Veteran recovery and training project in Ukraine

Last month, we at HUG (Help Ukraine Gothenburg) launched a pilot recovery and training program for Ukrainian war veterans and their families. We have now continued the project with a two-day program where veterans and their families participated in outdoor activities with ongoing support from military psychologists.

When someone who has experienced trauma connects with nature, pushes their boundaries, and succeeds in new challenges, something powerful happens. Each success shows them that their story continues - they still have capabilities and can find joy. This spreads to families through moments of shared pride and renewed hope.

Family-centered recovery

The project shows that recovery cannot be separated from family and community. Every veteran has family members who have also been impacted by war and trauma. Wives, husbands, children, parents — all carrying their own need for healing and adaptation.

Watching families learn together, support each other through challenges, and celebrate small victories showed why isolated treatment approaches fall short. Healing happens in relationships, in community, through love and shared experience.

The power of shared experience

Veterans connected with others who understood their journey without needing explanation. In conversations by the water, during shared meals, and in moments of quiet reflection, bonds formed that extend far beyond the two-day program. These connections represent an invaluable resource — peer support that continues long after the organized activities end.

The psychological support from military specialists created a safe space for this natural healing process, addressing both individual needs and collective resilience.

The program showed that recovery works in three ways: building physical strength and confidence through activities, providing psychological support through peer connections, and helping people engage socially beyond their immediate family.

Building stronger communities

The veterans who participated aren't just recovering from war; they're preparing to contribute to rebuilding their communities and country. Their recovery directly impacts the health and resilience of Ukrainian society. Any community's sustainable development depends on comprehensive, long-term support for those who have defended its freedom.

This veteran-focused initiative builds on Help Ukraine Gothenburg's work supporting those affected by conflict. We've organized recovery and training program for children of military personnel and war-affected youth. Now we're expanding to support veterans and their families as part of our core mission.