Evolution of the social protection system for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:a chronological analysis and contemporary challenges

Abstract

Background. The article examines the legal regulation of social protection of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the time of Ukraine's independence to the current conditions of full-scale war. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to adapt the existing legal and regulatory framework to new social challenges, particularly the need for fair and effective provision for military personnel and their families during the ongoing russian-Ukrainian war.
Methods. The study employs legal and regulatory analysis to examine current legislation, comparative analysis to identify regulatory cycles, and document analysis of official decisions, resolutions, and legislative proposals related to the social protection of servicemen.
Results. The article presents the legal regulation mechanism of social protection for servicemen as a cyclical process comprising five key stages: problem initiation, legislative development, adoption, implementation, and monitoring. Based on a chronological analysis covering the period from 1991 to 2025, five major cycles in the legal regulation development have been identified. Each cycle is characterized by shifts in priorities and renewal of social guarantees in response to evolving circumstances.
Conclusions. Social protection for military personnel in Ukraine is a dynamic system that is constantly adapting to new challenges. The established chronology of cycles enables a better understanding of the patterns of legal regulation development in this area and can serve as a foundation for further reforms. The current fifth cycle, aimed at rehabilitation, psychological support, and the return of military personnel to peaceful life after the end of hostilities, requires particular attention. The authors have systematized the legal regulation of social protection for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a cyclical mechanism with five stages. Five chronological cycles of development (1991–2025) have been identified, each corresponding to key historical and political conditions. The authors propose a scheme for the implementation of legal regulation and a chronological schedule of cycles to visualize the evolution. The directions of reforms for the fifth cycle are determined from among psychological support, rehabilitation, and reintegration of military personnel into peaceful life.