Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has promised that the level of social payments to veterans will grow in 2013.

"The level of social assistance to veterans, which rose in 2012, will continue growing next year," he said at a meeting with representatives of the second all-Ukrainian forum of veterans in Kyiv on Monday.

Azarov said that from January 1, 2013 special benefits would be introduced for disabled war veterans of the second and third groups, as well as combatants in the Second World War, at the level of benefits set for disabled war veterans of the first group.

In addition, he said that the social protection of veterans would be strengthened as part of preparations for marking the 70th anniversary of Victory Day.