On November 20th, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs presented the results of a regular online survey, Portrait of a Veteran. The survey examined the opinions of veterans and active military personnel. The Foundation’s analysts have recorded a tendency to deterioration of public attitudes toward veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian War and assessments of the state’s fulfillment of its obligations to the military in the opinion of the military and veterans.
Yulia Kirillova, a veteran and head of the Department of Educational and Analytical Work of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, emphasized:
“An anonymous online survey is a reliable tool that reflects the key issues and moods among the target audience, in our case, among veterans and military personnel. The vast majority of our respondents are young people. We understand that they will need employment, as this is one of the most popular needs among veterans in the future. Thanks to regular measurements, we can clearly see the areas for supporting veterans and creating opportunities for them.”
The results of the survey emphasized a steady upward trend in the share of veterans who believe that the state does not fully fulfill the obligations and guarantees provided for in policies to support veterans and their families.
Answering the question “In your opinion, is the state fulfilling its obligations to veterans today?”, about half of the respondents – 44.6% – said that the state is rather not fulfilling its obligations. In less than a year, the percentage of veterans who believe that the state does not fulfill its obligations to them at all has doubled (21.4% in October, compared to 8.3% in February 2023). On the other hand, 18.8% of respondents believe that the state rather fulfills its obligations.
Veterans who have transitioned to civilian life believe that society does not respect them. According to a similar survey conducted in February 2023, 4% believed that society “does not respect” veterans at all. This figure doubled to 9.8% in October 2023. The overall share of veterans who are convinced of the lack of respect for them has also increased – 44.1% compared to 25.4% in February 2023 (these are the total answers for the categories “no respect at all” + “rather no respect”).
Oleksiy Tarabukin, Advisor to the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, noted
“The issue of respect for veterans in society and the state’s capabilities should be analyzed in a comprehensive manner. Judging by the figures of systematic surveys, more and more citizens are applying for public services and assessing their quality from different perspectives. High quality services should be the norm for the state. And a clear articulation of problematic issues in society helps to improve them. The study highlights the problems — and this is a red light that should become a guide for further action. We need to create a comprehensive reform of legislation in the field of veterans’ policies, implement global and local projects.”
The current survey showed that the following risks are relevant for veterans: physical health problems and difficulties in obtaining medical care – 55.2% of respondents; psycho-emotional instability – 53.8%; lack of inclusive space and adapted workplace for people with disabilities – 53.2%; lack of understanding of society – 46.6%; problems with obtaining social benefits – 44.5%; lack of work – 42.5%.
At the same time, respondents consider the occurrence of such phenomena as: violation of laws, participation in crime – 36.6% and suicide – 29.1% to be mostly unlikely.
Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, said:
“The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation regularly conducts surveys of both veterans and society in general. The difference in the results we track indicates the stigmatization of the image of a veteran. When stigmatization begins (and it has already begun), we need to work with it quickly. We need to explain to society that the image of a veteran is not the only one. Veterans are all different, and their problems are individual. And they need to be solved together. For example, in close cooperation with civil society, as it works in the United States. There, legal advice to veterans is provided not only by government agencies, but also by universities that work for public or private funds. Therefore, it is naive to expect that one or two ministries in Ukraine will be able to solve all the problems. Let’s work together.”
One of the most common needs of veterans in civilian life is the need for employment. According to the survey results, UVF analysts noticed persistent uncertainty about returning to their jobs after demobilization. This is not surprising, as war and participation in hostilities often change people’s outlook, priorities and plans for life.
In its research, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation analyzes the attitudes of military personnel and veterans about returning to their jobs or starting their own businesses. This issue is covered in the research “Veterans’ Needs 2023” and “Veterans’ Needs and Obstacles to Employment 2023“.
An essential element of building social harmony is understanding each other’s needs. The lack of information or its falsity provokes the formation of myths, rumors, and prejudices, which can result in a deterioration in the quality of the dialogue between veterans and society. Mutual understanding and support of veterans and military personnel are important not after the victory, but now.
Nadiya Adamenko, Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Development and Transformation at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, highlighted:
“The data of opinion polls are not about numbers, but about people who return to their communities every day. Therefore, the transition from military service to civilian life requires a personalized approach. This topic is very relevant now. And comprehensive solutions are important. Today, thanks to the veteran’s assistants, we see two key requests in communities. First, it is support for those veterans who are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in hospitals. For them, the assistants provide a range of consultations and services. Second, it is communication in public spaces about the needs and requests of veterans and their families. This study is a navigator in how to reach the individual policy of the veteran and the real capacities of the community.”
The results of the online survey “Portrait of a Veteran” are available here: https://veteranfund.com.ua/portrait-of-veteran/
You can watch the recording of the event on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation: https://fb.watch/orcGoMqhXs/
The event was attended by:
- Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk — Acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs
- Nadiya Adamenko — Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Development and Transformation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs
- Yulia Kirillova — veteran, Head of the Department of Educational and Analytical Work of the Ukrainian Veterans’ Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs
- Oleksiy Tarabukin — Advisor to the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine
For reference: The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs conducted a regular online survey among veterans and active military personnel. The survey results demonstrated the current needs and problems of the respondents. The online survey of veterans was conducted from October 10 to 22, 2023. A total of 2457 people took part in the survey.
