On 16 April, Cherkasy hosted the interregional forum “Veteran Spaces: History. Development. Prospects”. The event was organised by the All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities with the support of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine.”
The discussion brought together representatives of territorial hromadas, veterans, the team of the All-Ukrainian Association of UTCs, Polaris experts, as well as officials from the Cherkasy Oblast State Administration and the Cherkasy District Military Administration.
Opening remarks were delivered by Nataliia Kravchenko, First Deputy Head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration; Valeriia Bandurko, Head of the Cherkasy District Military Administration; Volodymyr Mitsuk, Deputy Head of the Association, Head of the Cherkasy Regional Branch and Head of the Biloziria Hromada; Taras Dobrivskyi, Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of UTCs; and Ayder Seitossmanov, Head of the Local Government Association Support Component of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine.”
Denys Chechel, Polaris expert on integrating veteran perspectives into municipal work in Ukraine and a veteran himself, highlighted significant progress in the establishment of veteran spaces and stressed that the next step should focus on enhancing the quality of services provided at these centres: “At the beginning of 2023, there were only 28 veteran spaces in Ukraine, mostly in regional centres. Today, there are over 300. The next step is to shift from quantity to quality – to ensure that veterans can access all necessary services at these centres. The Polaris Programme is actively working in this area – we travel extensively to hromadas to understand local realities, observe how the national strategy is being implemented at the local level, and identify what additional support communities need.”
“The All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities, in partnership with the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme, works to ensure that hromadas have the opportunity to adopt best practices in establishing veteran spaces, share successful experiences of implementing innovative solutions, and foster coordination across all levels of government to create the right conditions for rehabilitation, social reintegration, professional development, and service provision for veterans. That’s why such platforms are crucial for developing integrated solutions. It is our shared duty to create an environment where veterans feel fully supported,” said Taras Dobrivskyi, Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments “Association of UTCs.”
As part of the event, a panel discussion “Veteran Spaces: From Idea to Implementation” was held with experts, hromada representatives, and veterans. The discussion was moderated by Hlib Stryzhko – a veteran, marine, Veteran Hub ambassador, public figure, and Advisor to the Minister of Economy on Veteran Policy.
Panellists included: Kateryna Yamshchykova, Head of the Veteran Platform “Unbreakable Together” and Acting Head of the Poltava City Council; Olena Shtefan, Head of the Bobrytska Territorial Hromada; Mykhailo Riukhov – volunteer, activist, and selected candidate for veteran support specialist; and Denys Chechel, Polaris expert on integrating veterans’ perspectives into municipal governance in Ukraine.
Several contributions focused on the practical aspects of establishing and operating veteran spaces. Maksym Yermokhin, a veteran and Head of the Supervision Unit at the Community Support Centre “Space of Opportunities,” spoke about financial resources available for such centres. Meanwhile, Olha Kucher, Director of Service Provision at Veteran Hub, presented mobile offices as an effective tool to increase access to services for veterans and their families.
Participants also adopted a resolution calling for:
1. Local authorities to actively support the development of veteran spaces by integrating them into hromada development strategies through the creation of local support programmes for veterans and their families.
2. Veteran organisations to develop long-term strategies for veteran spaces, considering the diverse needs of veterans, including persons with disabilities and those with special needs.
3. Government bodies to develop and implement transparent funding mechanisms for veteran spaces, including:
• Specialised grant programmes to support infrastructure and initiatives aimed at integrating veterans into local communities.
• Financing programmes for SMEs providing services to veterans.
• Engagement of the private sector through tax incentives and other instruments to promote investment in veteran initiatives.
4. Civil society, business, and government institutions to strengthen cooperation in developing effective models for supporting and developing veteran spaces by creating mechanisms for joint funding and project implementation at the local level.
The forum continued the dialogue initiatives launched jointly with the Association of UTCs to share experiences in implementing national veteran policies and to develop reintegration and support mechanisms at national, regional, and local levels.
As a result of the National Forum on the State and Prospects of Veteran Policy in Hromadas held in Poltava, the Association’s Board decided to establish the Veteran Platform “Unbreakable Together.” This platform aims to build effective cooperation between all levels of government through dialogue and collaboration, address reintegration and veteran support comprehensively, conduct training events, provide expert support, and facilitate the exchange of experience in implementing veteran policy for effective and systemic support.
