Efforts to Expand Social Protections for Veterans and Supporters of Military Operations
An initiative led by Andrey Kutepov, head of the Committee on Economic Policy in the Federation Council, proposes widening the group of socially vulnerable citizens to include participants and veterans connected to the special military operation in Ukraine, as well as volunteers who assisted those efforts. The draft law has moved to the office of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for final refinement. The aim is to strengthen protections and support during the transition from active service or involvement in military operations to civilian life, reflecting a broader assessment of needs and challenges faced by this community in North America and beyond.
The proposal would classify individuals who served in the armed forces in a special region and those who work with small or medium-sized enterprises to advance social entrepreneurship, along with veterans who took part in military operations, as part of the socially vulnerable group. The explanatory note explains how the arrangement aligns with social entrepreneurship goals that emphasize delivering socially useful outcomes and addressing public issues. The note is maintained by the relevant agency for review and reflects the position of the sponsors and their supporters.
Within the explanatory note, provisions are outlined to ease the shift from military service back to civilian life. Measures include creating post-service employment opportunities, enabling a change of occupation, and supporting retraining for those returning from affected regions. These steps aim to reduce barriers to employment and help individuals rejoin the civilian workforce, while encouraging sustained economic participation and social integration in communities across North America and Europe as well as in Russia.
Under the current policy, the criteria for recognizing a small or medium-sized business as a social enterprise focus on employing specific categories of citizens. These categories include single parents or grandparents raising minor children, people with disabilities, pensioners or those nearing retirement, graduates from orphanages under the age of 23, refugees, economically disadvantaged individuals, those serving or having completed terms in detention, ex-convicts, and people experiencing homelessness. The proposed changes would broaden the pool of eligible workers and beneficiaries, aiming to increase social impact through inclusive employment practices and community-based initiatives, while aligning with broader workforce development efforts in North America and beyond.
Public figures and advocates are calling for a renewed examination of the laws governing benefits for participants in military operations and their families to ensure broader support. The recommendations emphasize expanding access to assistance programs, rehabilitation services, and career-transition resources, reflecting a continued commitment to welfare, resilience, and comprehensive aftercare for veterans and their support networks across multiple regions.