MoD expands psychological support for service members by integrating civilian specialists into the process

The Ministry of Defence has approved the Procedure for Organizing Psychological Support, which, among other provisions, allows civilian specialists to provide appropriate support to service members.

The corresponding order (Order No. 738 of 11 November 2025) was signed by the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

The document sets out the general principles for providing support to service members, aiming to preserve human resources, stabilize their psycho-emotional state, and restore psychological resilience. The Procedure was developed with consideration of the experience gained by the psychological services of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the russian–Ukrainian war, as well as the core NATO standardization agreements.

A key innovation is enabling the involvement of civilian psychologists in providing support. These are specialists listed in the Registry of Providers of Psychological Assistance for Veterans and Their Families, maintained by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter – the Registry).

In line with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Resolution No. 1338, dated 29 November 2022), all service members who took part in Ukraine’s defense efforts, and their family members, are eligible to receive these support services during martial law and for three months after it ends. This decision will significantly expand the capacity to provide high-quality psychological support while reducing the workload on military psychologists.

The Procedure stipulates that psychological counselling, psychodiagnostic, psychocorrectional, and restorative measures will be carried out by:

• personnel of psychological support units (with relevant professional education);
• specialists with the relevant professional education, from healthcare institutions within the Ministry of Defence system and from other institutions;
• civilian psychologists who are listed in the Registry.

In addition, first psychological aid and peer support will be provided by service members who have completed the relevant training.

Psychological support will be tailored as close as possible to service members’ needs and provided at permanent deployment sites, in combat zones, in combat capability restoration areas, and in medical units, healthcare facilities, and rehabilitation centers.

The document standardizes the forms of support, including crisis psychological interventions (debriefing), diagnostic procedures, counseling, restoration (decompression), and psychological correction, as well as psychosocial support methods such as self-help, peer support groups, and psychoeducation.

Service members are guaranteed the voluntary nature of seeking support, as well as the confidentiality of all procedures and the protection of personal data.