Benefits for prisoners of war and released military personnel: Entitlements and application procedures

Military personnel who have returned from russian captivity or remain in captivity are entitled to comprehensive state support. Ukrainian legislation provides such individuals with various social guarantees and benefits.

The legal status and social protection of prisoners of war and their family members are governed by the Law of Ukraine “On the Social and Legal Protection of Persons Subjected to Deprivation of Personal Freedom Due to Armed Aggression Against Ukraine, and Their Family Members.”

Individuals officially recognized as having been in captivity are eligible for the following benefits and social guarantees: 

• One-time state financial assistance.
• Annual state financial assistance, which may also be provided to family members during the individual’s captivity.
• Medical, rehabilitative, psychological support, as well as support for social and vocational reintegration.
• Social services.
• Preferential access to sanatorium-resort treatment or reimbursement of associated costs.
• Priority right to receive housing from the pool of temporary accommodations.
• Retention of employment throughout the period of captivity and for six months following release from captivity.
• Entitlement to a one-time voucher for vocational retraining or skills enhancement.
• Exemption from financial obligations and penalties during captivity and six months after release, with the option to restructure debts.
• Tailored support for obtaining education in state and municipal educational institutions.

Additionally, military personnel held in captivity continue to receive their service remuneration. A service member may prepare a written personal directive in any form in advance, designating specific individuals to receive the payment. Without such a directive, their service remuneration is disbursed to the spouse, legal representatives of children, or parents.

Prisoners of war who are active service members or war veterans are also entitled to social guarantees and benefits as stipulated by the Laws of Ukraine: “On the Social and Legal Protection of Military Personnel and Their Family Members” and “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Protection.” 

It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive. The conditions for implementing these benefits and guarantees are specified in resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and orders of relevant ministries. 

How to obtain status and access support 

To access the designated benefits, individuals must first obtain official status as a Person Subjected to Deprivation of Personal Freedom Due to Armed Aggression Against Ukraine. To this end, a service member, their family member, or their legal representative must submit an application to the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. 

The following documents must be attached to the application: 

• Certificate confirming the period of captivity or a document verifying participation in a volunteer formation.
• An extract from the Unified State Register of Pretrial Investigations (if criminal proceedings have been initiated against an individual).
• A report from the Security and Defense Forces regarding an individual. 

A specialized Commission reviews the submitted documents and decides on granting the status. Once the status is confirmed, the person’s details are added to the Unified Register of Persons Subjected to Deprivation of Personal Freedom Due to Armed Aggression Against Ukraine.

A sample application form, approved by Order No. 76 of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine dated January 21, 2025, is available at the following link. The detailed procedure is outlined in Articles 3 and 4 of the Law and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution "Certain Aspects of Implementing the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Social and Legal Protection of Persons Subjected to Deprivation of Personal Freedom Due to Armed Aggression Against Ukraine, and Their Family Members’" dated November 15, 2022, No. 1281.