Advertising boards with Ukrainian veterans with respect to all who make Ukraine stronger were placed on the streets of Ukrainian cities. Such an information campaign was launched by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine with the support of NAKO – the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
Dmytro Kozatskyi, a famous defender with the call sign Orest, a fighter of the Azov regiment, worked on this photo project. His photos from Azovstal became known all over the world. And now Dmytro took part in the first all-Ukrainian project after the capture and, together with the communications team of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, he developed the concept of symbolic plots, which emphasize the delayed dreams of veterans, that these heroes had to put on hold because of the war, and what they are currently fighting for.
Society respects veterans, feels pride and gratitude towards them. At the same time, society maintains a number of stereotypes about military personnel, so the topic of discrimination of different social groups in the Armed Forces remains on the agenda. This is evidenced by the survey “Issues of discrimination of different social groups in the Armed Forces, March 27-29, 2023”, conducted by the sociological group “Rating”.
The highlighted public positions either directly contradict each other, or exist within the framework of certain stereotypes. But it is possible to minimize this dissonance. The social advertisement “There are many veterans. Victory is one common cause.” is designed to draw the attention of a wide audience to the respect, non-discrimination and equality of defenders of Ukraine using the examples of real heroes of the project.
“The attitude towards LGBT+ people raises many questions. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it has become more neutral. However, if a person serves in the Armed Forces, the attitude improves several times. Society supports the idea of granting equal rights to the partners of LGBT military servicemen, because the majority is convinced that such male and female fighters are subjected to significant discrimination,” says Ruslana Velychko-Trifonyuk, First Deputy Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
A similar dynamic is observed in the issue of representatives of national minorities: if they serve in the Armed Forces, society’s attitude improves several times. However, the question of the possibility of a representative of a national minority to head the Ukrainian unit raises doubts among the respondents. Despite the fact that the society in general is convinced that representatives of ethnic minorities are not discriminated during their military service.
“According to the survey, society mostly agrees that a woman can command a combat unit on an equal footing with a man, but, at the same time, there is a belief that it is more difficult for female military personnel to build a career than for men,” emphasizes the Executive Director of the Foundation Nataliya Kalmykova , – besides, in the opinion of Ukrainians, it is better for a woman to engage in non-combat tasks. Society also suggests veterans with disabilities to devote themselves to civilian life or service in the rear.
Olena Tregub, Secretary General of NAKO emphasizes: “That’s why we want to draw attention to the fact that devotion to Ukraine and leadership in the defense of our country are things that do not depend on gender or age.”
The main task of this social advertisement is to raise respect for veterans in society, regardless of gender, age, nationality or sexual orientation.
After all, they are all united by an inseparable feature — the defense of Ukraine in the war, which has been going on for 9 long years.
The heroes of the social campaign are:
Olga Benda is a veteran of the ATO, who went to war when her son was only one year old. In 2016, she had to postpone motherhood (the general plot of the photo project) and in October 2016 she began her service in Avdiivka as a member of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. In May 2017, she lost her leg as a result of shelling of Ukrainian positions. In 2019, the veteran overcame the distance of the Marine Corps Marathon. Olga Benda became the first Ukrainian to be awarded the Dr. Rainer Hildebrand international award in the field of human rights protection. She fights for the inclusiveness of the environment. Raises two sons.
Nariman Bilyalov, also known as the intelligence officer “Isa Akaev”, is a veteran of the ATO/OS, the founder and commander of the volunteer battalion “Crimea”. Currently, he is the commander of the “Crimea” special unit. He is ethnic Crimean Tatar. After the temporary occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, he left the peninsula and went to defend Ukraine in Donbas. Isa Akayev and his comrades participated in the battles for the Savur-Mohyla in Donetsk region, then he defended Mariupol. After the return to a peaceful life, he helped his compatriots from Crimea settle on the mainland of Ukraine, he also popularized Crimean Tatar traditions in the Vinnytsia region. With the beginning of the full-scale war, he returned to the frontline to end the war with Russia and return Crimea under the control of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Budko is a 26-year-old veteran with the call sign “Teren”. He planned to become a graphic designer. After February 24, he joined the ”Carpathian Sich” battalion as a volunteer. A month later, he led the fire support platoon of the second company. He lost both legs when he came under fire from his position during the Kharkiv counteroffensive. Currently, he is preparing for the “Invictus Games” sports event. The photo shows the sports aspect of the veteran’s life.
Eva Reuter, call sign “Planochka”, is a paramedic in the “Hospitaliers” volunteer battalion, a military representative of the LGBTQ+ community. She is 22. In civilian life, Eva was an artist, before the full-scale invasion, she worked in a game development and studied at the art. She joined the ranks of the volunteer battalion in November 2022, so she does not yet have significant combat experience. She dreams of learning how to make tattoos for his brothers and sisters in arms, which is emphasized in the plot of the photo project.
Roman Kulyk, call sign “Viking” is a veteran, who continues his service in the ranks of the Armed Forces. Roman was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity. He is a public activist, head of the legal support department of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. During the “first campaign”, in 2015-2016, he served as deputy company commander for personnel work, and then as a company commander in 39th Motorized Infantry Battalion of the 55th Artillery Brigade. After a full-scale invasion, he joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces of Kyiv. Currently, he commands a mechanized company in the 206th battalion of the 241st brigade of Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With his soldiers, he participated in the defense of Kyiv, fought in Mykolaiv region, Kherson region, Kharkiv region, and in Bakhmut. Roman represents a generalized image of a Ukrainian veteran (according to statistics, men aged 30-44) who fights for Ukraine.
Boards and city lights with this campaign can be seen in 7 cities of Ukraine from north to south, from west to east, remembering that there are many different veterans , but Victory is one common cause for all.
