The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine parliament, has passed the bill to amend the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of War Veterans, Guarantees of their Social Protection" regarding the enhancement of social protection of participants in the struggle for the independence of Ukraine in the 20th century.
A total of 236 out of the 326 lawmakers registered in the session hall backed Bill No. 8519, an UNIAN correspondent reported on December 6.
According to the document, the list of combatants also includes those who took part in all forms of the armed struggle for Ukraine's independence in the 20th century as part of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Polissian Sich, the Ukrainian People's Revolutionary Army (UNRA), the Carpathian Sich People's Defense Organization, the Ukrainian Military Organization (UVO), and the armed units of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
In accordance with the law on the legal status and remembrance of the fighters for the independence of Ukraine in the 20th century, they are recognized "fighters for the country's independence in the 20th century."
The procedure for granting the combatant status shall be established by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Earlier, the relevant provision of the bill referred to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army who participated in hostilities against the German fascist invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in 1941-1944, who did not commit crimes against peace and humanity and who were rehabilitated under the law on the rehabilitation of victims of political repression in Ukraine.
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According to the All-Ukrainian Brotherhood of the OUN-UPA named after General-Khorunzhyi Roman Shukhevych, as of May 23, 2018, the number of participants in the struggle for Ukraine's independence in the 20th century from among armed units of OUN and UPA was estimated at 1,201 people, an explanatory note to the bill said.
It is noted that the data constitute a specific statistical basis for calculating budget expenditures to ensure the provision of benefits for participants in hostilities.
The law comes into force three months from the date of its publication.
