Ambassadors of the UVF
Ambassadors of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine are people who carry an important mission: they help to make veterans heard, to hear about their needs, to hear the voice of those who fiercely fight for Ukraine and the entire democratic world, for the Victory over darkness and evil. A powerful front, the basis of which are veterans, becomes even stronger thanks to a strong rear.
“You can talk about the problems and needs of veterans in different ways. Uniting famous Ukrainians into a powerful ambassadorial community that will support veterans is an effective step. Therefore, veterans will receive not only opportunities for business development from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, but also support at the fraternal level,” Nataliya Kalmykova, The Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, is convinced.
The main task of the ambassadors is to talk about veterans and their needs on all platforms, to wide audiences, thereby conveying to society respect for defenders.
Iryna Tsilyk - an Ambassador of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation
Iryna Tsilyk is a film director, writer, member of the Ukrainian PEN. Her films win awards at European and American film festivals.Iryna’s works have been translated into many languages. Ukrainian performers use her poems in their songs. In 2022, Iryna became the author of the text of the radio dictation of national unity.
Iryna Tsilyk is also the wife of the writer and veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war Artem Chekh. He took up arms for the second time and went to the frontline to fight for our victory.
“Since the first years of the war, there are many veterans in my circle. In 2022, all this became very acute and close. I don’t have to search long the examples: my husband was a veteran, and now he is in the army again. Most of my friends now are people who are either fighting or waiting for their war partners. And two of my friends became widows…My motivation to highlight the needs of current and future veterans, to talk about various opportunities for them is very simple: it is my way of helping and protecting those I love and know personally. And also those whom I do not know, but to whom I will be forever grateful for the protection of my country. Telling their stories is my language of love and support”
The American veteran, Robert Murrett, became the ambassador of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation
“Helping a veteran return to a peaceful life is the duty of the nation, not just state institutions. ”Public-private partnership” is what we call it in our country,” shares Mr. Murrett.
Robert Murrett is an American scientist, intelligence officer, and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. In 2011, Murrett joined Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law, where he serves as the Deputy Director. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. He will strengthen Ukrainian veterans and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation by sharing US experience and best practices for the formation of effective veteran policies.
In turn, this is an additional opportunity for veterans to receive information about opportunities to participate in projects from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund and develop their own business. Veterans will know that society respects and supports them; will feel that 50, 500, 1500 km away, thousands of Ukrainians are standing next to them, waiting for their return.
