PROBLEMATIC ISSUES OF FINANCIAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL AND STATE PROGRAMMES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF VETERANS

Abstract

This article provides a thorough analysis of the current financial and legal support available for veteran rehabilitation programmes in Ukraine. It highlights the importance of rehabilitation policy as a vital part of post-war recovery, focusing on the reintegration of military personnel who have suffered physical and psychological injuries due to armed aggression. The authors emphasise the necessity of a systematic approach to financing rehabilitation services, taking into account the requirements of humanitarian law and the standards of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The primary focus of this analysis is the disparity between the state and international components of funding, in addition to the deficiencies in the regulatory framework that delineates rehabilitation as a continuous process. The fragmentation of current legislation, the absence of unified terminological foundations, inadequate coordination among relevant actors, and the lack of procedural regulation for interagency co-operation are all salient issues. The text goes on to emphasise the discrepancy between the rights of veterans to rehabilitation and their actual access to quality services at the regional level. The following paper sets out to outline the key challenges in financing the veteran rehabilitation system under the conditions of a special period. These include the absence of transparency in public procurement procedures, the lack of an effective mechanism for external control over the use of funds, and the paucity of performance indicators with which to assess expenditure efficiency. It is imperative to acknowledge the disparity in the financing mechanisms for the multifaceted components of rehabilitation, encompassing the medical, psychosocial, domestic, and occupational domains. This disparity hinders the comprehensive resolution of challenges associated with the adaptation and integration of veterans into society. The analysis conducted has resulted in the formulation of well-founded proposals for the improvement of normative legal acts, the introduction of independent monitoring, the involvement of civil society institutions in the development of individual rehabilitation plans, and the enhancement of transparency in procurement in this field. The creation of a unified basic law on rehabilitation and the introduction of an indicative system for evaluating the performance of service provision are proposed. The results obtained in this study are of practical significance for the formation of a new model of state policy in the field of post-war rehabilitation. They can be used in the activities of central and local executive authorities, healthcare institutions, academic institutions, as well as in the process of law-making and the development of budget programs. Subject of the article. The subject of this article is the financial and legal foundations of the functioning of international and state rehabilitation programmes for veterans in Ukraine. The article focuses particularly on the issues of their regulatory framework, funding, intersectoral coordination, and implementation mechanisms for rehabilitation services aimed at the comprehensive recovery of military personnel affected by war. Research methods. To ensure objectivity and interdisciplinary analysis, a set of general scientific and specialised legal methods was employed in the course of preparing this article. The formal legal method was employed to analyse the norms of Ukrainian and international law relating to rehabilitation, and to highlight any legal discrepancies. The system-structural method facilitated the analysis of institutional interactions and relationships among the legal, financial and social elements of the system. Meanwhile, the comparative legal approach made it possible to compare the Ukrainian model with the practices of the European Union. The method of legal hermeneutics was employed to unify legal concepts, and a socio-economic analysis was conducted to assess financing efficiency and identify risks in public procurement. Analytical and logical-normative methods were employed to summarise the data and develop recommendations to enhance the financial and legal support for rehabilitation programmes. Purpose of the article. The article aims to conduct a comprehensive study of the financial and legal foundations of international and state rehabilitation programmes for veterans, in the context of armed aggression against Ukraine. This includes identifying gaps in the current regulatory framework and organisational and financial imbalances in the implementation of relevant programmes, as well as developing conceptual proposals to improve the financing, coordination, control and regulatory unification mechanisms of rehabilitation policy in Ukraine. The article focuses on the structural barriers of a legal, institutional and resource-related nature that hinder veterans' access to comprehensive medical, social, psychosocial and occupational rehabilitation. Conclusion. The article concludes that Ukraine currently lacks a coherent mechanism for implementing veteran rehabilitation programmes that can ensure the integrated provision of medical, psychological, social, domestic, educational and occupational interventions. It identifies substantial gaps in the regulatory framework, particularly with regard to terminological ambiguity, the absence of unified approaches to determining the scope of services and the lack of a clear division of responsibilities between state authorities and local self-government bodies. The study emphasises the critical lack of institutional and financial foundations necessary for the rehabilitation system to function stably. The existing funding model is ineffective due to the absence of external monitoring mechanisms, a lack of transparent reporting and inefficiencies in public procurement procedures and resource allocation. These shortcomings prevent adequate fulfilment of veterans' needs, particularly in regions where shortages of specialised institutions and professionals are exacerbated by infrastructural inaccessibility. The research conducted substantiates the necessity for a structural reform of the rehabilitation system. This would include harmonising the legal framework, strengthening intersectoral co-operation, establishing an effective quality control mechanism for services, and developing financial instruments to facilitate the long-term integration of veterans into public life.