Fostering veterans business development in Ukraine: international experience from the United States

Abstract

Problem Statement. The full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has led to a sharp increase in the number of war veterans, for whom the issue of returning to peaceful life has taken on not only a social but also an economic dimension. After completing their military service, a significant number of veterans face difficulties in finding employment, limited opportunities for professional fulfilment, psychological consequences of combat experience, and the need for financial stability. In these circumstances, the development of veteran-owned businesses is seen as one of the most effective tools for economic reintegration, self-employment and increasing the level of social inclusion of veterans and their families. Despite the existence of individual programmes to support veterans in Ukraine, the system for promoting the development of veteran entrepreneurship remains fragmented, insufficiently coordinated and does not fully take into account the complex needs of this social group. The lack of stable financial mechanisms, limited access to educational and advisory resources, and insufficient coordination between state institutions, local authorities and civil society organisations reduce the effectiveness of the implementation of relevant policies. Purpose of the Article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of social protection and the development of veteran businesses in Ukraine under martial law, as well as to identify ways to adapt best practices for creating an effective state system for reintegration and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives by veterans, based on an analysis of international experience (particularly in the United States). Article’s main body. The article is devoted to researching the promotion of business development among war veterans in Ukraine and international experience in the United States. This article examines the issue of meeting the needs of veterans and adapting best international practices. The latest approaches to the socialisation and adaptation of war veterans are considered. The article examines the topical issue of veteran business as one of the effective tools for economic reintegration, self-employment and increasing the level of social inclusion of veterans and their family members, as well as social protection of war veterans in the context of full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The author analyses the complexity of the social challenges faced by combatants and their families, emphasising the need for a systematic approach to the reintegration and socialisation of veterans. The international experience of supporting veterans in countries such as the United States and the possibility of adapting it to Ukrainian conditions are considered. Key areas of state policy for ensuring the rights and guarantees of this category of the population are identified, including medical, psychological and financial support. Particular attention is paid to the creation of a comprehensive system of support for veterans at the national level, taking into account international legal standards, innovative approaches and the peculiarities of Ukraine’s economy.