Additional payments to the pensions of war veterans will be raised by 30-50% from May 1, 2012, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.
"It’s time to increase payments to war veterans and disabled veterans and modernize pensions, which will help us increase their size and strengthen the social protection of retirees, veterans of military service, war veterans and the families of deceased disabled veterans. Tangible steps in overcoming injustice with respect to these worthy people will be made in May," he said at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Organization of Veterans of Ukraine.
Yanukovych said that every disabled veteran would also receive a one-time assistance payment of about Hr 2,000 by May 1 and that pensions for retired military personnel would grow by Hr 184 from July 1.
"This is only the first step. In subsequent budgets, we will continue to strengthen the social protection of war and labor veterans, and military retirees," Yanukovych said.
