Ukraine's ombudsman says majority of veterans feel their rights are not protected by the state

Why it matters

Lubinets's characterisation — he called the 50% figure a "diagnosis of state inefficiency" — sets a stringent test for the government's treatment of a population that already exceeds 2 million and that he projects could reach 5 million to 6.5 million after the war. The complaint data shows grievances accelerating rather than easing: more than 1,900 cases in the first eight months of 2026 versus slightly more than 2,000 for all of 2025. The findings also expose local service gaps, with psychological support in only 18% of amalgamated communities and rehabilitation in only 20%, and a near-absence of meaningful accountability for officials who fail veterans. The intervention lands in a charged political moment, days after Kyiv protests demanded that the newly appointed civilian Minister for Veterans' Affairs be replaced by a veteran.

What happened

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, told Radio NV that more than 50% of Ukrainian veterans believe their rights are not just being violated but not protected by the state at all. He framed it as a "diagnosis of state inefficiency." The figure comes from an expert survey of more than 1,000 veterans carried out by his office, together with more than 200 monitoring visits to communities over two years and analysis of incoming complaints.

Lubinets said Ukraine currently has more than 2 million veterans and projected that, after the war ends, the number could reach 5 million to 6.5 million — a figure he said should shape state policy across the next three decades. The most frequent grievances concern financial aid, obtaining certificates and documents, and obstacles to medical and psychological rehabilitation. He criticised officials for forcing veterans to gather information themselves from fragmented and unsynchronised registries, and said officials often treat veterans "not just without respect, but simply as unnecessary people."

He reported that psychological support centres have been set up in only 18% of amalgamated territorial communities and rehabilitation services in only 20%, and called for an effective support network in every community as the key change needed. He also said there is currently no real accountability for officials who violate veterans' rights, with most official investigations ending in formal written replies rather than remedies. The Ombudsman's Office received more than 1,900 complaints from military personnel and families of the fallen in the first eight months of 2026, compared with slightly more than 2,000 for all of 2025.

Background

Lubinets's assessment is built on three streams of evidence from his office: an expert survey of more than 1,000 veterans, more than 200 monitoring visits to communities over two years, and the analysis of incoming complaints. The most common grievances relate to financial assistance, obtaining certificates and documents, and obstacles to medical and psychological rehabilitation. Lubinets has said veterans are often left to assemble information themselves from fragmented and unsynchronised registries and are sometimes treated by officials "not just without respect, but simply as unnecessary people."

The political backdrop is the new government appointed on 16 July by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, under Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky. Former Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration head Vitaliy Kim was named Minister for Veterans' Affairs. On 23 July, protests in Kyiv against the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as Minister of Defence also demanded Kim's replacement on the grounds that he is a civilian rather than a military veteran; civil society representatives have argued the post should be held by a veteran. Kim responded by giving himself one year to deliver the changes needed for veterans and announced a new support system built around community and patronage structures for each branch of the armed forces.