Special Rapporteur Mati Raidma and Deputy Minister Oleg Shymanskyi at the Ministry for Veteran Affairs in KyivKYIV, 1 May 2025 – Special Rapporteur of the OSCE PA’s Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine (PSTU) and Head of the PA’s Estonian Delegation Mati Raidma has successfully concluded a comprehensive fact-finding visit to Ukraine. The visit, which took place from 28 April to 1 May, was a key initiative within the framework of Raidma’s mandate to contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s resilience while maintaining a forward-looking perspective. (For the Special Rapporteur’s full mandate, please click here.)
During his mission, the Special Rapporteur engaged in extensive consultations with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, including the Ukrainian Delegation to the OSCE PA, as well as officials from various Ukrainian governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine as well as UN agencies, and civil society organizations.
These meetings facilitated a detailed exploration of critical challenges and opportunities to enhance Ukraine’s resilience, particularly as the country navigates both immediate needs and the complexities of a longer-term recovery phase.
In addition to updates on the political, humanitarian, and human rights situation, discussions centered on critical issues surrounding Ukraine's strategic socio-economic recovery, highlighting the multifaceted challenges faced amid Russia’s invasion. Key topics included shifts in labour force dynamics, social welfare reforms, education and the implementation of comprehensive reintegration programs for war veterans to facilitate their transition to civilian life.
Efforts to restore and enhance essential services were also discussed, with a focus on strengthening social and energy infrastructure through sustainable, decentralized solutions, and advancing the digitalization of public services to ensure improved accessibility and efficiency across all levels.
The active participation of Ukrainian youth in national recovery emerged as a strategic priority, with discussions emphasizing their pivotal role in sustaining the reform agenda.
Additionally, it was noted how international best practices are also guiding Ukraine’s reform agenda and how these reforms will position Ukraine as a global reference point in resilience-building, empowering the country to share its innovative approaches with international partners through well-established bilateral and multilateral frameworks. Raidma commended Ukraine’s commitment to transformative legislative reforms, underscoring the OSCE PA’s vital role as an interparliamentary platform for fostering knowledge exchange and co-operation.
Raidma also commended the growing attention these issues are receiving at both national and international levels, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between stakeholders and the OSCE PA Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine (PSTU) ahead of the upcoming Annual Session in Porto.
Raidma also addressed the devastating implications of ongoing and consistent attacks by Russia on Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure. He highlighted the severe humanitarian consequences of these actions, which continue to cause immense suffering among innocent civilians and significantly undermine Ukraine’s stability. Such attacks, he stressed, raise serious questions regarding Russia’s commitment to a ceasefire and constitute grave violations of international and humanitarian law.
Looking ahead, Raidma outlined the next steps in his role as Special Rapporteur. These include reporting and information-sharing at the Annual Session in Porto both in the context of the PSTU and other bodies of the OSCE PA.
Raidma reiterated the OSCE PA’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its people in the face of continued challenges. He expressed confidence in the resilience and determination of Ukrainians as they work toward recovery and a stronger future.
For more information on the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, please click here.
