Comprehensive support for defenders: Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the veterans' forum in Kyiv region
22 September 2025, 14:18
Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, joined the Kyiv Region Veterans' Forum "Side by Side with Veterans".
The event was attended by representatives of central and local authorities, state-owned companies and private businesses, as well as veterans, volunteers, representatives of charitable foundations, NGOs, experts and media.
Discussions at the forum covered several key areas. The first panel discussed government policy towards veterans, their social protection, medical care and rehabilitation. The second panel was dedicated to cooperation between veterans and businesses and communities, development of veteran entrepreneurship and employment. The third panel covered the interaction of veterans' initiatives with volunteer and civil society organisations, and a facilitated session discussed the integration of civil society organisations and charitable foundations into the veteran community, support for physical and psychological rehabilitation and retraining of veterans.
"There should be equity for all veterans in Ukraine - every city in every region should have the same level of services and opportunities. Veterans' policy should be broader than just assistance - it should include social aspects and involve communities and local governments. Kyiv region is a good example in this direction," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
According to him, the Verkhovna Rada, in particular the Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights and the Temporary Commission on Veterans' Protection, are actively working on the issues of veterans' integration into civilian life and their employment. Some of them want to start their own business, for which there are grant programmes. Many veterans have useful skills, such as flying drones, which can be used off the battlefield.
"It is also important to re-equip enterprises to provide jobs for people with disabilities and to help veterans with psychological adaptation after returning, without avoiding difficult topics. We really need a specialist who will provide comprehensive support," said the First Deputy Speaker, noting the need to discuss the practical implementation of this project.
Innovative approaches to supporting veterans' mental health were presented at the Side by Side with Veterans forum. "I'll start with VR helmets with exposure therapy programmes, which were presented by the NGO Kyiv Region Is Us together with VR-Mentality. VR technology allows you to simulate situations that cause stressful reactions in veterans and civilians in a safe environment," said the First Deputy Speaker. This approach enables veterans to practice self-regulation and adaptation techniques, while Ukrainian specialists are able to apply international methods in working with veterans in the Ukrainian context.
Oleksandr Korniienko also spoke about the Veteran Development Centre, which has been operating at Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University since 2023. The purpose of the Centre is to create a resource for veterans for professional development, including training in the chosen field or retraining. According to him, the Centre provides regular psychological counselling to help veterans overcome stressful situations and adapt to civilian life. The university lecturers presented tactile techniques such as topiary art and garden therapy, which are rehabilitation areas that use interaction with plants to improve the emotional state and psychophysiological indicators of people.
The IMPROV 4.5.0 project also deserves special attention. "This is an improvisation studio for veterans - a recreational therapy based on the principles of applied improvisation and aimed at creating an atmosphere of personal transformation through improvisational exercises. The author of the initiative is Sergiy "Charismatic" Velichansky. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he went through the defence and liberation of Irpin and the Kharkiv region. In 2023, he became an officer and joined the 72nd centre for moral and psychological support of the TRO forces," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
He noted the existence of programmes aimed at supporting the mental health of veterans. According to the First Deputy Speaker, there should be more such projects and they should cover all regions of Ukraine so that every veteran and their family has access to them. "The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supports this direction and is grateful for the projects already implemented. We are ready to consider the necessary steps to expand and scale them up," he concluded.