On Thursday, August 22, the VII International Veteran Forum "Ukraine. Veterans. Unity," organized by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, was held in Congress and Exhibition Center Parkovy. The annual large-scale event was attended by almost 700 war veterans, their relatives, and the families of the victims.
These were Invictus Games participants, successful businessmen and employers, leaders of public initiatives and public opinion, heads of veteran spaces, veterans from the community, as well as representatives of government and local self-government bodies, people's deputies of Ukraine, highly respected US and UK officials, international partners, veterans of the US Army, representatives of non-governmental organizations, business, media — a total of almost 1000 people.
The event was held in several locations of the complex. The main program took place in the
Convention and Concert Hall. The host of the main stage was a war veteran, president of the International Charitable Foundation "Veterans Alliance," the host of the TV channel ICTV2 Alexander Shvachka. And the leading side event was a veteran, the head of the Kyiv branch of Veteran Hub Hlib Stryzhko.
The forum was held under the slogan "Ukraine of veterans: victory’s in each of us." It became a platform for dialogue between veterans, society and the state, and also drew strong attention to the importance of veteran support and the creation of comfortable conditions for their adaptation in civilian life.
During TED talks, panel discussions, side events and exhibitions:
- the Strategy of the new veteran policy, including the project of veteran spaces, the Unified Veteran Line, the strategy of transition from military service to civilian life were presented;
- challenges for veterans and veterans and mechanisms of state support were discussed;
- guests exchanged international experience in the reintegration of demobilized persons;
- veteran entrepreneurship, in particular, a fair of products under the brand name "Created by Defenders" and a photo project "Life," dedicated to Ukrainian Defenders and mothers of dead Defenders were presented;
- new structural units on veteran policy in the regions were presented.
During the VII International Veteran Forum, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Andriy Lebedenko, Ambassador of Great Britain to Ukraine Martin Harris, Temporarily addressed the guests Charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Ukraine Robert Needham.
"Our common duty is to honor the heroes, to create a wide range of opportunities for them, to make the defenders the engine of change not only in the army, but also in civilian life," – said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during his speech.
Acting Minister of Veterans Affairs Oleksandr Porhun in his speech expressed gratitude to all Ukrainian Defenders who are now standing for our country at the front with weapons in their hands. And also to our international partners — for the comprehensive support of Ukraine in the fight against russian aggression.
Next, Alexander Porhun presented the projects of the Ministry of Veterans. In particular:
- Expansion of the Unified Veteran Line. There is a request for empowerment. Therefore, we increase not only the number of operators, but also the capabilities of the veteran line. It will really be a help at the distance of the call and your veteran connection 24/7.
- Veteran spaces VETERAN PRO. This is an extensive inclusive network of multifunctional spaces for restoration, information and consulting support, rehabilitation, development and leisure.
- Veteran space is also the place where services will be provided by a specialist in escorting veterans and demobilized persons. He should become an information adviser who helps, fills out documents, coordinates a veteran, directs, represents interests, explains rights, helps to realize the right to benefits and services.
- E-services of Minveterans. In particular, the e-Certificate of the veteran. Generated more than 250 thousand electronic documents! The e-Map of services for veterans in communities was introduced. Contains information about more than 12 thousand types of services! Launched e-Job Card, where more than 700 civil service vacancies are made!
After the grand opening and speeches of the honored guests, the panel part of the Forum began, which also took place in the
Convention and Concert Hall.
Within the framework of the first panel discussion "The State for War Veterans," the participants discussed a new veteran policy at the state level. In particular, strategic documents: the Strategy of Veteran Policy, the Law of Ukraine "On the Basic Principles of Veteran Policy in Ukraine." As well as the coordinating role of the Minveterans in the system of veteran politics. And also - they presented cooperation with CEBs, successful stories of synergy and a request for consolidation of efforts in the implementation of state policy.
During the second panel discussion "Communities for war veterans," the implementation of veteran policy at the regional level was discussed. In particular, the passport of community readiness, creation of veteran spaces, available opportunities in communities for veterans and veterans, ready-made state programs for veterans and details of how to use them, digital opportunities for veterans, etc.
During the third panel discussion "Veteran for Veterans," the importance of involving veterans and war veterans in projects on the implementation of veteran policy on the principle of "equal-equal" was discussed. In particular, veterans and their family members by their example showed a successful path of rehabilitation, training, employment, and starting their own business.
On the third floor of the complex, in the prefunction zone near the Convention and Concert Hall, the following was also placed:
- successful regional projects and initiatives of the RMA working with veterans;
- a model of veteran space with a presentation of the work of specialists to accompany war veterans and demobilized persons, practical psychologists and lawyers, consultations on the business of professional adaptation;
- presentation of the ASC on the principle of a single window;
- exhibition area of adaptive sports and photo exhibition of Invictus Games participants;
- presentation of the National War Memorial Cemetery.
Also within the framework of the VII International Veteran Forum, its participants and guests visited and got acquainted with the photo exhibition "Life" about the female experience of war, photo stands dedicated to the fallen "Azov", the products of the veteran business, which is marked "Created by Defenders" and are the winners of the WORTH program from the Ukrainian Veteran Fund of the Ministry of Veterans, as well as information banners of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education and Science, Commissioner for persons missing in special circumstances.
The guests also got acquainted with information stands and exhibitions in the
Big Exhibition Hall, located on the first floor, which was presented as an expo zone and a space for side panels and individual speeches of the speakers. The central themes of the speeches were: "The key role of the IGS in veteran politics. Successful projects," "Influence of adaptive sports on the life of a veteran," "Analysis of prosthetics prices in Ukraine," "Development of veteran entrepreneurship, "etc.
Among the speakers who spoke on the side panel were:
- Anna Didenko – Ukrainian artist, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine,
- Artur Voytyuk – veteran, founder of his own brand "COMMANDO COFFEE CO,"
- Olena Tolkachova – Ukrainian military, senior lieutenant of the 3rd Brigade, volunteer and socio-political activist, participant in the Revolution of Dignity and the war in eastern Ukraine,
- Ruslan Prykhodko – Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine,
- Steven Rogers – Deputy Head of the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine,
- Hlib Stryzhko – Marine, etc.
During the event, the Antytila group, led by soloist Taras Topolia, and Pianoboy, a solo project of Ukrainian musician Dmitry Shurov, the former pianist of Okean Elzy, also performed on the stage of the
Convention and Concert Hall.
The team of CEC Parkovy is grateful to the organizers and participants of the event for organizing and supporting the on-time vectors of today – unity, inclusiveness and veteran initiatives.
