Justice vs. Privileges: The future of special pensions

Ukraine’s special pension system has long been a source of social tension and urgently needs reform.

Former law enforcement and security officers receive significantly higher pensions based on special formulas. Meanwhile, military personnel who are not professional servicemen cannot count on similar payments unless they have disability status.

This creates a stark imbalance and undermines trust in the system. According to the Kyiv School of Economics, 79% of Ukrainians consider the pension system in Ukraine to be unfair.

During the event, we discussed:

• how special pension expenditures affect the state budget;
• whether special pension privileges are fair;
• why it is so difficult to implement special pension reform.

Panel discussion:

• Danylo Hetmantsev, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy.
• Iryna Latanska, Project Manager, Strategy and Operations Improvement, KPMG Ukraine.
• Daryna Marchak, First Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.
• Halyna Tretiakova, Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Social Policy and Veterans’ Rights Protection.

Moderator: Hlib Vyshlinsky, Executive Director of the Centre for Economic Strategy.