FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF LEGAL REGULATION OF SOCIAL PROTECTION OF COMBATANTS AND ITS ADAPTATION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive comparative legal analysis of foreign experience in the legal regulation of social protection of combatants with the aim of identifying directions for improving Ukrainian legislation. The legal systems of the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Israel, and Croatia have been studied, along with international legal standards of the UN, the ILO, and the Council of Europe in the field of social security. It is established that effective social protection systems for combatants in democratic states are grounded in five key patterns: a clear legislative definition of veteran status; a systemic institutional architecture of specialized bodies with sufficient powers; a combination of mandatory social guarantees with insurance elements; a rehabilitation paradigm rather than a purely compensatory one, with emphasis on comprehensive reintegration into civilian life; and independent judicial and administrative oversight. Comparative analysis revealed that current Ukrainian legislation is characterized by fragmentation of the regulatory framework, the dominance of a compensatory over a rehabilitative approach, insufficient independence of judicial review, and limited civil society participation in the law-making process. Based on the findings, specific legal mechanisms for adapting foreign experience are proposed: codification of veterans’ legislation following the Franco-American model; legislative entrenchment of the rehabilitation paradigm modelled on Israel and Croatia, with guaranteed support for veterans for at least five years after completing service; strengthened judicial and administrative review following the American-British model; granting veterans’ organizations advisory powers in the law-making process; and harmonization of national legislation with Council of Europe and EU standards within the framework of the Association Agreement.