How can communities become places of strength and support for people returning from war? Participants at a regional meeting in Ternopil sought answers to this question, focusing on how to implement modern veteran policies at a local level. Organised by the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris programme in cooperation with the Ternopil Regional State Administration, the event took place on 15 August.

Ternopil provided a platform for open dialogue about the needs of veterans, female veterans, and their families. It also provided an opportunity for communities to search for practical solutions that they can implement today.

 

 

Supporting defenders is a core value of the Polaris programme. The regional meeting in Ternopil was a continuation of the pilot cooperation with communities in the Kirovohrad and Ternopil regions, which the programme launched in July with a meeting in Kropyvnytskyi.

The event aimed to present Polaris’ approach to integrating veterans’ perspectives into municipal activities and to create a space for dialogue and the exchange of experiences. It also aimed to identify challenges and enable joint learning. Particular attention was paid to small and medium-sized communities seeking to strengthen their capacities in order to respond quickly to the needs of veterans.

 

Dialogue and shared responsibility

 

The meeting, which took place both in person and online, was attended by over 75 participants. These included representatives from the Ternopil Regional State Administration and the veterans’ policy sector, as well as leaders and deputy leaders from local communities. Other attendees included advisors, authorised officials, specialists in veteran support, and employees from the Administrative Services Centre and the Employment Centre.

‘For us, meeting the Polaris team and learning about their experience and expertise is extremely valuable, as we are striving to find specific solutions and effective tools for implementing veteran policy in the region. Creating spaces for veterans is primarily the responsibility of the communities, as they are the first to welcome back the defenders,’ emphasised Pavlo Zhurba, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional State Administration.

 

International approaches and the Ukrainian context

 

Denys Chechel, an expert on integrating veterans into community activities at the Polaris programme, moderated the event. He presented the programme’s key areas and emphasised the importance of taking a systematic approach:

‘It does not matter that we are here in offices and bureaus making decisions and talking about veterans. What matters is what they have to say. Veteran policy cannot just be a set of services; it must be based on trust and joint planning, and it must create spaces where veterans feel needed and heard. Communities must learn to work with veterans, not just for them,’ emphasised Denys Chechel.

After the presentation, the expert ran an interactive survey that showed participants a ‘live map’ of veterans’ needs, the main challenges they face, and the gaps in regional policy.

 

From dialogue to practice

 

During the panel discussion, participants discussed with Alla Kovalchuk, an expert in administrative services for the Polaris programme, which tools are already working and which need improvement. The open atmosphere encouraged the sharing of experiences and even personal success stories.

 

 

Tetiana Duda, Head of the Department for Veterans’ Policy at the Ternopil Regional State Administration, said that eight veterans' spaces are already operating in the region. These spaces work with veterans, their families, and the families of fallen defenders. She presented the outcomes of her work on veterans' policy, stating: ‘The veteran support service is a valuable resource that will provide all the necessary services for veterans and their families.’

Alla Dihtiariova, a specialist in supporting veterans in the Trybukhivtsi community, spoke about her experience of managing the ‘Cave of Giants’ space, emphasising the importance of creating adaptive sports projects in rural communities: ‘Such initiatives are crucial in helping veterans to regain their strength, boost their morale, and foster a sense of community.’

‘The Employment Service runs a number of programmes to help veterans return to civilian life. Over the years of the war, around 1,400 veterans have come to us for help. They have received retraining and career guidance, and found jobs after studying. Additionally, 89 veterans and their family members have started their own businesses thanks to a grant programme,’ said Oleksandra Ostrovska, deputy director of the Ternopil Regional Employment Centre.

 

Practical solutions and training

 

During the second half of the event, Illia Lanovyi, the coordinator of the mobile office of the Veteran Hub charity, presented the best practices for filling veteran spaces with quality content.

The programme’s final event was an interactive role-playing workshop called ‘Veteran Policy’. Participants were divided into groups, each representing a fictional community based on real communities in the Kirovohrad region. Each team was tasked with developing a comprehensive programme for implementing veteran policy in their area.

During the process, participants analysed the needs of veterans, female veterans, and their families; discussed community opportunities; and identified priority areas for support. Particular attention was paid to creating and developing infrastructure to ensure effective rehabilitation and reintegration – ranging from a space for veterans to meet and receive support, to an inclusive employment centre and a multidisciplinary rehabilitation centre.

This format enabled participants to combine practical skills with a creative approach. They generated ideas and thought through the mechanisms for implementing them, as well as ways to secure funding and engage the community. As a result, each group presented its own vision for a systematic veterans’ policy that could form the basis for developing services in communities.

The participants agreed that veteran policy should be systematic and cross-sectoral, and should be as closely aligned as possible to the real needs of people.

Such meetings provide a platform for exchanging experiences and offer practical tools and inspiration. They encourage communities to turn discussion into action, implement the best ideas in their programmes and projects, and generate new opportunities for veterans and their families.