What was approved
The government has allowed the purchase of housing for medical workers whose primary workplace is located in frontline regions, both in rural areas and in cities — in the same settlement or in a neighboring one within 30 km. The decision was published by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on Telegram. Healthcare institutions will be able to make such purchases using funds from the state budget.
Who and where can benefit
The rights extend to medical staff working in the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts. Housing may also be chosen in regional centers that are in the zone of active hostilities — in particular Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Kherson. At the same time, the program does not provide for the purchase of housing in other regional centers.
A residential unit can be purchased in the settlement where the medical worker's main workplace is located, or in another neighboring one — at a distance of up to 30 kilometers. Housing can also be chosen in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Kherson — cities in the zone of active hostilities
— Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister
Budget and timing
The state budget for 2026 allocates UAH 100 million for this program. Service housing will be provided to medical workers for the duration of their employment at the facility. The specific implementation mechanism and the procedure for selecting properties are to be agreed upon by the Ministry of Health together with budget recipients.
Why this matters
The decision is not a symbolic gesture but a personnel strategy. Retaining specialists in frontline regions is complicated by logistics, risk and instability. The possibility of obtaining housing within 30 km reduces reluctance to relocate, simplifies commuting to work and provides a real guarantee for those who deliver emergency and scheduled care to the local population.
Sector health managers and HR analysts note that direct financial incentives and housing guarantees are among the most effective tools for retaining personnel where they are most needed and most vulnerable.
Context
The decision complements other government health initiatives: the Ministry of Health plans to launch a program of free check-ups for citizens aged 40+ from January 1, 2026, and the government has approved the procedure for implementing medical guarantees for 2026 with funding of more than UAH 191.6 billion. Together these steps signal a pragmatic approach — preserving the network of medical care and strengthening prevention despite military risks.
Now the task falls to local authorities and institutions: how quickly and transparently will the mechanism be set up so that these UAH 100 million actually work where help is needed most?
