Analysis of demographic trends and social reforms in Ukraine: Development Strategy until 2040 and New Initiatives in Social Protection
1.Overview of the demographic trends of Ukraine
On 30 September 2024, the Cabinet adopted Resolution №922-p, approving the Strategy for Demographic Development of Ukraine until 2040 (the Strategy). The Strategy is a long-term programme document that defines Ukraine's main demographic challenges and threats, as well as strategic goals and objectives to overcome them and address social and humanitarian problems. The following overview of the Strategy includes principal statistic data and key aspects of negative demographic trends.
NB: The Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP) consolidated all the numbers reflected in this item of the Legal Alert in the Strategy.
2.The Cabinet Streamlines State Social Assistance Applications by Reducing Paperwork
On 23 August 2024, the Cabinet adopted Decree №968, digitalising the procedures of applications for various types of state social support, introducing the following:
3.The Parliament Enhances Provisions on Rehabilitation, Healthcare and Employment of Individuals with Disabilities
On 21 August 2024, the Parliament issued Law №3911-IX9 aimed at improving the mechanism of employment quotas for persons with disabilities, broadening rehabilitation services and establishing new standards for medical professionals.
4.The Cabinet Simplified Access to One-off Assistance for Death or Disability of Persons
Background information: On 29 April 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Decree №336, introducing the Procedure for granting one-off
assistance to persons with disability caused by war and family members of fallen (deceased) military personnel. Subsequently, the Procedure expanded the list of the entitled persons.
Recent developments: On 25 September 2024, the Cabinet issued Decree №1090, simplifying the procedure for getting one-off assistance to persons with disability caused by war and family members of fallen (deceased) military personnel.
5.The Cabinet Approved One-off Assistance for Winterization
On 30 August 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Decree № 993, establishing one-off assistance for the purchase of solid fuel for the heating season 2024/2025.
6.Grants for bachelor`s degrees have been introduced in Ukraine
No grants have ever been introduced in Ukraine before this decree.
Recent developments: On 18 July 2024 the Cabinet adopted, and later on 13 September 2024 the Cabinet amended Decree №82220, introducing a pilot project of grant support to cover part of the tuition fee for pursuing a bachelor`s degree (for medical and veterinary students – also a master`s degree).
7.100% compensation for humanitarian demining of land plots
Background information: In March 2024, the Cabinet adopted Decree №284, approving the Procedure for Compensation of Costs for Humanitarian Demining of Agricultural Land. The compensation is a one-off payment for the demining of each land plot. The amount of compensation is 80 % of the cost of services of humanitarian demining23.
Recent developments: On 30 August 2024 the Cabinet adopted Decree №990, amending, among others, terms of compensation for services of the demining of agricultural land plots provided from 15 April 2024. Previously the agriculture producers had to cover 20 % of the cost24, now all of 100 % of the cost of such services at the expense of budgetary funds.
20 Amendments adopted by the Cabinet with the Decree №1059, Link: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1059-2024-%D0%BF#Text
21 The amount of the grant will be multiplied by a coefficient depending on the specialization.
22 The average price for a year of study in higher educational institutions was UAH 23,491 in 2023, compared
to UAH 20,532 in 2022.
23 For more information, please, see DRC`s Legal Special Alert on Humanitarian demining, Issue 104, Link: https://pro.drc.ngo/media/dvte5khs/legal-alert-104-special-issue-on-humanitarian-demining.pdf
24 For more information, please, see DRC LA Special, Issue 104, Link: https://pro.drc.ngo/media/dvte5khs/legal-alert-104-special- issue-on-humanitarian-demining.pdf
Other developments:
1.The Temporary Special Commission on the Property and Non-Property Rights of IDPs published a preliminary report, outlining key measures for housing, compensation, and financial assistance from the State for IDPs and other war-affected population (Decree №3921-IX of 21 August 2024)
This Legal Alert was produced under the project funded by the European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Some of the terminology used in this issue of the Legal Alert was taken from draft laws or current legislation. The contents of this brochure are the sole responsibility of the author/authors. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). Neither the European Commission nor the DRC is responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.