Last week, IOM, in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other governmental authorities, held a kick-off session for a new 18-month project to enhance Ukrainian resilience through community-based integration and strengthened capacities of psychosocial support for veterans, their family members, and their community. 

Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the project “Path of Resilience” will provide support to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, local authorities, and 14 organizations and institutions, including through a study of veterans’ social reintegration and their contribution in community life, technical expertise for partners, equipment for and light rehabilitation of premises, and supporting service centres in conducting their activities. Additionally, 25 veterans’ development centres will receive equipment to enhance the economic reintegration of veterans. Furthermore, the project will raise public awareness of the availability of psychosocial support and seek to reduce stigma around accessing mental health services. At the same time, tailored activities will enhance the capacities of mental health practitioners working directly with veterans and their family members and facilitate individual and group counselling. 

“IOM remains fully committed to supporting the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in its efforts for veterans’ reintegration. As the war continues, an increasing number of veterans will need tailored, multisectoral support to return to civilian life. Building on IOM’s previous expertise, we hope to support more veterans and their family members, as well as institutions that assist them,” said Anh Nguyen, IOM Ukraine Chief of Mission.  

Before the full-scale invasion, there were almost half a million veterans in Ukraine. The war has and will continue to dramatically increase this figure. The Government of Ukraine now estimates that 10 per cent of the Ukrainian population will be veterans, including those with disabilities, their family members and family members of fallen, having a wide-ranging impact on Ukrainian society as a whole.  

“Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have become soldiers during the past year. It means that Ukraine is increasingly becoming a veteran's society. I am glad that IOM is meeting the multiple challenges of veterans’ reintegration with this new project in partnership with the Government of Ukraine and the almost five-million-euro support from the German Government,” said Lukas Böhm-Friedrich, Second Secretary Political with the German Embassy in Ukraine.