Injuries sustained during wartime are not only a serious challenge to one’s health but also grounds for receiving comprehensive government support. One form of such support is the granting of the status of a person with a war-related disability (PWD).
🔹Who is eligible for this status?
▪ military personnel and civilians who sustained injuries, concussions, or illnesses during the war;
▪ participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), Joint Forces Operation (JFO), and other security and defense operations;
▪ individuals who participated in combat operations on the territories of other states (as part of a peacekeeping mission);
▪ participants in the mass protests of 2013–2014 (the Revolution of Dignity);
▪ those who participated in demining or other hazardous work.
🔹How do you apply?
1️⃣ Pass a military medical examination (VLK, for military personnel only) and an assessment by an expert team regarding the individual’s daily functioning (EKOPFO).
These commissions confirm that the disability is related to participation in the defense of Ukraine—that is, it resulted from a wound, concussion, injury, or illness sustained during:
▪ combat operations or an anti-terrorist operation;
▪ measures to ensure national security and defense;
▪ measures to repel and deter armed aggression by Russia;
▪ participation in combat operations on the territories of other states or in peacekeeping missions;
▪ participation in the Revolution of Dignity;
▪ participation in demining operations.
2️⃣ Prepare the necessary documents:
📌an application for OIVV status (when submitted via the Diya Portal, the application is generated within the Portal’s interface);
📌a decision by the Expert Team for Assessing an Individual’s Daily Functioning (EKOPFO);
📌Certificate of direct participation in the ATO, Joint Forces Operation, or operations to repel and deter Russia’s armed aggression.
📌Depending on the duration of your military service and the circumstances leading to your disability, you may also be asked to provide other additional documents.
3️⃣ Submit your application for war-related disability status in one of three ways:
📍online via the Diya Portal https://diia.gov.ua/services/status-osoby-z-invalidnistiu-vnaslidok-viiny
📍To the local department responsible for veterans’ affairs at your declared or registered place of residence (stay), or at your actual place of residence (for internally displaced persons).
You can submit documents in paper form: in person, through a legal representative (with a notarized power of attorney) or an authorized person, or by mail.
📍Through the Center for Administrative Services (CAS).
Apply in person or through a legal representative. APSC administrators will help you submit your application in paper or electronic form.
🔹How long does it take to process an application?
Up to 30 calendar days.
🔹When might the application be denied?
▪ if the documents are forged;
▪ if false information is provided;
▪ if there is a court conviction for a serious crime;
▪ if the cause of the disability is not related to combat operations.
🔹What should you do if your application is denied?
If you disagree with the denial, you have the right to appeal the decision in court.
ℹ For more information on OIVV status, visit the Veteran Pro portal at https://veteranpro.gov.ua/your-way/oivv
Need advice? Contact the departments responsible for veteran policy in your region or a specialist who provides support to veterans.
Based on materials from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs