The government has changed how money in the state budget is used to help children in need. This change was approved by CMU Resolution No. 462 of May 9, 2023. 

The list of children who get free Artek vouchers has been expanded: 

– Children of combatants, including volunteers, as defined in paragraphs 19-24 of Part 1 of Article 6 of the Law “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Protection”;

– Children of fallen (deceased) defenders of Ukraine as defined in the first part of Article 10-1 of the Law;

– Children registered as IDPs and receiving IDP housing allowance.

The document stipulates that half of the vouchers for the International Children’s Center (ICC) “Artek” will be allocated to children living in the area of active hostilities.

– Orphans and children deprived of parental care;

– Siblings of foster parents or adoptive parents living in the same foster family or family-type children’s home;

– Children from low-income families;

– Children whose parents were killed, disappeared, or died as a result of injuries, bruises, mutilations, or diseases sustained in the ATO zone. The implementation of national security and defense measures, the repulsion and deterrence of russian armed aggression in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the combat zone.

The Ministry of Social Policy developed the relevant draft law after special meetings chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

In particular, such changes will help improve the health of more internally displaced children.