**War’s Heavy Toll on Ukraine’s Social Services**
Ukraine has been dealing with the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion for over three years. The war has put a massive strain on social services, leaving millions without homes and thousands of children orphaned.
The number of people with disabilities has risen by 10%, while more than 13,000 children have lost their parents. Populations already vulnerable to the effects of war are being hit even harder.
**Challenges in Providing Social Services**
Due to Russian strikes and fighting, it’s become difficult to provide services in many parts of Ukraine. The government is struggling with a budget deficit, as defense costs take precedence over social services. Most non-defense expenditures, including social services, rely on international donations.
**Interview with Ukraine’s Social Policy Minister**
The Kyiv Independent recently spoke with Oksana Zholnovych, appointed social policy minister in July 2022. She discussed how the war has affected her work and what she sees as the biggest challenges ahead.
One of the main concerns is finding new ways to support families and children in need. The ministry is working on digitizing programs to help people living in poverty and providing rental subsidies for internally displaced individuals.
Zholnovych also highlighted the importance of prevention, saying that it’s not just about finding adoptive parents or foster families for children already in boarding schools but also understanding why they ended up there.
**Transformations Ahead**
The ministry is focusing on creating basic social assistance and improving support services for families with disabled children. They’re introducing early intervention services and launching a pilot program to expand inclusive education for students with complex disorders.
Zholnovych sees hope in the growing number of domestic adoptions, with Ukrainians showing more empathy towards children who have lost their parents. The ministry has also strengthened tools to prevent children from ending up in boarding schools when they’re temporarily removed from their family.
**International Support**
The budget for social services is being covered by international donors since the full-scale invasion began. Zholnovych emphasizes that without this support, many people would not be able to survive.
However, she acknowledges that this reliance on international funds creates a challenge in planning for the long-term future of Ukraine’s social policy.