The Come Back Alive Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and "Ukrnafta" is launching a pilot project to establish veteran care spaces.
The Come Back Alive Foundation for competent assistance to the army, in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and with the support of PJSC “Ukrnafta,” is setting up 10 veteran care spaces in various regions of Ukraine. As part of this initiative, offices will be established in Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zhytomyr regions. The premises of hospitals and war veterans’ hospitals will undergo minor renovations and be equipped with necessary assets, including office equipment, furniture, and specialist tools.
The total cost of the project for ten locations is UAH 8,263,276.73. The first two offices in the Khmelnytskyi region have cost UAH 1,139,738.24. The spaces have been designed with accessibility principles in mind, featuring wide passages and gentle ramps, convenient navigation for visually impaired individuals, and adapted washrooms for persons with limited mobility. Additionally, modern furniture and office equipment have been installed.
The veterans’ offices will provide access to government services in a comfortable environment. Military personnel and veterans will be able to receive consultations on social support programs, treatment, and rehabilitation, obtain legal assistance, and schedule appointments with specialists, including social workers, psychologists, chaplains, case managers, and employment specialists.
“It is important for us to support military personnel and veterans returning from combat zones. That is why we are setting up accessible spaces in hospitals and war veterans’ hospitals. These spaces should be barrier-free and meet the needs and requests of their visitors because it is not just about care but also about dignity and respect,” comments the project team of the Come Back Alive Foundation.
The main selection criteria for locations was their capacity, as the project aims to facilitate access to government services for as many veterans and military personnel as possible. Additionally, factors such as the willingness of local administrations to cooperate, the efficiency of contractors, and the alignment of renovation plans with community needs were considered.
“It is extremely important for us to support veterans and military personnel not only on the front lines but also after they return home. The opening of ‘Veteran Care Spaces’ offices is another step in creating proper conditions for the rehabilitation and social adaptation of our defenders. We understand the needs of veterans well because nearly a thousand of our colleagues are currently serving in the Defence Forces, and five hundred veterans are already working in our company. We are convinced that comprehensive support—ranging from material and legal assistance to psychological support—helps veterans reintegrate into civilian life more quickly and easily. We are pleased to contribute to a project that will enable defenders to receive quality assistance and consultations in a comfortable environment,” says Serhii Fedorenko, Deputy Director for Commercial Affairs at PJSC “Ukrnafta.”
In the veterans’ offices, patients will be able to learn about state social support programs, receive consultations on physical and mental health treatment and rehabilitation, and obtain legal assistance. These spaces will also allow veterans to schedule visits with specialists from regional and district administration veteran affairs units, social workers, veteran support specialists, employment specialists, psychologists, chaplains, case managers, and other professionals based on the individual needs of military personnel and veterans.
