In December 2024 - January 2025, a survey titled “Vision of Reintegration of Defenders into Ukrainian Communities” was conducted. This project aims to study the fears, expectations, and needs of participants in the reintegration process. The research was initiated by the Ukrainian Community of Dialogue Practitioners and carried out in collaboration with the NGOs “Ideas for Change,” “Dialogue in Action,” and analysts from the National Institute for Strategic Studies. The full report in Ukrainian is available via this link.
The organizers and authors of the research are: Tetiana Kalenychenko, Alyona Kopina, Yulia Kaplan, and Larysa Lisohor.
The research was conducted through in-depth interviews with experts (8 interviews), representatives of local authorities, educators, medical professionals, police, social workers, members of civil society organizations, as well as active-duty servicemen, veterans, and their family members (40 interviews) in various regions of Ukraine.
The report highlights the most pressing issues faced by defenders and their families after returning to civilian life, as well as specific recommendations for improving the reintegration process of veterans into communities. In particular, it discusses the role of mediators and dialogue facilitators in the adaptation process.
The research covers various aspects of integrating defenders into society, particularly at the level of local communities. It describes the needs of veterans and their families, the level of provision of medical and legal services, social support, and the participation of veterans in community and political activities. The project contributes to understanding the state of communities in terms of accepting defenders and highlights conflict-sensitive aspects of their reintegration.
The project was supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, with the participation of the UCoDP, the “Ideas for Change” Community Initiative Center, and the “Dialogue in Action” NGO.
