On Tuesday, August 22, the VI International Veterans Forum “Ukraine. Defenders. Future”, organized by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, and with the support of the co-organizer — the International Charitable Foundation “Come Back Alive”.
This is a traditional annual forum. For security reasons, the event is taking place in a closed format for the second year.
The main goal of the forum is to discuss the problems of veterans, ways to solve them in the field of rehabilitation, reintegration, development of a veteran society and the readiness of all Ukrainians for the return of veterans to civilian life, voicing the prospects of veteran policy in the country and the participation of veterans in the restoration of the state after the Victory.
United by dignity for the sake of the future!
The VI International Veterans Forum was opened by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. In his video address, noted that this year the state established a new Ukrainian policy – the policy of Heroes. A policy of respect and creation of opportunities for all our soldiers, for all our veterans, thanks to whom Ukraine is alive.
The President emphasized: “They always return from war different than when they entered it. And that’s why it’s especially difficult – after everything you have been through, after everything you had to go through, after all the losses I’ve seen… it’s especially difficult to build a life. But you are Heroes! You are needed! Ukraine needs you! Everyone who fights for Ukraine, who brought Ukraine’s victory closer and is bringing it closer. Millions of people are fighting and working for Ukraine to survive and protect itself. All of these millions are needed! No lost fortunes! No lost generations! No lost opportunities! And, of course, no wasted time. Time of life”.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Secretary of the NSDC Oleksiy Danilov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina, Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren, Deputy State Secretary of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Defence, Veterans and Military Families, Andrew Morrison.
More than 500 participants took part in the event. Among them: Ukrainian veterans and veterans, as well as foreign veterans, our defenders, representatives of the authorities, members of the governments of partner states, diplomats, representatives of the public, veteran organizations, veteran businesses and our international partners.
The forum was held in the format of panel discussions, where issues of state veteran policy, health and rehabilitation of veterans, return of veterans to civilian life and reintegration into communities were discussed.
In parallel with the main stage, there was a location of veteran businesses, where there were about 20 veteran entrepreneurs who had the opportunity to show their products and projects and talk about themselves to the general public.
On the second floor, there was a panel of side events. State institutions, public organizations, businesses, educational and rehabilitation institutions, international partners, and veterans themselves have united here.
Side events showed that there are many active organizations that work for veterans, and yesterday they had the opportunity to meet and listen to each other in order to do even more useful things for veterans.
At the VI International Veterans Forum “Ukraine. Defenders. Future” speach in the TED X format was also delivered by Nataliia Kalmykova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs
She said: “The Foundation is not about numbers, it’s about people.” Nataliia Kalmykova emphasized that our team is part of the community – we employ veterans, families of defenders and fallen heroes. Therefore, their emotions and needs are close and understandable to us.
Nataliia Kalmykova focused on needs in more detail. In the process of research, we noted that 65% of veterans plan to open a business. And among us, there are not only those who have this idea in their plans, but also those who have implemented it. Veterans and their families became winners of the UVF competition programs.
“We know that any support is important if it is timely. And we want to remind you that veterans and their families are needed. To the state, to myself, to my loved ones, and to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans, Affairs” Nataliia Kalmykova concluded.
Nataliia Kalmykova
The organizers of the International Veterans Forum express their gratitude to the partners: the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women in Ukraine, IOM in Ukraine
At the invitation of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, American veterans who founded an organization aimed at supporting Ukrainian veterans and their families arrived in Kyiv. On August 21, they gave a press conference on this occasion at the UKRINFORM Media Center. William Attig, Dennis DJ Skelton , Lindsay Church, George Chewning, as well as Cory Bythrow, took part in the event from the American side.
From the Ukrainian side there were: veterans Volodymyr Lahuta, colonel, Chairman of the Board of the Public Union “Veteran Movement of Ukraine”, Dmytro Shatrovskyi, veteran, head of the All-Ukrainian Civil Organization “Veteran Brotherhood” and veterans Kateryna Pryimak, deputy head of the NGO “Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement”.
A delegation from the States arrived in Ukraine for the first time. The purpose: to present the organization “US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge” and to share the achievements, experience and ideas of helping Ukrainian brothers in arms in their reintegration, employment, education, etc. In general, this is the first organization which unites American veterans and Ukrainian veterans to help create best conditions for our veterans.
On the same day, working groups were held at Ihub with the participation of Ukrainian and American veterans, where the participants developed points of contact and bilateral interaction on the issues of conducting veteran business, veteran leadership, etc.
Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine
At the invitation of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, American veterans who founded an organization aimed at supporting Ukrainian veterans and their families arrived in Kyiv.
From the Ukrainian side there were: veterans Volodymyr Lahuta, colonel, Chairman of the Board of the Public Union “Veteran Movement of Ukraine”, Dmytro Shatrovskyi, veteran, head of the All-Ukrainian Civil Organization “Veteran Brotherhood” and veterans Kateryna Pryimak, deputy head of the NGO “Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement”.
A delegation from the States arrived in Ukraine for the first time. The purpose: to present the organization “US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge” and to share the achievements, experience and ideas of helping Ukrainian brothers in arms in their reintegration, employment, education, etc. In general, this is the first organization which unites American veterans and Ukrainian veterans to help create best conditions for our veterans.
On the same day, working groups were held at Ihub with the participation of Ukrainian and American veterans, where the participants developed points of contact and bilateral interaction on the issues of conducting veteran business, veteran leadership, etc.
“Each employee of the Foundation understands that he works with a person – not with numbers, not with indicators. The most important are people.”
Yesterday, Nataliia Kalmykova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, visited Poltava.Here she managed to meet personally the winners of #Varto competition programs from the Poltava region:
– with veteran entrepreneur Taras Lelyukh, who owns the agribusiness “Demetra Agro-Group”
– Dmytro Horishnyi, who is engaged in serial production of mobile field simulators for training grenade launchers and Anti-tank missiles and MANPADS operators
– Maryna Kumechko, who together with her husband develops the Kumechko farm.
– Igor and Anna Yashchenko, who own the “BIOS” farmAlso, the team of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans held a working meeting “Opportunities for the development of veteran business”.
At the round table in the Poltava City Council gathered, in particular:
✅ Nataliia Kalmykova, Executive Director of the UVF of the Ministry of Veterans
✅ Secretary of the Poltava City Council, Kateryna Yamshchikova
✅ Director of the Regional Development Agency of the Poltava Region “Office of European Integration” Vita Klymenko
✅ Management of Poltava Regional and Military Administrations
✅ Representatives of the veteran business of the Poltava region — Taras Lelyukh, head of the GS “Business Association of Defenders of Ukraine Kolovorot Areiv”.
The executive director of the UVF Nataliya Kalmykova explained to the veterans of the Poltava region the mechanism of receiving assistance under a number of competitive programs of the UVF. She emphasized transparency and reporting on the funds used.In addition, they talked about several examples of veteran businesses that have already received funding from the Foundation and are successfully developing. First of all, we work with people, not with numbers or indicators. That’s why we know the story of everyone who comes to us, we support them in communication, financially, and morally.We want veterans and their families to feel that support is already there and will be there for everyone upon their return.
Recently, a team of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and representatives of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs visited Dnipro on a working visit.
Svitlana Kashenets, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, Viktoriya Kostyk, Deputy Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation visited the veteran businesses of Vitaliy Pirogov and Andriy Sarvira.
We met with Vitaly Pirogov – co-founder of the Active Season brand. Together with their veteran brother Sergiy, they develop air mattresses for trenches, air bags and soft buckets. These things make life easier for the military.
Earlier, the brothers dreamed of making the best sleds and fishing boats. But on February 24, Serhiy again had to leave civilian life. Production plans also turned 180 degrees.
Two men won the #Varto 2.0 contest and purchased new equipment. You can also support this veteran business. Order Active Season products here: https://activeseason.com.ua/ua/
Then we visited First Wave pizza bar. The owner of the establishment is veteran Andriy Sarvira. With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, the institution worked as a volunteer headquarters. They fed displaced persons, soldiers, and policemen with – 500 people every day.
In May 2022, First Wave slowly began to resume operations. Then they won our #Worth contest – received funds for new equipment.
Andriy Sarvira is now at the front. However, we were warmly welcomed by the First Wave staff
It is very inspiring when you see with your own eyes that the business is working and bringing benefits.
Also in Dnipro, we met with representatives of the Regional State Administration, public organizations and veterans – future participants of competitive programs. Thanks to the ATO Museum in Dnipro for the opportunity to meet and talk about opportunities for veterans and their families
More trips are planned ahead. Follow our social networks, we will announce the next meetings in advance.
Not only veterans, but also the entire society should be adapted to the conditions and challenges that exist in Ukraine today. Without waiting for the end of the war and the victory of Ukraine.
What do employers with veteran employment experience recommend?
📍work on the adaptation of not only the veteran, but also the entire team
📍 not to idealize veterans
📍 not to impose preferential working conditions and special attention, which negatively affects the development and motivation of veterans
📍perceive veterans as full-fledged members of society, regardless of the physical and psychological consequences of participation in hostilities.
For several months, the team of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, with the support of Lobby X and Work.ua conducted research on the needs and obstacles of veterans in employment. And today, together with our partners, we presented the results.
The results of the surveys indicate the spread of the tendency to destroy stereotypes about veterans in the working environment.
Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk — First Deputy Executive Director of the UVF says: “Release from military service is for many veterans the beginning of a new life, a transitional stage of returning to “normality”. But what if this “normality” seems like a greater challenge than service?There is a critical need to provide veterans with the necessary support to gain resilience as they transition to civilian life through education and employment, and that is exactly what our research with partners has shown.”
🔑 What do employers think about veterans as potential future employees and what are they afraid of?
🔑 And what do veterans think about returning to a peaceful life and going to work and what worries them?The answers are in our new analytical research, which is available via the link:
Now the entrepreneur will receive funds and replenish his “Savannah” with four families of exotic birds.Today, the “Savanna” farm in Prykarpattia is well known to tourists. People come from different parts of Ukraine to see slender and strong African ostriches. Here, the Shvetsy family created all the conditions for the birds. But the path to this was not easy.
🔶 Construction lasted for 5 years. The plot of land where the farm is located was inherited by Serhiy from his grandfather, and later the veteran received another 2 hectares from the state.The veteran’s ostrich farm developed. They were breeding birds, egg production, tourism, and even making unique Easter ostrich eggs. This is the place where adults and children come to learn more about ostriches: how much do they weigh? What do they eat? What do little ostriches look like?
💬 “This is a very beautiful, exotic bird. This is one of the reasons why we chose this type of agriculture. It is very interesting to watch them. The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. Tourists love our birds. And the ostriches themselves are very inquisitive and like to come into contact with people,” Serhiy says about his business.
However, the story of a successful business turned into a story of a business that survived the war. After February 24, 2022, the income decreased significantly and the very existence of the farm was threatened.Business needed a chance, an opportunity for development. The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine helped Serhiy in this.
💬 “I don’t know how we could cope with these challenges by ourselves. To reach the level of at least 2021, we would need several years. And thanks to such support, we will be able not only to restore previous capacities but also to develop and scale up”, – the veteran shares his experience.
With the funds received, Serhiy has already purchased a truck in order to carry out economic matters faster and more efficiently and later plans to purchase 4 breeding families of African ostriches and build a separate unit for them. Business works, the main thing is not to stand still, but to move forward.We know that the fields of activities of our veterans are very diverse and we are ready to support any ideas of veteran business.
The Executive Director of UVF Nataliia Kalmykova met with representatives of EUROMIL, OSCE, the All-Ukrainian Military Trade Union, War Heritage Institute Belgium, Swedish Foundation Veterans, Netherlands military association, the Directorate General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, the German War Graves Commission, the Veterans Institute of the Netherlands and Promote Ukraine Brussels.
Nataliia Kalmykova presented information about the activities of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation for over a year and a half of work for the benefit of veterans. We talked about achievements and future plans. Shared the results of our research on the needs of Ukrainian veterans
➡ The meeting was organized with the assistance of Emmanuel Jacob, President of the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions (EUROMIL), which is the voice of the European military at an international level. Its primary mission is to promote professional and social interests, as well as the fundamental rights and freedoms of European veterans.
The purpose of the meeting was to initiate partnership between our organizations in order to pledge their support for projects for veterans. In particular, in bringing the attention of the public to the needs and problems of Ukrainian veterans. And this in turn will help raise awareness of the importance of supporting veterans and mobilize public resources to help them. We are grateful to EUROMIL for organizing this meeting and to all partner organizations who are ready to join the effort of supporting Ukrainian veterans.
Ukraine respects and values its heroes, is ready to help them in the transition to a peaceful life, and actively works to ensure their well-being and future. And at this point, it is important for us to pledge the support of powerful organizations, adopt their experience, and work on new projects.
“No country has such a number of female soldiers who are fighting on the Ukrainian front at the same time. No country has such a combat experience of women who defend their state,” emphasized Nataliia Kalmykova, CEO of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Nataliia Kalmykova spoke during a special event of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress dedicated to the participation of women in the reconstruction process of Ukraine, as well as the experience of Ukrainian women during a full-scale war.
70% of loved ones or relatives of the UVF staff were involved in the war in one way or another or even died at the front. And every day these people (ed. – employees of the foundation) do not know whether they will receive a message from the front, but they continue to work. And the UVF works for the sake of Ukrainians and the future of Ukraine,” Nataliia said. “At least 1.5 million Ukrainians will take part in the hostilities, but if we consider them together with their families, there will be more than 5 million people. This is 17% of Ukrainians currently living in Ukraine. And these scales should be taken into account during any discussions regarding the future of our state.”
The Ukrainian Veteran Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs creates opportunities for veterans, family members, and families of fallen Defenders of Ukraine. Already. Without waiting for something. And we are proud that the Government of Ukraine supported the initiative of the Minister of Veteran Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina regarding the need to create opportunities for veterans even during the war.
Among almost 300 entrepreneurs who received financial support during the year of the Foundation’s operation, 100 of them are women. These are wives, mothers, and veterans. These are women who have gone through trials and are already rebuilding the country, who took the place of their husbands and relatives who went to the front, and are doing their work. And we need to start returning veterans — current and future — to their employment and integration into civilian, peaceful life. Employers are already changing their approach and integrating veterans into their organizations: training teams on how to cooperate with veterans, preparing career development plans for them, etc. Our challenge will be how to create conditions for veterans to create their own businesses. In the US, after World War II, 50% of veterans became business owners or directors. And it can be a signpost for us too – where to move. And we are already on this path.” – added the executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
“To find resources, to find people who are ready to connect, unite and make veterans and veterans visible and thank them. Because the contribution that military personnel and veterans make every day is an incredible benefit for all of us. It’s good to live, raise children and plan for the future,” Nataliia Kalmykova summed up.
Defenders were able to come on vacation specifically for the festival. So they were able to hear what we offer for veterans:
business financing
crisis support
legal consultations
educational programs
information campaigns
Military and veterans were interested in psychologists assistance for the regions. Discrimination of veterans among employers was also discussed.🇺🇦 We also talked about national and patriotic education. Because that is what “Kholodny Yar” is all about.Karina Doroshenko thanked the soldiers for their service and reminded them that they can always turn to us for support.
Thanks to the organizers of the festival for the invitation!
