Grants for Veterans 2026: from UAH 20,000 to 10 million for their own business

Veteran Ihor Yashchenko from Poltava has started six different businesses over the past two years. The serial entrepreneur has attracted about 25 million in grant funds.

He opened a coffee shop for UAH 250,000 from the government's Vlasna Dela program. For UAH 3 million from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, he purchased equipment for his agricultural company, and for €7,000 from the International Organization for Migration, he founded a consulting firm. For another UAH 3 million from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund's Golden Hands program, he opened a beauty salon.

Yatsenko's advice to other grant applicants is to study the terms of the competition in detail, write a business plan with clear calculations, and know your target client. And most importantly, don't give up if you don't get the money the first time.

Moreover, there are opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs to raise funds in Ukraine today. LIGA.net represents six grant programs from foundations, the state, and regional authorities for the development, creation, or support of veteran-owned businesses.

Current grant programs for veterans

The program costs UAH 500,000 – 1.5 million

on January 27, applications for the 16th grant program of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund (UVF) were launched "It's worth it: 4 years of support". The winners will receive from UAH 500,000 to UAH 1.5 million to start or expand their own business. Kernel is a partner of the program.

Anyone can apply for the competition:

- veterans registered as individual entrepreneurs or self-employed persons in accordance with the Tax Code;

- companies in which all members have veteran status (except for public and charitable organizations). The legal entity must be registered at least one year before the application is submitted.

The program does not cover businesses in food production, processing, storage, food logistics, and catering. A separate competition is planned for these areas in 2026.

Applications are selected in several stages: checking the completeness of documents and compliance with the criteria; expert evaluation of applications by independent experts; public defense of business ideas.

Applications will be accepted until February 17. The results will be announced on April 24, 2026.

The Foundation's specialists will hold a series of online workshops to prepare participants. Their announcements will be published on the UWF social media.

20,000 UAH of compensation for items and goods

Veterans and their family members who are self-employed can receive compensation for already purchased goods and items for doing business. The program is implemented by the Ukrainian Veterans Fund.

Important: funds are paid for expenses incurred. Planned expenses are not funded. Funds are paid only to the accounts of individual entrepreneurs.

Grant for veterans and their families

In 2026, the government will continue to program "Grants for Veterans and Their Families". It is available to veterans, their wives/husbands and family members of fallen defenders.

As part of the program, they can receive up to UAH 1 million to start or develop a veteran business.

The amount of the grant can be:

• up to UAH 250,000 – the recipient must create one job;

• up to UAH 500,000 – the recipient must create two jobs;

• up to UAH 1 million – the recipient must be registered as a sole proprietor for at least 1 year and create four jobs. The program covers 70% of the project cost.

You can apply on the Diia portal using the "Apply" button.

For an offline consultation, you can contact an Oschadbank branch.

As the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture clarified to Liga.net, the start of accepting applications this year will be announced in the near future.

Grant program "Own business"

Continues to be in force in 2026 grant program "Own business" program, which allows you to receive up to UAH 1 million. Starting from January 1, the following programs are available updated rules.

In particular, funding is increasing for those planning to start their own business. Yes, you can get it:

• uAH 100,000 – without job creation conditions

• uAH 200,000 for one job created

• uAH 300,000 for two jobs

• 200,000 UAH – for young people aged 18-25

The changes also affected the military and families of combatants:

• Grant obligations are suspended in case of mobilization or captivity of the recipient.

• The range of grant recipients is expanding. Parents and adult children of combatants are included in the list of people who can receive a grant.

• The amount of maximum subsidies for family members of killed (missing) or deceased defenders is increased from UAH 500,000 to UAH 1 million, provided that four jobs are created.

You can apply for the program through the Diia portal.

The State Employment Center must review the application within 15 working days after the deadline for submitting grant applications. Diia will inform you of the result. If the application is approved, you need to contact Oschadbank within 20 business days to open an account and conclude a microgrant agreement.

The 2026 application deadline will be announced shortly.

Microgrants for veterans and their families in Kyiv

Veterans and their families can receive up to UAH 200,000 for business development in Kyiv. Program is implemented by the Kyiv Military Hub, a municipal enterprise of the Kyiv City State Administration.

Kyiv residents who are eligible can receive the funds:

• defenders with the status of combatants;

• people with disabilities caused by the war;

• family members of defenders;

• family members of the fallen defenders.

The money can be spent on business equipment, furniture, and transportation; licensed software; advertising and marketing services; rental of premises or equipment; franchises or business rights.

The application along with the package of documents should be submitted to the Kyiv Military Hub centers at the following addresses: Kyiv, Kharkivske Shosse, 168-B Ivan Mykytenka Street, 7-B.

Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

Voucher support for veterans' businesses in Lviv region

Lviv Regional State Administration, as part of the Program for Improving the Region's Competitiveness for 2021-2026, offers business opportunities to war veterans and their families, financial support in the form of vouchers.

The assistance is available to ATO/JFO participants, veterans of the war with Russia and their family members who own micro, small or medium-sized businesses registered in Lviv region. The company must produce a physical product or provide services, and have no salary or tax arrears.

The amount of support:

• up to UAH 75,000 for consulting and marketing services;

• up to UAH 100,000 for product certification;

• up to UAH 100,000 for participation in foreign exhibitions.

An important condition is that the entrepreneur must cover at least 15% of the costs at his own expense.

Areas where funds can be spent:

Marketing: website creation, brand development, packaging, promotion in online stores, participation in promotions and fairs.

Consulting: development of business plans, export strategies, investment attractiveness assessment, company audits, and business process setup.

Certification: obtaining national and international certificates for products.

Exhibitions: renting space for the presentation of goods at foreign business events.

To receive funds, you need to submit a business development project, a commercial offer from a qualified service company, an extract from the Unified State Register, a document on veteran status, and a certificate of no tax debts. Support is available every two years. Documents are accepted annually within the announced deadlines, which are to be announced additionally.

Contacts: Department of Economic Policy of the Lviv Regional State Administration – 18 V. Vynnychenka St., Lviv, office. 419, Lviv (032) 299 92 79.

Training and support for veterans

Veterans can also take advantage of a number of professional development and employment opportunities. The state offers educational vouchers for retraining in 123 specialties. Free training in one of the IT specialties is also available. For those who run their own business, there is a possibility of free job posting to find employees.

Educational vouchers for retraining

Veterans and women veterans, discharged military personnel can receive vouchers for training to obtain a new profession. The amount of the voucher is no more than UAH 33,280. If the cost exceeds the maximum amount, the difference must be paid independently.

The application for a voucher can be filled out online on the website of the State Employment Service. The completed application is automatically sent to the employment center.

Vouchers for training can be obtained in a total of 123 specialties. The list includes such professions as beekeeper, road worker, cutter, tailor, confectioner, cook, painter, farm worker, nurse practitioner, mechanic, seamstress, agronomy, veterinary medicine, design, marketing, business and trade, etc.

After graduation, a state-issued diploma is issued.

Free IT training

Veterans who defended the country at any time from 2014 until they retired from service can take one of the following courses at Mate Academy for free IT specialties.

The program is a full-time course, from Monday to Friday. The program is based on real projects and includes 80% of practical training. English lessons are also provided. To enroll in the program, you need to:

- register on the Mate academy website;

- choose your desired profession;

- apply for training;

- pass the entrance test;

- to mention participation in hostilities during the interview;

- wait for the result in the mail.

Free job posting for veteran businesses

Veterans and their husbands/wives can post vacancies on Work.ua for free for a year.

How to activate the service:

1. Register on the portal as an employer

2. Call: (050) 361-02-35, (067) 630-30-84 or (093) 966-15-22

3. Provide a document confirming the status of a veteran or a veteran business

4. Create and post a job for free.

The materials were created by LIGA.net with the support of the Askold & Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the project "Strong Civil Society in Ukraine – Driving Reforms and Democracy" with funding from Norway and Sweden. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of LIGA.net and does not reflect the views of the governments of Norway, Sweden or ISAR Ednannia.