Developing an innovative integration model in Zaporizhia to help veterans

Ukrainian activist and journalist Polina Malets interviewed Vlad Moroko, head of the Ukrainian veteran Rehabilitation Center in Zaporizhzhia, and Bjarne Berner, a social consultant on veteran issues and head of the Danish veteran association “Denmark’s Veterans MC Touring” to talk about an innovative rehabilitation model for war veterans currently tested Zaporizhzhia. In collaboration with European partners, the new Rehabilitation Center set up as part of the “Checkpoint” project, offers a wide range of social services, including psychological and legal counseling, sports rehabilitation, assistance in finding a job or starting a business, and reintegration into community life. The Center also provides activities for veterans’ children of various ages.

Millions of soldiers and their relatives at risk of post-traumatic stress
disorder

The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its tenth year, has been destroying infrastructure, industry, and disrupting societal fabric. It has had a significant impact on the lives of retired soldiers and those still in active service. According to Vlad Moroko, over a million soldiers are directly involved in the war.

“People who return from the front lines, where they were under constant danger and risk, see the world in a completely different light and often experience post-traumatic stress. Wartime memories have a lasting impact on the future of soldiers and their relatives. To our knowledge, nearly 8 million people, or around 40% of the country’s population, have been affected since the start of the war. Helping soldiers heal from their traumatic experiences and supporting them in their journey back to civilian life will also do a huge service to their families and the Ukrainian society as a whole,” says Moroko.

Psychologists estimate that most people returning from combat need time to adapt in order to smoothly reintegrate into society. Around 20% face serious mental health challenges and may have mental health issues. How quickly and effectively one manages to overcome these challenges hugely depends on the level of support provided – whether they are left alone to deal with their traumas or are assisted within a safe environment.

Need to invest in people, not just infrastructure

According to Bjarne Berner, war veteran himself who is currently helping Ukrainians develop and implement a rehabilitation strategy, it is crucial that societies in Ukraine and other countries at war understand the importance of rehabilitation for soldiers and their families.

“Companies are supporting Ukraine to rebuild factories and infrastructure, but it is equally important to understand that the country’s future also depends on how we help war veterans return to civilian life. I sincerely hope that we will not just create and test a comprehensive integration model but that we will also convince national institutions and businesses that it is crucial to invest in this,” he says.

From psychological support to entrepreneurial skills

In consultation with partners from Denmark, the team at the Zaporizhzhia Rehabilitation Center has developed and is currently testing a multifaceted holistic rehabilitation model for soldiers. This model includes services for both veterans and their families.

“The program consists of six modules, including psychological counselling and assistance in starting a business or finding a job. Why is this necessary? Here is a simple example – last year, the state announced a program offering support for veterans to start a business, but only one person took advantage of it in Zaporizhzhia. People lack information, courage and self-confidence,” explains Moroko.

Activities at the rehabilitation center are designed for young people up to the age of 35, and for their families. Support for families and children also help veterans successfully return to their family roles. The center also works with teenagers from military families, using art and sports to help them adapt to the changed circumstances and find common ground with their parents.

Community activities focus on rehabilitation and finding connection through sports and other activities where people of different generations can meet, share experiences, and form new relationships.

“We call it the veterans’ platform because of its multifaceted nature will all possible social services. We already observe the positive impact of such an approach and how it is starting to shape public policy in Zaporizhzhia,” says Moroko.

According to him, the Rehabilitation Center will become a hub for information about the assistance offered to veterans by the state: “We want to make sure that people returning from the front do not feel abandoned. The Zaporizhzhia Rehabilitation Center aims to ensure a more effective cooperation
between veterans and the public sector.”

It started with helping refugees

Moroko recounts that his social work began two years ago when Russia attacked Ukraine.

“At that time, Zaporizhzhia became a hub for refugees – more than 200,000 people from Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kherson regions passed through the city. We have established a center to provide the first aid to refugees. To be honest, we were not prepared to help such large numbers of people. We were learning along the way,” he recalls.

Later, his team noticed that increasing numbers of soldiers were returning from the war and that their integration lacked a comprehensive approach.

“The state provides allowances, gives free medical treatment and even land, but veterans’ full reintegration into society requires a complex of measures, including social services. When representatives from various international organizations, such as the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Save the Children, started visiting Ukraine, we realized that none of them had worked to help veterans.”

It was decided to form a coalition, seek for partnerships to develop such a program, and fundraise to at least create and test the initial model. The European Union provided support for this complex project, and partners from Lithuania (The Open Lithuania Foundation) are also helping to implement it.

Financial and methodological support from Lithuania

Moroko admits that when the project was conceived, it was necessary to find international partners and donors. “Support from Ukrainian institutions alone would not have been enough for such an ambitious program – we wanted not just to renovate and make premises attractive but also to create various social integration services for veterans and test which methods are most effective,” shared Moroko, who now leads the war veterans’ integration project “Checkpoin.”

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

It is administered by the Central Project Management Agency of the Republic of Lithuania.

The Open Lithuania Foundation is using its expertise to help implement this project more effectively.