Every Ukrainian can help soldiers adapt after returning from the war, - Director of the Center for Mental Health

The entire Ukrainian society should spare no effort to help our military to adapt to civilian life realities after returning from the war.

This was emphasized by Kseniia Voznitsyna, Director of the Veterans Rehabilitation Center “Lisova Polyana” of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, in her speech at the 15^th annual Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s “Open Ukraine” Foundation.

“The war in Ukraine is grinding, aggressive, long, and chronic. Its repercussions are going to be very much alike - burdensome, long-lasting, and chronic”, - the expert believes.

At the same time, according to Kseniia Voznitsyna, every Ukrainian can help the military and make the rehabilitation period as comfortable as possible.

“Everyone at the front extend us an over-exclusive service. We must do the same in return when they come back home. It is not our veterans who have to integrate and re-adapt into society, it is us who have to adapt to them. The way we greet them back is of utmost importance – at home, in a coffee shop, in a store, in Centers for Administrative Services, etc,” she emphasized.

Kseniia Voznitsyna also said that Ukrainian veterans often feature mental traumas not characteristic of military personnel in other countries. There are several reasons for the uniqueness of the “Ukrainian trauma”, the expert noted. One is the hybrid nature of this current war violating all previously established rules of warfare, the constant heartfelt worry of the military for their loved ones, as well as continuation of the active warfare despite the fact that many veterans have already been called to arms. 

Also, according to the Director of the Veterans Rehabilitation Center, a very large number of Ukrainian soldiers have a “covert injury” –concussion or cerebral commotion caused by an explosive wave.

“We would be very grateful to international experts researching characteristics of” Ukrainian trauma” and how we may cope with it, so that our experience can be disseminated and used in future. Talking about psycho-traumas, we already have experience and can teach the world how to deal with this phenomenon,” Kseniia Voznitsyna summed up.

Noteworthy, the 15^th annual Kyiv security forum “For Our and Your Freedom/ Fighting for NATO” will be held on May 25-26, 2023, with the participation of well-known international figures. In particular, at the Forum, the KSF Security Council will be established and a policy document will be adopted with recommendations for the NATO summit in Vilnius to be held this July.