What payments and benefits do military personnel receive after release from captivity: clarification from the Ministry of Defense

After release from captivity, Ukrainian military personnel are entitled to cash payments, medical treatment, leave, and other state guarantees. Find out what payments are provided, how financial support is maintained, and what benefits are provided after return

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After being released from russian captivity, Ukrainian military personnel are entitled not only to medical treatment and rehabilitation, but also to a range of financial and social guarantees from the state. These include a one-time cash payment, annual payments for the years spent in captivity, continued financial support, additional leave, automatic combatant status, and other support mechanisms. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminds of this.

One-time payment of 100,000 hryvnia after release from captivity

After returning from captivity, a serviceman can personally receive a one-time payment of 100,000 hryvnia. To apply for the payment, you need to submit a corresponding application to the Ministry of Development. This can be done online — on the website of the Ministry of Development or on the website of the National Information Bureau.

The following must be attached to the application:

● a copy of an identity document;

● a copy of the taxpayer's registration number;

● a certificate with bank account details.

Annual assistance for each year of captivity

Separately, annual financial assistance of 100,000 hryvnia is provided for each year of captivity. This payment can be received by:

● military personnel released from captivity — for each full year of captivity, except for years for which family members have already received money;

● family members — for military personnel who are still in captivity.

If, after release, a military serviceman submits an application in person, the standard package of documents must also include information or documents confirming the fact of deprivation of personal liberty for each year for which the person is requesting payment.

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How is monetary support paid during captivity?

While a servicemember is in captivity, they retain their monetary support from their last place of service, including additional compensation in the amount of 100,000 hryvnia. If the servicemember has issued a personal order in advance, the funds are paid to their family members.

At the same time, a new procedure has been in effect since February 2025: if there was no personal order, then:

● 50% of the monetary allowance is paid to the closest relatives in accordance with the law;

● another 50% is deposited into the servicemember's personal account in the military unit.

After returning from captivity and regaining access to the account, this amount is paid to the soldier himself.

If there are no relatives, all monetary allowance is kept in the account until the moment of return.

If the servicemember is declared dead, the money from the deposited account is not lost. It becomes part of the inheritance from the date of the death certificate and is subsequently paid to the heirs according to the law or will.

What medical, psychological, and legal assistance does the state guarantee?

After release from captivity, the soldier is entitled to a full package of medical care. It includes initial examinations, laboratory and instrumental tests, consultations with specialists according to medical indications, and a final comprehensive examination.

Treatment abroad is also possible if there is:

● a corresponding conclusion from the Military Medical Commission;

● a complete set of documents;

● the consent of the host country;

● confirmation of willingness to pay for transportation, stay in the clinic, etc.

In addition to medical support, military personnel released from captivity can take advantage of legal assistance.

Incidentally, if after treatment or discharge from service a person is considering the possibility of legally moving abroad, it is worth figuring out the conditions of stay and documents in advance. In such situations, migration lawyers at Visit Ukraine can be helpful, as they advise Ukrainians and can accompany the process of legalization abroad.

Automatic combatant status and additional social guarantees

The mechanism for automatically obtaining combatant status through the Unified State Register of War Veterans also applies to military personnel who have been taken prisoner.

To do this, authorized persons from the military unit must enter information about the person's direct participation in the combat mission into the Register within 5 days of the start of such a mission. The data is then processed automatically, and combatant status is assigned without additional applications.

Also, starting in 2025, the following will be considered equivalent to combat: wounds, injuries, concussions, and illnesses sustained in captivity. In addition, those released from captivity are entitled to:

● priority housing;

● a voucher for retraining or advanced training;

● credit holidays and exemption from penalties for the period of captivity and for 6 months after release, with the possibility of debt restructuring;

● job retention throughout the period of captivity and for another 6 months after release;

● targeted support for education in state and municipal institutions.

90 days of leave and the right to leave the service

After release from captivity, a servicemember is entitled to 90 days of additional leave. This leave:

● cannot be divided into parts;

● is paid in the form of monetary allowance;

● can only be interrupted with the consent of the servicemember.

Also, starting in May 2024, military personnel released from captivity will have the right to leave the service. The date of exchange is irrelevant.

How does deferment from mobilization after captivity work?

To apply for deferment from mobilization, a military personnel released from captivity must contact the Administrative Services Center. The deferment should then be automatically extended every 90 days. However, this only works if the term of validity is correctly indicated in the account data. If a specific date for the end of the deferral is specified during registration, there will be no automatic extension after it expires.

If the data specifies a term that corresponds to the mobilization period, it is displayed in the Reserve+ application as “until the end of mobilization.” In this case, the deferral will be automatically extended for another 90 days.

We remind you! Financial assistance remains an important form of support for military personnel in difficult life situations. Read about who is eligible for financial assistance in 2026, how much will be paid, and how to apply for it.

Photo: Slovo i Dilo

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