Kyiv, 5 June 2024 – The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine has introduced a new electronic document in the Diia mobile application: the veteran's ID. The service is available for veterans, people with disabilities resulting from war, and family members of deceased veterans.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, implemented this service with the assistance of the DIA Support Project, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine with funding from Sweden. The project received additional expert support from the DT4UA project, which is implemented by the E-Governance Academy, funded by the European Union.

The veteran's certificate is one of the long-awaited documents for Ukrainians, noted Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

“From now on, more than 1 million Ukrainians can use an electronic identity card in various life situations — from obtaining a mortgage to receiving social services,” Fedorov said. “This eliminates the need to carry a paper version of the document. We’re working on the digitalization of services to minimize bureaucracy in the army and make the interaction between the military and the state as convenient as possible.” 

The main goal of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine is to make services for veterans simple, accessible, and fast, noted Minister of Veterans Affairs, a.i. Oleksandr Porhun.

“This applies not only to electronic capabilities, but also to administrative services in TsNAPs (Administrative Service Centres). We’re scaling these projects throughout Ukraine, and 869 Single Veterans’ Windows have already been opened, where you can get all the necessary information and issue documents without waiting in line,” he said.

“We’ve also started a number of projects that will soon be operational. An e-Karta (eMap) of services and opportunities from territorial communities is being implemented. It’s already been piloted in two regions — Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil. The development of an e-Karta of vacancies for veterans has been launched, which will simplify access to employment. The veteran community will be able to quickly learn about all available job offers on the labour market, and employers will, accordingly, know about job applications from veterans.” 

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine Christophoros Politis emphasized that supporting veterans is one of the UNDP's key work priorities. 

“Our efforts are focused on securing, together with partners from the government, the civil society and the private sector, necessary conditions and put in place most effective tools to make it easier for veterans to access and receive public services,” he said. “The launch of an electronic ID card, developed with support from Sweden, is one such instruments, designed to simplify and optimize the interaction between the state and veterans and their family members. We believe that such initiatives are building blocks of a true inclusive recovery process in Ukraine.”

To add a veteran’s ID in Diia, users need to scroll through all the documents in the application and click “Add document.” Select “Veteran ID,” give permission to receive data, and click “Add ID.” The document will appear in the application within a few minutes.

Previously, the UNDP in Ukraine, funded by Sweden, supported the development of two electronic services on the e-Veteran portal: accepting applications for the competitive selection of candidates for the positions of veteran assistants, as part of the pilot project in four regions – Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Mykolaiv, and registration for selection for the national team for the Invictus Games. In 2024, applicants sent a record number of applications through this tool – 500. In a strategic partnership with the Government of Japan, the UNDP also supported the Ministry of Veterans in the implementation of the new state veterans policy, aimed, in particular, at forming and implementing the “Transition” system for the transition of veterans to civilian life, which includes a corresponding electronic service on the e-Veteran portal.

In addition, the UNDP and Sweden provided technical support for the launch of initiatives to provide grants to veterans to develop their own businesses within the framework of the eRobota programme, for an educational and grant programme called “Trajectory” for veteran entrepreneurs starting up and developing a business, and for the provision of financial assistance from the Red Cross of Ukraine for veterans who received a disability resulting from the war.

Media inquiries

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Communications Team Leader, yuliia.samus@undp.org