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The need for systemic support to Ukrainian soldiers who became disabled as a result of hostilities

Doc. 16464: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16464 | 28/09/2026 | Provisional version

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1The Parliamentary Assembly deplores the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and highlights that one of its most dramatic and long-term consequences is the unprecedented increase in the number of soldiers and civilians who became disabled as a result of the war. The scale of this phenomenon constitutes one of the greatest social challenges facing Ukraine today and in the years to come, and one in which all European countries should feel engaged. Not least because this challenge, if well addressed, may also help to understand and develop the most forward thinking and successful approaches to the full inclusion of persons with disabilities to all aspects of society, on an equal basis and without any discrimination.

In the draft resolution, paragraph 1, at the end of the first sentence, insert the following words:

"including through deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war and civilian detainees."

2The number of persons with disabilities resulting from the war exceeded 200 000 in 2024 and continues to rise. Between 15% and 20% of this group may consist of persons with sensory impairments, including hearing loss, vision loss or dual sensory disabilities. In 2025, more than 33 000 soldiers received rehabilitation in military medical facilities.
3More than 435 000 people received free rehabilitation services in 2025 under the Medical Guarantees Programme, compared with approximately 366 000 patients in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, 229 159 Ukrainians received rehabilitation services through the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), including more than 89 000 in inpatient settings. Veterans and military personnel make up a significant portion of service recipients.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 3, insert the following paragraph:

"As there are over 75 000 women serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, their specific needs and circumstances should be integrated into the country’s veterans’ policy so that it fully addresses the reintegration and rehabilitation of women veterans with disabilities".

Explanatory note

Women actively participate in the Ukrainian armed forces, in a variety of roles. Some of them have also become persons with disabilities as a result of hostilities and therefore their specific needs to recover and reintegrate should also be an integral part of Ukraine’s national veterans’ policy.

4With regard to prosthetic care, in 2024 Ukrainian services provided prostheses and assistive devices to approximately 11 400 individuals, including 2 500 military personnel, while the total number of prostheses of various types distributed reached nearly 20 000. In the first six months of 2025, 9 400 upper and lower limb prostheses had already been provided.

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 4, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly welcomes the measures already taken by the Ukrainian authorities under wartime conditions, including the creation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the deployment of a network of veteran support specialists in local communities, the digitalisation of veteran services, the expansion of the national rehabilitation and prosthetic network, and the development of specialised centres such as the Superhumans Center and the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Centre. It also welcomes the establishment, with Canada, of a new international multi-donor fund for Ukrainian veterans and their families, launched in September 2026, which provides an open platform for States and other partners willing to support Ukraine’s veterans to contribute to a common, co-ordinated effort. These achievements demonstrate that Ukraine is building the foundations of a modern veterans’ policy and provide a sound basis on which international support should build."

5The Assembly firmly reaffirms the obligations of member States under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and emphasises the necessity of ensuring that Ukrainian veterans with disabilities can fully participate in social, professional, family, and civic life.
6It underlines that the obligation to ensure rehabilitation, accessibility, and full social participation of persons with disabilities derives not only from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but also from the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), the European Social Charter (ETS No. 35), and Council of Europe standards concerning the protection of human dignity, non-discrimination, and social inclusion. Rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons affected by armed conflict should be regarded as an element of human rights protection and as an obligation of a democratic State.

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 6, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly recalls that the Russian Federation bears full responsibility under international law for the injury, loss and damage caused by its aggression, including the lifelong costs of rehabilitation, prosthetic care and social reintegration of persons who became disabled as a result of the war."

7The Assembly emphasises that support for veterans cannot be limited to hospital treatment, prosthetic care or the provision of equipment. Rehabilitation should be understood as a continuous process of returning to independent living, encompassing clinical rehabilitation, adaptation of the home environment, with particular attention to family support, mental health care, access to information, social and professional reintegration, and professional case management.
8The Assembly highlights the particular needs of veterans living outside major urban centres, persons with dual sensory disabilities, families acting as informal caregivers and unemployed veterans.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 8, insert the following sentence:

"It further highlights the particular needs of women veterans, who should be given visibility, in particular as they face gender stereotypes concerning their role in society".

Explanatory note

Many Ukrainian women play a very active role in the army, but they face a lack of recognition as veterans, including as veterans with disabilities, which can have an impact on their access to rights and support services.

9In light of the above, the Assembly calls on member States to earmark at least 10% of their national funds allocated to the reconstruction of Ukraine for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities.

In the draft resolution, paragraph 9, replace the words after "member States" with the following words:

", when programming their future support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, to provide additional funding, equivalent to at least 10% of their national funds allocated to reconstruction, dedicated to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities, and to draw for this purpose also on frozen Russian sovereign assets and the proceeds thereof."

10It urges member States that have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine (CETS No. 229).
11The Assembly also calls on the Ukrainian authorities, with the support of Council of Europe member States and partners to:
11.1develop a comprehensive and coherent veterans’ policy encompassing: a single transparent pathway for access to benefits and services (“one-stop shop”); long-term rehabilitation; a specialised military medicine pathway; psychological support; home-based care; adaptation of the living environment; professional reintegration; development of veteran peer mentoring; accessibility of public infrastructure and transport;

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 11.1, insert the following words:

"specialised rehabilitation pathways for released prisoners of war and civilian detainees, including treatment of the physical and psychological consequences of torture and ill-treatment in Russian captivity;"

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 11.1, insert the following sentence:

"All veterans with disabilities should have access to all the rights, benefits and support services included in the veterans’ policy, without discrimination on any ground".

Explanatory note

It would be appropriate to explicitly spell out that the veterans’ policy should be applied in a non-discriminatory way encompassing all possible grounds of discrimination, as this may require specific measures to ensure that all veterans are treated equally.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 11.1, insert the following paragraph:

"ensure the full participation of veterans with disabilities in all their diversity, and the organisations that represent them, in the development of Ukraine’s veterans’ policy;"

Explanatory note

It is critical that those directly affected by veterans’ policies, including women and LGBTI veterans, have the opportunity to participate in their formulation so that their lived experiences and needs can be fully considered.

11.2ensure the systematic training of health professionals, social workers and case managers specialising in disability and veteran support, with particular attention to rural areas and outreach;
11.3foster and enable the active inclusion of families and informal caregivers in support programmes, with access to psychological care, training and respite services, tailored to their specific needs;

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 11.3, insert the following sentence:

"The partners of LGBTI veterans with disabilities should be considered as ‘families and informal caregivers’ of veterans and be given access to the support programmes, psychological care, training and respite services available".

Explanatory note

The fact that there is no legislation expressly recognising same-sex couples in Ukraine should not lead to the discrimination of LGBTI veterans with disabilities as regards access to rights and services by them and their families, including their partners.

11.4establish a common system for monitoring data concerning the situation of veterans, including the number of persons receiving rehabilitation services; waiting times for services; regional accessibility of services; employment indicators; the situation of families; mental health; accessibility of infrastructure; the needs of persons with sensory disabilities. Such data should be regularly published and used in the planning of public policy.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, paragraph 11.4, last sentence, after the words “Such data should be”, insert the following words:

“disaggregated by sex and”

Explanatory note

It would be important to give visibility to the needs and experiences of women veterans and ensure that they inform the implementation of public policies and the development of future ones.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 11.4, insert the following paragraph:

"implement programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence, targeting military personnel and veterans";

Explanatory note

The Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence –GREVIO’s first evaluation report on Ukraine, published on 4 September 2026, notes with concern that the war of aggression by the Russian Federation has resulted in an increase in violence against women perpetrated by military personnel and veterans, in particular soldiers returning from the frontlines suffering from war-related trauma.

12The Assembly further encourages the use in Ukraine of the opportunities provided by instruments of the Council of Europe Development Bank as a source of financing for social projects with long-term impact, including rehabilitation centres, supported housing, environmental adaptation, family support, professional reintegration and services accessible outside major urban areas.

In the draft resolution, before paragraph 12, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly calls on Council of Europe member States and partners to continue and expand programmes for the treatment, prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in their national medical facilities, and to make such programmes predictable and multi-annual; support the training of Ukrainian rehabilitation specialists, prosthetists, mental health professionals and case managers, including through exchange programmes with their own veterans’ services; guarantee to Ukrainian veterans with disabilities who reside on their territory under temporary protection or other status full access to national rehabilitation, prosthetic and assistive-technology services on a non-discriminatory basis; support demining and mine-victim assistance in Ukraine as an integral part of disability prevention."

CDraft Recommendation

1Recalling its Resolution … (2026) “The need for systemic support to Ukrainian soldiers who became disabled as a result of hostilities”, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends that, as part of the next Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Democratic security for Ukraine”, the Committee of Ministers address Ukraine’s needs regarding soldiers with disabilities.

28 September 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

In the draft recommendation, at the end of paragraph 1, replace the words “soldiers with disabilities” with the following words:

"the reintegration and rehabilitation of veterans with disabilities, including women, LGBTI persons and non-nationals".

Explanatory note

The next Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine should contain measures addressing the reintegration and rehabilitation needs of all persons who participate in the defence of Ukraine against the aggression of the Russian Federation, and who become disabled as a result, including men, women, LGBTI persons and foreign veterans.