The reintegration of male and female war veterans into civilian life is one of the most difficult and, at the same time, most important challenges facing the frontline region of Kherson. To create an effective, sustainable, and coordinated support system for veterans and their family members in the region, a series of strategic sessions was held for six local communities: Kherson, Chornobaivka, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Kochubeivka, Vysokopillia, and Novovorontsovka.
These strategic sessions took place as part of the “EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine” program, with financial support from the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
Our team, the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” in partnership with the NGO “Chernihiv European”, had the great honor of serving as the lead facilitators for these events, which are of great importance to the Kherson region.
Active participants from each community were involved in developing the reintegration plans. What made these strategic sessions unique was that all relevant stakeholders worked together at joint roundtables:
- Representatives of local governments, military administrations, and social welfare agencies;
- Representatives of Administrative Service Centers, employment centers, and other municipal institutions;
- Doctors and administrators of local healthcare facilities;
- Veterans themselves, as well as family members of military personnel and the families of fallen (deceased) heroes;
- Specialists in veteran support and representatives of veteran organizations;
- Civil society organizations and initiative groups.
Thanks to this diverse group of participants, we were able to level the playing field in terms of information, hear everyone’s unique experiences, and transform potential conflicts into constructive cooperation.
A key analytical component of the sessions was the practical application of the Self-Assessment Tool for Community Readiness for the Reintegration of Veterans. This methodology, developed by the Rivne Regional Council’s Veterans’ Space in collaboration with the National University of Ostroh Academy, with support from UNDP and the EU, served as a tool for communities to conduct an “honest assessment.”
Participants conducted a detailed analysis of their communities based on 46 indicators, divided into six areas of life:
- Implementation of veteran policies at the local level.
- Medical services, rehabilitation, and psychological support.
- Accessibility.
- Social integration.
- Economic integration.
- Administrative services and security.
The audit revealed that despite challenging security conditions and limited budgets, the communities possess significant potential and, most importantly, have clearly identified their “blind spots” and areas for growth.
In addition, during the strategic sessions, the working groups addressed other practical issues.
- Ecosystem mapping: Participants mapped out the “veteran’s journey” in detail—from the moment of discharge and a visit to the Territorial Coordination Center to receiving medical, legal, and professional assistance—identifying instances of overlapping functions or information gaps.
- Modeling a Coordination Mechanism: Given the cross-cutting nature of veteran policy and the involvement of a large number of organizations in the process of providing services to veterans, female veterans, and their family members, there is a need at the community level to establish a single coordinating body to ensure effective and rapid interaction between institutions.
- Planning for Solutions: Participants in the strategic sessions developed short-term action plans and medium-term strategies for the next two years. The plans outline specific steps, responsible parties, and potential financial resources—drawn from both local and regional budgets as well as from international donors.
It is worth emphasizing that the work to involve communities in developing coordination and planning mechanisms is not a one-off initiative. As early as 2023, our Foundation launched and actively developed the Working groups on public safety and recovery in six communities in the Kherson region, with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. These platforms have become tools for fostering collaboration among local authorities, the civil society sector, and security service providers.
In 2026, the working groups expanded their membership to include representatives from youth councils, IDP councils, and the local veteran community. This transformation makes it possible to draw on accumulated experience in public safety and channel it, in particular, toward creating a barrier-free environment for service members’ future return to civilian life.
Participants in the current strategic sessions agreed that, in the future, local veteran policies should move away from a purely social cash benefits paradigm toward a system that fosters development, economic independence, and a safe, barrier-free environment.
All the outcomes developed during the strategic sessions, along with the recommendations and plans, will form the basis for updated comprehensive reintegration programs at the community level. The work continues, as the most important task lies ahead: putting the established support pathways into practice.
