{"id":626061,"date":"2026-10-14T15:50:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/10\/626061\/lubinets-outraged-in-mykolaiv-people-line-up-at-4-a-m-for-19-400-hryvnia-assistance\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T18:13:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:13:07","slug":"lubinets-outraged-in-mykolaiv-people-line-up-at-4-a-m-for-19-400-hryvnia-assistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/10\/626061\/lubinets-outraged-in-mykolaiv-people-line-up-at-4-a-m-for-19-400-hryvnia-assistance\/","title":{"rendered":"Lubinets Outraged: In Mykolaiv, People Line Up at 4 a.m. for 19,400-Hryvnia Assistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWinter Support\u201d of 19,400 hryvnias<\/strong> is turning into a bureaucratic obstacle course <\/strong>with queues, extra expenses, and repeat trips to government offices. Ukraine\u2019s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets<\/strong>, has raised concerns about problems with applying for the assistance. He reported queues in Mykolaiv<\/strong>, significant travel expenses for residents of Donetsk Oblast<\/strong>, and difficulties faced by older people and people with disabilities. On October 13<\/strong>, 2026, the ombudsman wrote<\/a> about this on his Facebook page.<\/p>\n

According to Dmytro Lubinets<\/strong>, he has received complaints about how the \u201cWinter Support\u201d program is being organized. People are also posting similar accounts on social media, he says.<\/p>\n

\u201c19,400 hryvnias in assistance\u2014but first, stand in line from four in the morning, find money for the trip, spend a day traveling to another settlement, and hope your documents will be accepted this time. If not, come back again. This is not government support. It\u2019s a bureaucratic obstacle course, and those who need help most have the hardest time,\u201d the ombudsman wrote.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lubinets<\/strong> also drew attention to the situation in Mykolaiv<\/strong>, where, he says, people start arriving at government offices as early as four in the morning<\/strong> to get an appointment and submit their documents. The ombudsman questioned how appointments are organized, whether visitors are being properly received, and whether their time is being respected.<\/p>\n

Another problem affects residents of Kramatorsk<\/strong>. Because service centers and offices of the Pension Fund of Ukraine are inaccessible, some applicants are being directed to Oleksandrivka<\/strong>, which is more than 60 kilometers<\/strong> away one way. According to one applicant, the trip costs between 800 and 1,000 hryvnias<\/strong> one way. This means a round trip can cost up to 2,000 hryvnias<\/strong>\u2014before the person receives any assistance.<\/p>\n

If an error is found while checking the documents, the applicant may have to make another trip and incur additional expenses. At the same time, the ombudsman notes, there is no guarantee the documents will be accepted without objections the next time.<\/p>\n

Particular concern is raised by cases in which people who are physically unable to visit government offices encounter difficulties. According to Dmytro Lubinets<\/strong>, an 86-year-old pensioner<\/strong> is being forced to visit government offices again and stand in line. A person with a Group I disability<\/strong> and significant mobility limitations cannot submit an application in person without assistance. The ombudsman stresses that the application process should not become an obstacle for people because of their age or health.<\/p>\n

Complaints have also been received about inconsistent interpretations of the requirements for applicants. In particular, one woman says she was told she could not be considered a person living alone because she has adult children and grandchildren, even though they do not actually live with her. Lubinets<\/strong> questioned whether decisions should be made based on a person\u2019s actual living circumstances or merely on the fact that they have relatives.<\/p>\n

He also drew attention to security risks: people are forced to wait for hours outside administrative buildings in a country where Russian attacks continue and air-raid alerts are regularly issued.<\/p>\n

Following the complaints received, the ombudsman appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, demanding immediate intervention and the removal of barriers<\/strong> faced by applicants.<\/p>\n

Dmytro Lubinets is demanding that the authorities:<\/strong><\/p>\n