On 21 March, the Polaris Programme conducted a working visit to the Ternopil Regional Military Administration to discuss cooperation in developing veteran policy. This approach enables hromadas, regional administrations, ministries, and parliamentary committees to effectively coordinate their efforts in supporting veterans.
The visit began with a meeting between Denis Chechel, an expert from the Polaris Programme on integrating veterans’ perspectives into municipal work, and Taras Pastukh, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration. They discussed the role of hromadas in the reintegration of veterans, particularly in terms of employment opportunities, entrepreneurship development, access to psychological support, and rehabilitation services.
“When a veteran returns home, they face a new reality. The extent to which the hromada is ready to support them determines not only their personal adaptation journey but also the overall stability of society. Recognising the contribution of defenders, providing employment opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and ensuring access to psychological support and rehabilitation – all of this cultivates a culture of respect for veterans and strengthens the hromada,” said Taras Pastukh, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration.
Tetiana Duda, Acting Head of the Veteran Policy Department at the Ternopil Regional Military Administration, introduced Denis Chechel to the current efforts in the region, including the process of selecting specialists to support war veterans and their subsequent employment.
During the visit, several institutions in Ternopil working in the field of veteran policy were presented:
- Main Directorate of the National Police in the Ternopil Region – The delegation visited the veteran support centre “Unbreakable in Spirit”, which provides comprehensive assistance to veterans, including psychological, social, legal, and informational support.
- Ternopil Regional Employment Centre – Discussions focused on employment opportunities for veterans, including one-stop-shop services, training vouchers, grants for starting businesses, and compensation schemes for employers hiring veterans.
- Veteran and Heroes’ Families Support Centre – The delegation was introduced to the work of veteran support specialists and learned about plans to establish a new veteran support space.
“Developing veteran policy is a priority for Polaris and is integrated into all our thematic areas. We help hromadas implement effective solutions for veterans’ reintegration, promoting their economic and social inclusion. Cooperation with the Ternopil Regional Military Administration is an important step in this direction – together, we are working on creating high-quality support mechanisms, including the development of veteran entrepreneurship, expanding employment opportunities, and improving access to social services. Only a systematic approach at both local and national levels will allow us to build a sustainable and effective model for supporting defenders,” summarised Denis Chechel, an expert from the Polaris Programme on integrating veterans’ perspectives into municipal work.
Photos: Website of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration and Ternopil Regional Employment Centre.
