News
This Mother's Day, we want to express our respect and admiration for mothers in the army. You made a difficult choice when you went to defend the country, being aware of all the risks and complications that could happen in your family's life. The most difficult test is being away from your children. We embrace each of you, are proud of you, are inspired, and call on every Ukrainian man and woman to respect the conscious choice of mothers in the army. We have only one common enemy, let's remember the price of our freedom and thank everyone who fights for this freedom and us.
Why didn’t[...]
14.03.2024
Emotional rollercoasters, driven by news from the frontlines, constant air raid alerts, and a sense of lack of control, have become the reality for most inhabitants of our country. Both military personnel and civilians experience a wide spectrum of feelings. During the execution of their duties, when they must constantly remain focused and prepared for any trials, supporting comrades and close circles becomes particularly crucial.
We wake up in the morning ready to conquer mountains, but by midday, we're overwhelmed.
Yes, these are emotional rollercoasters, and almost everyone has[...]
05.11.2023
Continuing to address the challenging and rarely discussed topic of captivity, our military psychologist, Kateryna "Melnik's Daughter," has gathered recommendations from former hostages and experts on how to conduct oneself in extremely difficult conditions and survive.
1) Restore and maintain self-control. Try to overcome panic reactions after being captured as quickly as possible. To manage this, engage your body's physical resources: for a short period, allow yourself to tremble as much as you can (if it's safe); tap yourself on the thighs or shins to feel your body; press your heels[...]
31.08.2023
Yesterday, on August 21, 2023, members of parliament registered Bill No. 9637, which proposes an updated definition of the statuses of war veterans. Today, the Committee on Social Policy and Veterans' Rights issued its conclusion and recommends to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to include the bill in the agenda, designate it as urgent, and shorten the deadlines for submitting alternative bills.
We, a community of expert civil organizations in the field of veterans' affairs, express our professional disagreement with the logic of defining veterans' experience proposed by the authors of the[...]
22.08.2023
According to the accounts of defenders themselves, the worst consequence of combat for a soldier is captivity. As of the end of June 2023, the National Information Bureau reports that 126 women are held in Russian captivity. Among them are 46 military personnel and 80 civilians. In certain situations, falling into the hands of the enemy is considered worse than death. The adversary seeks to obtain the maximum amount of operational information, often disregarding the concept of "human rights" and resorting to torture. Those who conduct interrogations use all available means to extract[...]
13.08.2023
Ukrainian society has not fully adapted to the fact that war has made significant changes in our lives. Often, war injuries are not visible externally: one doesn't necessarily need to be in a wheelchair, have an amputation, or possess disability documents, yet they may grapple with serious health impairments. They might leisurely stroll through the park beside you or enjoy a favorite drink in a nearby café, and you may not notice the silent battle they face with relentless pain every day. Sometimes, these "hidden" injuries like PTSD, post-concussion syndrome, blast injury (or shell shock),[...]
30.07.2023
On the first day after the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, the VETERANKA volunteer headquarters began collecting aid and preparing a humanitarian mission to the areas most affected. Our team was among the first to set off to assist Kherson Region. We evacuated animals, delivered medicine, boats, clothing, food, and hygiene products to those in greatest need. Thanks to your donations, friends, and the support of philanthropists, we have successfully carried out four such missions. Our fourth mission to assist the Kherson Region took place in collaboration with our[...]
26.07.2023
Friends, we love to report when we have good news. Thanks to Kryzhanivskyi's "Flowers of War" photo exhibition and a charity stand-up, the support of our partners Peremoga, Ukrainian Witness and benefactors, we closed the collection of UAH 350,000 for Ukrainian medics.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined, supported and participated in these events.
A large collection for paramedics and a charity exhibition continue. Soon the photos will be available in different parts of Ukraine. Stay tuned for[...]
19.07.2023
Especially for you, "Miller's Daughter" conducted an anonymous survey among active-duty servicewomen and veterans to understand the circumstances in which it might be better not to enlist in the armed forces. We emphasize that there is no mandatory conscription for women in Ukraine, even if your civilian profession is subject to registration in territorial recruitment and social support centers. If you have still decided to pursue military service, consider whether it is voluntary, fully informed, and carefully considered, as you must be prepared to steadfastly bear all the burdens and[...]
09.07.2023
The tragedy that happened in the Kherson region after the Russians blew up the dam brought a lot of grief to our country. But also, it showed how resilient we are and how we can support and fight for each other.
In the first days, VETERANKA received a huge amount of help from people from all over Ukraine - clothes, dishes, bedding, food products, medicines and hygiene products, feed and carriers for animals. And also donate almost a million hryvnias. Around the clock, our volunteers procured, prepackaged, packed and transported humanitarian aid to victims in the Kherson Region. In the[...]
04.07.2023