Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Yurii Myronenko, said this during an event dedicated to the anniversary of the Public…
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has reminded what education-related benefits servicemembers and their families can use in 2026.
This was reported on the Ministry’s website on January 12.
Educational benefits for servicemembers
According to the Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Servicemembers and Members of Their Families”, defenders have the right to education, including postgraduate education and advanced training, at:
- higher military educational institutions;
- military education units of higher education institutions;
- institutions of professional pre-higher military education;
- other higher education institutions.
Servicemembers who entered military service under contract as officers are allowed to study at other higher education institutions without interruption of service after completing a period of service equal to the duration of their previous higher education.
Other categories of servicemembers are allowed to study at other higher education institutions without interruption of service in accordance with procedures defined by relevant regulations on military service. This also applies to servicemembers aged 18 to 25 who do not have higher education.
“At the same time, this benefit does not apply to servicemembers undergoing basic military service, military service (training) of cadets of higher military educational institutions and higher education institutions that include military institutes, faculties of military training, military training departments or divisions, as well as military service by conscription of officers”, — the Ministry of Defense noted.
Persons conscripted for basic military service or officer conscription during their studies at higher education institutions of accreditation levels I–IV, upon discharge from military service, are enrolled to continue their studies at the educational institution where they studied prior to conscription, regardless of the form of study.
When servicemembers serving under contract or on career military service change their place of service, as well as upon discharge due to age, health condition, or staff reductions or organizational measures, their family members who are studying or being educated at state educational institutions have the right to transfer to state educational institutions closest to the new place of service or place of residence.
Educational benefits for children of servicemembers
The Ministry emphasized that children of servicemembers are granted priority placement at general education institutions, preschool institutions, and children’s health camps at the place of residence of their families, regardless of ownership.
A person whose one parent is a servicemember with 20 or more years of service (calendar calculation); whose one parent is a citizen discharged from military service due to age, health condition, or staff reductions or organizational measures with 20 or more years of service; or whose one parent is a servicemember who became a person with a disability as a result of a service-related illness, has preferential admission to:
- military lyceums;
- lyceums with enhanced military and physical training;
- higher military educational institutions and higher education institutions that include military institutes, faculties or departments of military training;
- institutions of professional pre-higher military education.
“This is possible provided that entrance exams are successfully passed and other admission requirements are met, within three years after obtaining the level of general secondary education required for admission”, — the Ministry noted.
A person whose parent (adoptive parent) was a servicemember who died or was declared missing in action by a court while performing military duties is admitted вне competition, by personal choice of specialty, to state and municipal higher and vocational education institutions of Ukraine within three years after obtaining the relevant general secondary education, with studies funded by state or local budgets.
The Ministry added that the state provides participants in hostilities (persons with war-related disabilities) and their children — including those studying full-time at vocational, professional pre-higher, and higher education institutions — until completion of education but no longer than until the age of 23, with state targeted support for obtaining vocational, professional pre-higher, and higher education at state and municipal institutions.
State targeted support is provided in the form of:
- full or partial payment of tuition from state and local budgets;
- preferential long-term education loans;
- social scholarships;
- free provision of textbooks;
- free access to the Internet and databases in educational institutions;
- free accommodation in dormitories;
- other measures approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
The procedure and conditions for providing state targeted support are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
