Nataliia Kalmykova, Executive Director of the UVF met with Matthew R. Johnson, Stabilization Advisor, U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, and Uliana Bakh, Project Director, IREX.
At the meeting, Nataliia Kalmykova spoke about the Foundation’s work:
what results we have achieved for the entire time of work;
what types of veteran reinforcement are we focusing on;
what are our future plans
This format of the conversation helped to find points of contact and gain mutual support for further projects.
Nothing is in vain. Every new company or new person in our circle of acquaintances is ready to work for veterans and their loved ones.
They make 11 types of cold-pressed oils! Coconut, black cumin, poppy, hemp, rye, thistle, walnut, pumpkin, linseed, mustard and sesame oils.
Today we introduce you to another business that lives thanks to love and stubbornness. This is a family production of craft oils in Prykarpattia – “Opil Oils”. They received an additional 20 thousand hryvnias for the development of their business from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
We are talking to Roksolana Rosolovska, co-founder of the family business “Opil Oils”, daughter of a veteran.
The “birthday” of the business is August 24, 2019. It was then that they took part in the fair of craft producers in Ivano-Frankivsk for the first time.
And it all started with the fact that Ms. Roksolana’s father returned from the area of the anti-terrorist operation and had health problems.
“He needed to get better, and we were advised to use linseed oil, which is good for the stomach and blood vessels. I found it in a pharmacy, but it said that the expiration date is two years. It surprised me at the time: what kind of oil can be stored for two years? We were looking for an optimal product, but when we received another parcel and the oil was bitter, we decided to start creating the product ourselves. And then we bought a press,” Ms. Roksolana recalls that period.
She was working in the Czech Republic at the time, bought the device, and when it was pressed for the first time, there was no limit to the fascination with the taste qualities of the oil.
“It was extraordinary,” says Roksolana. At first, they were made only for themselves and their loved ones.
But this case had an incredible impact on his father after the war.
“It was absorbed by oil production. And it helped a lot to switch from the war, it was just a 180 degree turn. And we started looking for other seeds: sesame, pumpkin… Then we ordered a professional press, dark bottles for packaging the product, labels.”
Then there were invitations to various fairs and festivals, the business began to gain momentum, but the coronavirus epidemic occurred.
But that didn’t stop the family from Prykarpattia – they researched the history of the village and started inviting people on a tour, at the same time inviting them to taste oils. To do this, they began to bake bread.
“After February 24, we started from scratch: new buyers, new suppliers of seeds. Due to the stress of the war, chronic diseases worsened in people. And we started working again,” says Ms. Roksolana.
Now, after a year and a half of the full-scale invasion, “Opilsky Oiliy” increased production, purchased a more powerful press and began production of three new oils: poppy, black cumin, and milk thistle.
Parcels are sent daily – from 20 to 50 per day. The record was 70 parcels per day.
And on Saturdays and Sundays, groups of tourists, including schoolchildren, are accepted.
All oils have health benefits. For example, flaxseed oil is rich in Omega-3 vitamins. Walnut oil contains a lot of vitamins A, E, C, K, P and group B.
This oil helps strengthen blood vessels, lowers cholesterol, relieves irritation, normalizes blood sugar, and supports joint function.
“Opilsky Oiliy” make Ukrainians healthier and stronger.
We also told veterans of Odesa about the opportunities for veterans provided by the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs
The meeting with veterans, representatives of public organizations and local authorities was held at Veterans HUB ODESA. We thank them for great organization and warm reception.
Victoria Kostyk, Deputy Executive Director of the UVF, spoke about the projects of the Foundation and the support we provide to veterans, their families, family members of fallen defenders, as well as public organizations working with relevant veteran audiences.
It was important for us to hear the problems and needs of the veteran environment.In addition, during the event, the head of the sector of the Ministry of Veterans in the Odesa region, Mykola Storozhuk, presented awards from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs to representatives of the veteran community of Odesa.
The UVF team also paid a visit to the winners of the “Worth” competition program.In particular: they visited the “Vatrushka” chain of bakeries owned by veteran Oleksii Trepak. Here we met with technologist Galina Dyakova. We also visited the establishment of veteran Olesandr Holopeteliuk “Veterano Pizza Odesa”. They visited veteran Oleksandr Shepelev. His team makes electric lifts for people with disabilities.
And we also met with Anton Zhelunitsyn. He is the newly minted winner of the “Worth: supporting veteran business” competition. Anton will soon open a coffee shop in Chornomorsk.
Such meetings and pleasant moments awaited us in the city by the sea.We are glad to meet our winners and Odessa veterans in person. We believe that there will be more such winners ahead. Since the new Varto competitive program will start soon.
On the initiative of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ukrainian Government expanded the category of those who can receive financial support from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
On September 15, at a regular meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers improved the Procedure for the use of funds provided for in the state budget for the functioning of the Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Most importantly: the category of recipients of financial support from the UVF has been expanded:
– from now on, in addition to war veterans and family members of fallen Defenders of Ukraine, the spouse of a veteran – a wife or a husband can participate in competitive programs.
In particular, the spouse or husband of a veteran who is registered in accordance with the requirements of the law as a private entrepreneur has the right to receive financial support, if the projects are aimed at the reintegration of veterans into active social life, ensuring the preservation and restoration of physical and mental health .
— also the term of registration of legal entities and nongovernmental organizations with the status of a legal entity, the founders of which are members of the families of the fallen Defenders was reduced to one year.
This will significantly increase the number of people eligible for funding from the UVF. This will allow them to implement even more projects to protect the rights and freedoms of veterans and their family members. After all, they objectively understand the needs of this category of population like no one else.
“I thank the Government for adopting these important changes. They will allow to increase the number of people who will have the right to participate in the competitions of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to receive funding for the implementation of projects aimed at the reintegration of our Defenders and their relatives, support of veteran entrepreneurship, and assistance in employment,” commented the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina.
“We were afraid to apply for the competition of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation. But out of fear this, we tried so hard that our application won the first place”, says the head of the NGO “Union of Volunteers” Olena Zhivko with joy.
This public organization won the competition program “Varto+GO” from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund of the Ministry of Veterans and implements the project “Adaptation of veterans to civilian life” in nine communities of the Lviv region.
For the children of the fallen defenders, art therapy classes are held, away legal consultations are held, sibling meetings and seminars are held, etc.
“The request for such events is great. Both large and small communities participate in the project. We work with the children of fallen soldiers from such communities, where even the bus does not go. To say that the children are delighted is an understatement. For us, it is a moral satisfaction to work in such a context. Children open up during communication, and I think we make them a little happier,” says Olena Zhivko.
Currently, the project works in nine communities of Lviv region: Rudkivska, Novokalynivska, Novoyavorivska, Horodotska, Zhovkivska, Stryiska, Drohobytska, Medenytska, Zolochivska.
The plans include establishing system work for legal support of veterans after demobilization, job search and opening of one’s own business, conducting trainings, cultural events, etc.
“During the implementation of this project, we realized that it is necessary to work with community leaders. Therefore, we conduct trainings on how civilians can correctly and sensitively communicate with veterans returning to peaceful life. Because it’s important: that proper communication between civilians and military is established in small communities,” emphasizes Ms. Olena.
She emphasizes that the implementation of such a project in small communities is “already a small victory.” By the way, only after the NGO began to implement the project, in many communities thematic groups were created in messengers (for example, for the families of soldiers and victims), where relevant and necessary information is exchanged.
The legal direction of the project is no less important.
“We are already working on it. This includes the preparation of documents, the establishment of statuses, and lawsuits regarding, for example, establishing the fact of cohabitation. And we have quite active feedback from the work already done. And we clearly understand that the project will end, but the work will not end,” emphasizes Ms. Olena.
The head of the NGO admits that she had long heard about the possibility of financing from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundatiom. But there were doubts whether it was worth applying.
“Because of the war and hostilities, there was a severe lack of funding for the implementation of social projects and we did try, although we were afraid.But out of fear this, we tried so hard that our application won the first place. And then we realized that there was nothing wrong. We now have specialists working with us, and reporting to the institution is very motivating,” Olena Zhivko summed up.
We root for each of our projects, for each applicant, for the high-quality implementation of ideas and effective use of funds. Because all this is for those who empower Ukraine.
98% of Ukrainians who lost a limb as a result of a full-scale invasion successfully receive prosthetics in Ukraine. According to a sociological survey conducted by Protez Hub, 88.9% of people were satisfied with the quality and comfort of their product.
Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and our partners at Protez Hub – a team that works on the development of the field of prosthetics and orthotics in Ukraine and the implementation of systemic changes in order to improve the quality of services in all regions of the country. We are glad to once again tell and support our partners with information.
The two main directions of their team’s work are: improving the professional qualifications of prosthetists and unifying specialists and informing, and supporting patients with amputations. They also developed the project of the professional standard “Prosthetist-orthetist” and launched preparatory and qualification processes for experienced domestic specialists in the field of prosthetics/orthotics.
Protez Hub has also created a support group for people who have lost limbs and a professional network for professionals, offering psychological support as well.
UVF joined one of the initiatives “Backpacks for people with amputations” – now almost 2,000 backpacks for people with amputations will also contain information for veterans and their relatives: support and opportunities from UVF.
This is a special shoulder bag for Ukrainians who lost limbs during the war. It contains items and information materials necessary for recovery after surgery and preparation for prosthetics.
Our team added information about: ✅ financial support of veteran businesses ✅ crisis support hotline ✅ free legal consultations ✅ online course “Returning from the war: mind, body, society”, etc
Details about the backpacks and other initiatives are available on the Protez Hub webpage
The long-awaited podcast on Hromadske Radio with American veterans and members of the US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge William Attig, Lindsay Church, Cory Bythrow, and host and journalist Andriy Kulikov has been released. This is an important conversation about war and veterans’ issues.
And it is worth listening to.
When asked by the presenter, how Will perceived the exhibition on the Maidan. He replied that he was very impressed, because he had fought as an infantryman in different parts of the world, but his family, friends and country had never faced an aggressor who would say “You should not exist because of who you are”.
🧩 Will Attig emphasized: “War is a terrible and despicable thing. And the reality is that many of us in the West believed that we had overcome such aggression. And from the first day of the invasion, I decided that I would do everything possible to help and support Ukraine. And that’s why I’m here today…”
🧩 Lindsay Church, said about their stay in Ukraine: “I don’t know how to stay on the sidelines. After all, what you are going through and what Ukraine is going through is the most terrible thing we have seen in generations. And to be here is an honor, and to be here to meet the people who live here, to be received by Ukraine, even in the midst of war, in such a hospitable way, only shows how important it is that Ukraine continues to exist.
🧩 Cory Bythrow commented: “The problems of veterans are not only the problems of veterans. Veterans fought to protect the society we have today. And when they return home, society must fight for them as hard as they fought for society….”
“Our generation has a chance to destroy Russia as a phenomenon. And patriotic, Ukrainian books about our history are an inspiration for our defenders!”
Last Friday, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is not just a guest of Kyivbookfest. We got to see and hear our veterans and read the books of their publishing houses, which were published thanks to their desire and support in the VARTO funding program from the UVF.
Deputy executive director of the Foundation, Karina Doroshenko moderated the panel “Heroes about heroes: how veteran publishings do business and preserve the memory of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”
We heard not only about the publishing business and vicissitudes, especially during the great war. We heard that these publishing houses could cease to exist because, without hesitation, veteran publishers sold all their savings and property and supported the Armed Forces in every possible way since February 24, 2022. But at the right moment, they received support and opportunity, believed in their own strength, and applied for funding from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
And now we read books from the publishing houses “Propala Grаmota”, “Mark Melnyk” publishing house and “Association of ATO Participants and disabled people” NGO which published a comic book ”My dad returned from the war”.
Every day, we are dedicated to supporting veterans. And when strong teams unite around this goal, powerful projects succeed.
Nataliia Kalmykova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, met with someone who also works for veterans every day.
Nataliia Kalmykova together with the U.S. Military Attache, Lieutenant General, Frank Helmick, his assistant, as well as with Samuel P.N. Cook, Director and Founder of the Borderland Foundation, together chose future areas of cooperation and began planning projects for veterans.
Soon we will tell you about an interesting opportunity for veterans who like playing sports. Guess what it could be?
The US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge team had the honor of meeting with Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina.
Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine in Kyiv to discuss the future of veterans care in Ukraine and solidify bonds of friendship between US and Ukrainian veterans.
The time to plan for veterans care and reintegration is before the soldier becomes a veteran in the first place. The Ministry recognizes the critical need to be proactive on these issues in order to meet this moment.
We thank the Minister and her team for a warm welcome and engaging conversation on the challenges and opportunities before the emerging veteran population of Ukraine.
