This policy paper discusses some of the challenges Ukraine is facing in supporting its growing number of veterans in a timely and effective manner. Ukraine is not alone in developing its policies, as many international stakeholders are involved, not least in the development of veterans’ policy. The paper as well as a complementary virtual Knowledge Exchange Event, held on 19 December 2025, identify two issues as particularly critical for veterans’ policy – early transition support and timely mental health support – for two reasons: i) these two aspects determine the success of other elements of veterans’ policy and ii) they both seem less in focus in the national discussion than several other policy aspects.
Policies and experiences from other countries can help in guiding policy development in Ukraine. The scale and nature of problems Ukraine is facing now and soon is very different from the problems the countries used as comparators (Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States) have been facing in the past few decades, when their policies have been developed and evolved. The importance of early support in the transition from service to civilian life and of early and continuous mental health support are evident from the experiences in all countries, however.
There are at least two strong reasons for more work in this policy space by the OECD:
First, the world is changing and becoming more unstable and less predictable at fast speed. While veterans’ policy might not have seemed to be a core issue for OECD countries for many decades, this may no longer be the case today and in the future. Countries have already decided to increase their defence spending dramatically in the coming years. Thinking about policies and the capacity to support veterans effectively may only be a logical next step.
Second, veterans’ policy is an inherently horizontal and cross-sectoral policy issue, spanning areas such as social policy, family services, skills policy, employment policy, housing policy, rehabilitation and education programmes, health policy, and mental health policy. Key lessons from these policy areas can be transferred to veterans’ policy, including first and foremost the need for i) early identification of needs, ii) prevention and early intervention, and iii) integrated policies and service delivery, three key elements throughout OECD’s work.