Advocates are expanding their legal support for the military and affected businesses

Legal assistance for military personnel should begin with simple and quick consultations, but it should not end there. Typical requests from brigades are compiled into summaries, digital services and proposals to government agencies.

This was discussed during a meeting of the UNBA Committee on the protection of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine, compensation mechanisms and European integration legal support for recovery, which took place in Dnipro with the participation of Committee chairman Andriy Yermak.

One of the key topics of discussion was the work of the «Advocate+» project. It was noted at the meeting that new teams are already joining the project, and the number of requests from military personnel and their family members is growing.

This involves primary legal assistance. Its purpose is to explain the steps a person needs to take, resolve legal uncertainty, and, where possible, address issues at the initial stage.

In practice, a significant portion of the inquiries do not directly concern military service. Typical issues mentioned included frozen bank accounts, loans, inheritance, family matters, document restoration, the status of family members of those killed in action or missing in action, financial payments, and interactions with government agencies.

It was emphasized that, within the framework of this project, an advocate does not replace the military unit’s legal service. The advocate’s role is to help the service member or their family articulate the problem, understand the procedure, and find a legal solution.

The meeting also addressed the project’s digital component. The «Advocate+» platform enables a service member or family member to submit a request to an advocate, briefly describe the issue, and subsequently keep a record of the communication history. At the same time, the platform features useful summaries and step-by-step guides for the most common inquiries.

Another priority identified is support for veterans after they are discharged from service. The launch of a pilot veteran support office was discussed, where veterans and their families could receive advice on benefits, documents, social guarantees, and the practical steps to exercise their rights.

The future employment of service members was also discussed. The meeting discussed the possibility of concluding agreements with businesses that would allow for a deferred start date following demobilization. This mechanism is viewed as a way to provide servicemembers with predictability upon their return and to give employers the opportunity to plan their staffing needs in advance.

Regarding compensation mechanisms, the need to transition from documenting damages to their subsequent implementation in specific cases was discussed. This applies to prisoners of war, civilians, children, veterans, as well as businesses that have lost property or production capacity as a result of attacks.

Following the meeting, the Committee will continue to identify common issues, develop practical guidelines for affected groups, and prepare proposals for government agencies regarding changes to procedures and compensation mechanisms.

As a reminder, the UNBA Committee on the protection of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine, compensation mechanisms and European integration legal support for recovery recently prepared a third legal guide for National Guard servicemembers.