses of recent researches and publications. In scientific literature, the issues of social security for vulnerable categories of the population are the subject of research by many Ukrainian scientists, in particular: N. Bolotina, N. Vapnyarchuk, M. Vasyliev, V. Kokhan, P. Rabinovych, A. Sydorenko, N. Stativka, A, O. Nazarenko, Yu. Kryvenko and others. Article’s main body is to conduct an analysis of the category of “transformation of social protection”, to study the features of social protection introduced under martial law for the category of citizens with a special status war veterans, as well as to identify problematic aspects of their legal status as subjects of social protection. Conclusions and prospects for the development. Today it is obvious that point changes, given the increase in the number of veterans in society, are not able to solve the problems that have arisen in the state, and therefore the system requires a comprehensive reorganization with the participation of veterans and their families as beneficiaries of state policy. Transformation of the social security system for war veterans is one of the key directions of state social policy in the war and post-war period. An effective model should be based on the principles of targeting, justice, digital accessibility and dignity. Involving veterans themselves in policy formation is the key to its practicality and sustainability. Thus, modern military conflicts become not only a catalyst for transformations in social states, but also reveal their weaknesses, requiring adaptation to new realities. The future stability of social systems and citizens’ trust in state institutions depend on the ability of governments to effectively respond to these challenges.