East SOS Team Strengthens Competencies in Social and Legal Support for Veterans and Their Families
Since January 2026, East SOS has been providing social and legal support to veterans and their families, as well as referrals to partner organizations with relevant expertise when needed.
To strengthen this work, the Foundation’s lawyers, case managers, and social support team members completed a series of tailored trainings led by human rights experts from the NGO “Pryncyp”. The trainings were conducted by Hanna Karachevska, Olha Holiuk, Yuliia Raketa, Oksana Yavorska, and Andrii Tetiurk.
As part of the training, the team learned about the pathway wounded service members go through – from evacuation and treatment to undergoing evaluation by military medical commissions, establishing disability status or degree of work capacity loss, obtaining veteran status, preparing the necessary documents, and accessing benefits and allowances.
Particular attention was given to appealing the decisions of military medical commissions, both administratively and in court, including practical case studies involving veterans discharged from service.
The team also studied the procedures for functional assessment examinations, applying for one-time financial assistance, obtaining combatant status and disability status resulting from war, as well as state and regional support programs for veterans.
Another part of the training focused on veterans’ benefits and guarantees in healthcare, housing programs, education, transportation, labor relations, taxation, and regional compensation programs.
“It was extremely valuable to receive clear action algorithms, explanations of rights, and protection mechanisms in case of rejections or violations. We are especially grateful for the analysis of real-life cases and the comprehensive answers to our questions – this will strengthen confidence in our daily work,” noted Marina Makhnytska, East SOS Protection Officer.
Later, the Foundation’s team members also completed training sessions led by Yana Maksymenko – an attorney, managing partner of “Donets and Partners”, and veteran.
During the webinars, the team learned how to advise families of people missing under special circumstances, reviewed court practice related to the protection of rights, benefits, and allowances, procedures for establishing death or captivity, and providing further legal support to such families. Our team members also elevated their communication skills when working with veterans.
“The legal assistance is, without exaggeration, one of the most important and relevant areas today, as the rights and interests of veterans and their families must be protected. Yana has a lot of expertise, practical experience, and knowledge of court practice in protecting veterans’ rights. The training significantly increased our confidence and encouraged us to further work on veteran-focused legal assistance,” shared the Foundation’s Senior Lawyer Oleh Bordiuh.
The meetings helped the Foundation’s team members deepen their understanding of procedures, rights, and possible courses of action in situations brought to them by veterans and their families. They also contributed to a shared vision of support and strengthened interdisciplinary cooperation between lawyers, the social support team, and case managers within the Foundation.
The trainings were implemented within the project “Empowering Civil Society for Nonviolent Conflict Transformation with State Actors” with financial support from KURVE Wustrow.
As a reminder, the East SOS Advocacy Specialist took part in the presentation of the Ombudsman’s special report on local support programs for internally displaced people.
