Category: News

The names of 30 Ukrainian veterans have been announced who will travel to the United States Air Force Trials to be held in Las Vegas in March 2024.

The Ukrainian team will compete and exchange experience with the U.S. Air Force and Marines. The main goal of the United States Air Force Trials 2024 is to engage veterans and the military in physical activities and promote rehabilitation through sports among veterans.

The team members from Ukraine were announced during a live broadcast.

“We ensured an objective and fair selection process. In addition to sports achievements, we took into account the psychological state and social adaptation of the candidates. Not only physical fitness is important, but also the ability to work in a team and show the spirit of a true warrior,” said Svitlana Kashenets, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.

In December, Kyiv hosted the All-Ukrainian Adaptive Sports Competition, which resulted in the selection committee forming a team of 30 participants who will travel to the United States.

“This year, for the first time, we organized a training camp before the competition itself, so that as many veterans and military personnel as possible could try adaptive sports. About 60% of new participants joined the competition,” said Ihor Krytsak, coordinating manager of the US Air Force Competition.

The participants competed in the following sports: cycling, rowing, track and field, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, powerlifting, swimming and archery.

“Since 2019, Come Back Alive has been developing a methodology for selecting national teams to participate in international sports competitions for veterans. There are three selection criteria: sports (50%), psychological (25%) and social (25%),” said Ivan Naumenko, Head of the Strategic Initiatives Department at Come Back Alive.

The organization of the United States Air Force Trials 2024 is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, the NGO Come Back Alive, the StratCom Ukraine Center for Strategic Communications, and the NGO Invictus Games Ukraine.

“Our task is to create conditions for veterans and the military to use sports as rehabilitation, regardless of whether they make it to the national team or not,” says Anna Belorusova, COO of Stratcom Ukraine, the Center for Strategic Communications.

The U.S. Air Force Challenge is an annual sporting event that promotes mental and physical recovery of wounded military personnel and veterans. This year, the organizers invited a Ukrainian team to compete in the United States.

“Sport is a powerful psychotherapeutic tool. The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation has funded 37 non-governmental organizations for more than UAH 8.7 million, including eight projects that specialize in physical activity rehabilitation,” said Oleksandra Lokhvytska, Head of the Program Department of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

If you have any information that may discredit a team member or know of any legal violations on their part, please inform the organizing committee: Control@mva.gov.ua

The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation summarized the results of its work in 2023 and analyzed the prospects for veteran policy.

Thanks to the soldiers and their protection, the Foundation entered the year of 2023 already hardened by the challenges of the year of widespread invasion.

In an interview with the ArmyInform news agency, Ruslana Velychko, Acting Executive Director of the Foundation, spoke about the results of the work and how it was possible to survive.

The three VARTO competitions were contested by 272 projects, of which 108 won.

The amount of funding, according to the terms of the competitions, ranged from 500 thousand to 3 million hryvnias. Behind the scenes, there are also many hours of workshops held by the Foundation’s experts, who explained how to properly prepare a package of documents, fill out an application, etc.

This year, the majority of winners, 36.5%, are owners of agricultural businesses. Last year, catering establishments were in the lead. These changes are due to the fact that in 2022, many businesses relocated.

Many veterans left the war zone and started their own businesses in a new place. These were often small coffee shops. And now there is a surge in funding for agribusiness, because agricultural development is also part of defense.

The automotive sector is in second place among the winners, and the service sector is in third place. There are also more entrepreneurial initiatives in the medical sector, including six projects aimed at rehabilitating the military.

Veterans should receive quality services when they return home. Therefore, our Foundation has held many on-site meetings to establish cooperation in communities.

In addition to our core business financing activities, we also actively engage and finance non-governmental organizations that provide services to veterans and their families. This is because a non-governmental organization in nominal Nizhyn can cover a wide range of veterans’ needs: from physical or psychological rehabilitation to support for veterans’ families.

Read about the results of the work and plans for the veteran community in the article here.

The projects supported by the Foundation in 2023 can be found here.

The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation joins in congratulating veterans and their families on the upcoming holidays!

Please follow the link to listen to the greetings and wishes from veterans: https://www.facebook.com/veteranfundua/posts/pfbid0FeHL5prmWb4Mqu6JMYiBowkg9tKNKa6kNVzZDoZCn9K2eKrnbeKjh6r7CYqZfoWkl

These tough 365 days are over. There is even more to come — more work, tasks and challenges. We promise to support and help every veteran and their loved ones!

Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate the holiday!

These extraordinary boys and girls came to the Dovgan-art pottery studio with a carol. This is the beginning of a good tradition for the veteran business of the Dovgan family.

The pottery workshop in the village of Khotiv, Kyiv region, was founded by veteran Volodymyr Dovgan and his wife Oksana. Volodymyr has been in the pottery business for over 30 years and knows better than anyone else that clay can heal.

After all, it was pottery that helped Volodymyr after his demobilization and now helps other veterans.

The couple won the #VARTO 2.0 competition program from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and received funds to develop their unique pottery. The art residence has recently opened its doors.

“There is still a lot of work to be done – repairs are ahead. However, we need to live here and now. You need to enjoy every day and every opportunity. So, we are happy that we already have the walls, roof, windows of our renovated workshop and an irresistible desire to move forward. This is what we celebrated. We already have a place to welcome guests and organize master classes. The carolers truly caroled our space for prosperity and good fortune, our good friends came, and we celebrated this day together. And then let’s work and develop!” says Oksana Dovgan.

The Dovgans’ art residence is full of events, meetings, projects, exquisite cups and plates filled with the power of ancient Ukrainian craftsmanship.

The pottery workshop of veteran Volodymyr Dovgan is an opportunity to learn and understand your roots and identity.

We are proud of our winners and sincerely rejoice in their victories. Good luck to them!

Veteran businesses will receive UAH 205 million in support from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The corresponding amount is included in the state budget for 2024.

Funds under the competitive program will be allocated to veteran entrepreneurs and non-governmental organizations that provide services to veterans and their families. Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, Acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, stated the following:

“In 2024, competitions for financing veteran businesses will be held, the “20 thousand” business reimbursement program will continue, and new training and mentoring programs for entrepreneurs are planned. The total amount of UAH 205 million allocated for 2024 will be a significant contribution to the support of veterans, their reintegration and the development of veteran businesses in Ukraine. We are interested in making sure that every hryvnia of taxpayers’ money is used as efficiently as possible and that every interested veteran is able to implement their projects”.

In addition to business, financial support will also be provided to non-governmental organizations that provide social support to veterans and their families, provide mentoring support to veteran businesses, encourage veterans to lead active lifestyles, and promote mental and physical health.

For the second year in a row, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation has been holding the “Varto” competition programs, under which veterans and relatives of fallen defenders can receive from UAH 500 000 to UAH 3 million to develop their own businesses. 160 veterans’ projects and 37 NGOs have won the “Varto” competition programs over the past two years.

To implement a creative idea and take care of the highest quality of services is an achievable goal for Yuriy Hrytsak, a veteran and entrepreneur from Lviv region. We visited Yuriy’s family cafe, where customers can enjoy flavored drinks and… real ants! But first things first.

Yuriy Hrytsak started his military service back in 2014. He served as an engineer supporting Ukrainian troops. Later he was demobilized and returned to civilian life. He studied English and took special courses to start his own business.

Together with his wife, Yuriy decided to start his own business and create a place of recreation for families in his native Vynnyky. This is how the idea for “Coffee Ant” came about. It is easy to find on the map of veteran businesses created by LUN, the UVF, and Uklon. This interactive map includes veteran cafes, workshops, and shops. The map is constantly being updated, so it is now even easier to support veterans and their families.

According to Yuriy, the café’s highlight is one of the world’s largest formicariums. The house for the ants was made by craftsmen from Kharkiv. It was a laborious job, because the project is unique in scale and form. The farm is inhabited by a colony of Italian ants. Two years ago, they arrived in a test tube. Now the colony has grown considerably. In a few years, they will populate all the nests of the mega-formicarium.

Mariana, the veteran’s wife, emphasizes: “This species of ants is special — they don’t eat sugar at all, only grain. They are also undemanding and independent. Each ant has its own role. There are workers, those who carry food, others clean up, and there are scouts and warriors, etc. Watching them is very interesting for both adults and children. It is also calming to watch them.

The cafe has been open for 2 years and is a Point of Invincibility, and also serves as a shelter during air raids. As locals say, “the ants” serve hot tea and freshly baked croissants. The owners purchased the special stove with the funds of the reimbursement program from the UVF.

The veteran recalls: “We used to rent the equipment and it was quite low-quality. We wanted the best for our customers. So, we bought a new oven to bake croissants, bread and other things. We received the funds under the reimbursement program from the UVF”.

We are happy that we were able to support Yuriy Hrytsak’s veteran business at the right time. The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation creates opportunities for veterans and their families.

Photos and text by Olesya Matsyutevich.

On December 20th, 2023, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Veterans, and the international non-profit organization IREX signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The signing ceremony was attended by the UVF and IREX teams, as well as Matthew R. Johnson, Stabilization Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and member of the UVF Supervisory board.

This agreement not only symbolizes a formal legal obligation, but also expresses a deep shared mission and commitment to those who gave their lives in service to their country. It recognizes their contribution and confirms the intention of both organizations to assume responsibility for the welfare and support of veterans.

IREX cooperates with the UVF through two of its programs: “Ukraine Rapid Response Fund” and “Ukraine Veteran Reintegration”, both funded by the U.S. Department of State.

In particular, the organization supports the work of the hotline for crisis mental aid to veterans and their families, provides institutional support to the UVF and cooperates in the context of research, psychological component and other strategically important areas.

A key aspect of this cooperation is to create a cozy and comfortable environment for veterans, which will facilitate their successful integration into everyday life and the realization of their potential in civilian life.

“The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation is a key partner for IREX in projects that focus on supporting female and male veterans. Today, through the signing of this Memorandum, we have reaffirmed our readiness to continue our cooperation, as well as to consider expanding and strengthening it.” – IREX Ukraine Project Director, Uliana Bakh.

“Our goal is to make the work of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation even more effective, focusing on evidence and the specific needs of each veteran, their families, and the families of the fallen. Focusing on these aspects will allow us to reach an important consensus among veterans and ensure that our efforts are as effective as possible and meet the real needs of these people.” – Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, Acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

We are certain that only through joint efforts we can achieve significant changes and ensure a decent future for our veterans.

The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and IREX are looking forward to continuing this collaboration and are confident that our joint efforts will bring positive results for the community of veterans and Ukrainian society as a whole.

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs and its partners held an all-Ukrainian selection for the national team of Ukraine to participate in the United States Air Force Trials

The competition, which included eight types of adaptive sports, was organized by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, together with the NGO Invictus Games Ukraine, the NGO Come Back Alive, and the CO Stratcom Ukraine. The event is part of the Unified Calendar of Physical Culture, Sports and Recreation Events and Competitions of Ukraine for 2023.

In total, about 170 war veterans and active military personnel joined the sports competition, which lasted from December 12 to 14. Of these, 30 participants will represent the Ukrainian veteran and military community on the international stage.

Specifically, in the United States of America this spring. The competition was preceded by a two-week training camp for general physical fitness.

In January, a special commission is to select the members of the Ukrainian national team.

The United States Air Force Trials 2024 qualifying competition began with a grand opening ceremony hosted by Oleksandr Budko, callsign Teren. Oleksandr is a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The organizers emphasized that the competition will contribute to the recovery and rehabilitation of military personnel and war veterans who were injured, wounded, or ill in the line of duty.

The main goals of the United States Air Force Trials 2024 are to involve as many veterans and military personnel as possible in physical activities and to popularize adaptive sports among veterans.

Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina visited the competition as part of the All-Ukrainian selection of the Ukrainian national team to participate in the United States Air Force Trials.

She noted: “Active participation of veterans in adaptive sports is a victory over themselves on the way to recovery and return to peaceful life.” Following the selection, a team of 30 participants will represent our country at the international competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Svitlana Kashenets, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, noted that such training camps are important for veterans. In particular, for newcomers to sports, as they allow them to better adapt and prepare for competitions. She also thanked the coaches for their inspiring work and support of the participants.

Tetyana Lomakina, Advisor to the Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Access, spoke about the need for changes in legislation to integrate adaptive sports into the general sports system.

She emphasized that this would help create better conditions for veterans to practice sports, including training professional coaches and creating proper sports facilities.

Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting defenders in sports competitions. After all, veteran sports not only contributes to the physical recovery of veterans, but is also an important part of their social adaptation and psychological recovery.

🏹For more information about the All-Ukrainian selection, please visit Tribuna.com Ukraine, the information partner of the UVF

Read the blog of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation on the platform of the information partner Tribuna, dedicated to the popularization of veteran sports, at the link: https://ua.tribuna.com/uk/blogs/fondveteraniv/

NGOs working to support veterans and their families submitted their projects to the competition and will be able to receive up to UAH 2.5 million in financial support!

📜We are ready to announce their names!

1. Project #1172 – NGO “OPEN SPACE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT” – reintegration of veterans and their families in Ladyzhynska ATC

2. Project No. 1182 – NGO “CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OF FREE PEOPLE” – reintegration of veterans with disabilities who have musculoskeletal injuries through the acquisition of driving skills for vehicles converted to manual operation and a training and counseling program to promote their employment and social inclusion in community life.

3. Project #1145 – NGO “PRO WOMEN UA” – mentoring and consulting for family veteran businesses from start-up to development

4. Project #1138 – NGO “ACADEMY OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES” – Veteran Start-Up Education

5. Project №1163 – NGO “POWER OF THE COMMUNITY” – Strengthening service providing capacities in Kolomyia community as an element of post-war recovery

6. Project №1178 – NGO “ATO VETERANS UNION “YANIV” – veteran hub “Roztochya”: support for veterans of Yavoriv district, their families and families of fallen defenders of Ukraine

7. Project No. 1116 – NGO “MOVEMENT OF COMMUNITY OF WAR (ATO) VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES “SPACE OF LOVE” – social and psychological support, reintegration of veterans and their families “Touch of Joy”

8. Project No. 1139 – NGO “ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH LEADERS OF UKRAINE” – Vysochanska HAB “HOMECOMING” – a way to reintegrate veterans and their families

9. Project No. 1170 – NGO “LETYCHIV UNION OF ATO VETERANS “DEFENDER” – Development and support of the Veterans’ Space “We are close” in the Letychiv territorial community

10. Project No. 1176 – NGO “DEFENCE – UNION OF VOLUNTEERS” – Support for the veteran space of the NGO “Zakhyst – OV”

11. Project No. 1177 – NGO “REHABILITATION CENTER FOR WAR VETERANS “4.5.0. PRYKARPATTIA” – Internal engineering networks in the building of the rehabilitation center for military and war veterans “4.5.0 Prykarpattia”

12. Project No. 1129 – Public organization “WISHING TO HELP” – Barrier-free access to justice for veterans

13. Project No. 1156 – NGO “CENTER FOR SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF VETERANS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS” – Program of support and development of entrepreneurship for veterans and their families “Dreams Without Borders”

14. Project No. 1158 – NGO “WOMEN’S VETERAN MOVEMENT” – The “Plan B” Center of Strength is a space for returning to active social life, reintegration, support and recovery from the Women’s Veteran Movement

15. Project No. 1121 – Public organization “MEZHYLISSIA” – Space for active recreation “Mezhylissia”

16. Project No. 1144 – NGO “YOUTH ORGANIZATION “YOUTH IS THE FUTURE OF UKRAINE” – Warriors are the strength of the winners!

17. Project No. 1148 – Public organization “SUCCESSFUL LVIV REGION” – Strong Home: Support and adaptation of Veterans

18. Project No. 1122 – Public organization “KHARKIV REGIONAL PUBLIC ORGANIZATION “WIVES OF ATO VETERANS” – Psychological assistance to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their families

19. Project No. 1186 – Public organization “UKRAINIAN FEDERATION OF SPORTS OF WAR VETERANS” – Training workshops for war veterans and their families “The Power of Support”!

20. Project No. 1134 – Public organization “BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF UKRAINE’S DEFENDERS CIRCLE OF ARES” – Place of Power of the Defenders of Ukraine “Together to Victory! “

21. Project No. 1185 – Public organization “CHERNIHIV REGIONAL FEDERATION OF KETTLEBELL LIFTING” – Sports and recreation center for rehabilitation of war veterans and disabled veterans and their families Veteran space “Sercevir”

On December the 13th, NGOs participating in the competition program Varto: Ednannia program presented their projects to the experts. The recording can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/live/xKEBYfWXEIQ?si=maiidtSJHDgYPtDE

🥳Congratulations to the winners and the entire team of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs are pleased that we can help so many organizations to assist veterans and their families on their way home.

🤝The competition is funded from the state budget by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, as well as with the support of Isar Ednannia partners.