Two-Day Training “Strengthening the Veteran Movement in Advocacy Processes” Held in Kyiv

On 17–18 December 2025, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) conducted the training “Strengthening the Veteran Movement in Advocacy Processes” in Kyiv. The event was held within the framework of the project “Together We Are Powerful: Capacity Building of Public Organizations of People with Disabilities,” implemented by NAPD in partnership with the humanitarian organization “People in Need” and with financial support from the people of the Czech Republic.

Over two days, participants worked with practical tools: how to strengthen veteran-led organizations, speak the language of solutions, and drive change where it is truly needed. 

A key part of the program was an open discussion about the problems veterans face every day. Participants spoke about housing guaranteed by law but inaccessible in reality; education benefits that turn into complex, lengthy bureaucracy; pension and social issues that generate anxiety and a sense of injustice; and medical care and rehabilitation, where specialists and clear pathways to support are lacking.

The training featured Pavlo Zhdan, NAPD lawyer, who provided an in-depth overview of issues related to the social and legal protection of veterans, common legal pitfalls, and mechanisms for defending rights when interacting with state institutions.

A separate block of the training focused on rehabilitation. Svitlana Petrusha, NAPD rehabilitation expert, outlined key challenges in accessing rehabilitation services, prosthetics, and assistive devices, emphasizing that timely support depends on clear procedures and informed decision-making.

Ruslan Topchan, NAPD veteran affairs expert and veteran with a disability, stressed:

“It is not enough simply to be right — you need a plan of action: a clear request, arguments, and partners so that decisions do not just remain on paper.”

Larysa Bayda, NAPD Program Director, highlighted the power of unity:

“When veteran organizations act together and speak the language of facts, they cannot be ignored. That is no longer a request – it is a position.”

Participants worked with real-life cases from their communities, drafted advocacy goals, trained communication with authorities and media, learned how to build coalitions and how to avoid burn out while working alone.

“Before, it always felt like putting out fires. Now we understand how to turn problems into solutions and make ourselves heard,” one participant noted.

Representatives of veteran organizations from the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv regions took part in the event.

These two days delivered an important outcome: less despair, but more structure. Less “we are not being heard,” but more tools to make sure voices are heard and taken into account.