Verkhovna Rada grants the combatant status to volunteers of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Today, March 15, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted as a basis and in general the bill “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans, Guarantees of Their Social Protection” to clarify the rules governing the definition of categories of persons recognized as war veterans and family members of fallen Defenders of Ukraine” (registered as bill №7151), which was developed on the initiative of the Ministry of Veterans and with the support of the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada.

344 MPs voted in favor.

The adopted document is essential in the realities of today during the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. At the legislative level, it recognizes volunteers of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as war veterans. It also determines the category of persons - the families of the deceased Defenders of Ukraine with the appropriate provision of benefits and guarantees established by law.

“Since the very beginning of the large-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, thousands of volunteers have actively joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces in order to strengthen the defense capabilities of our country. And today, at the initiative of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Parliament has legally recognized their status. The category of persons - the families of the perished Women and Men Defenders of Ukraine - has been determined separately. Thanks to you, our volunteers, we will definitely win!" highlighted Minister for Veterans of Ukraine Yuliia Laputina.

In addition, the adopted amendments stipulate that persons who were awarded the Golden Star Order for outstanding heroic deeds in defending the Motherland, full cavaliers of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, persons awarded the Order of Princess Olha, now belong to the category of persons with special merits before the Motherland with the provision of benefits and guarantees established by law for this category of citizens.