Support for Defenders in Difficult Life Circumstances: Who Can Receive Financial Assistance

While defending Ukraine from the aggressor who unleashed a full-scale war, Ukrainian defenders may also face challenging personal situations. In such cases, the state has provided additional support.

One such tool is financial assistance to address social and household needs. It may be granted once a year, provided there is one of the grounds listed below. In 2026, it is paid in the amount of a service member’s monthly service remuneration. This includes the base salary, rank pay, long service increment, and monthly additional types of service remuneration, excluding rewards.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explains who is eligible to receive financial assistance in 2026 and how to apply for the payment.

Who can receive financial assistance

Financial assistance may be granted to:

• service members with disabilities resulting from injury (concussion, trauma, or mutilation) related to the defense of the Motherland;
• families of service members who have been taken prisoner (except those who surrendered voluntarily), are held hostage, interned in neutral states, or are missing in action.

Financial assistance is also provided if, in 2026 or in December 2025:

• a service member was killed, or the service member’s spouse, children, or parents passed away;
• a service member had a child born or adopted a child;
• the health condition of a service member, their spouse, children, or parents deteriorated. This includes, for example, tuberculosis, oncological diseases, or multi-stage surgical treatment.

A detailed list is available via the link. It is important that these circumstances are confirmed by medical documentation.