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Meeting with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Sweden at HUG
On October 17, Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) hosted a meeting between Svitlana Zalishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine in Sweden, and the Ukrainian community in Gothenburg.
The Ambassador opened the evening with an inspiring speech about her work in Sweden, the international support Ukraine is receiving at the highest levels, and the important role our communities play in sustaining that support.
“I am here not simply as the Ambassador of Ukraine. I am the ambassador of Ukraine at war. I represent a country that is fighting not only for its own freedom, but for the freedom of the free world. We are fighting not just for our borders, but for the very idea that borders should be respected — for sovereignty as a value, and for international law that must be upheld.” - Svitlana Zalishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine in Sweden.
Ambassador also shared her own reflections on Sweden’s strong commitment to Ukraine:
“In every meeting — with politicians, ministers, members of parliament, and representatives of defense industries — I have felt extraordinary support and solidarity. Although Sweden is 1,500 kilometers away from the frontline, politically it stands on the frontline of the fight for European security.”
During her speech, the Ambassador outlined the key priorities of the Embassy's work in Sweden — strengthening defense and energy cooperation, expanding economic partnerships, encouraging Swedish business investments in Ukraine, and coordinating humanitarian aid such as medical supplies, ambulances, evacuation vehicles, and reconstruction equipment.
Engaging with the Community
Following her speech, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences — from cultural and political topics to everyday consular challenges Ukrainians face living in Sweden.
With many questions related to consular services and documentation abroad, the Ambassador proposed holding a follow-up online meeting with the Consul to provide more detailed answers to the community's concerns.
"Community engagement is also important to us. To feel your support, to know that you have backing here in Sweden, and to maintain dialogue."
At HUG, we believe that open dialogue between the community, organisations and diplomatic representation is invaluable. Such conversations strengthen our collective efforts and ensure that the needs and voices of Ukrainians in Sweden are heard at the highest levels.
Supporting Ukraine Together
After the official meeting, everyone was invited to taste Ukrainian syrnyky (cheese pancakes) to support our fundraising for ambulances for Ukraine. Thanks to your incredible support, we raised over 7,000 SEK during the event.
We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Svitlana Zalishchuk for her visit and to everyone who joined us. When the community, organizations, and diplomatic representation work together, our support for Ukraine becomes stronger.
This Christmas, we're raising funds to send 2000 tourniquets to Ukraine.
Tourniquet isa modern device that stops critical bleeding in seconds – and crucially, it's designed to be simple enough that an injured person can apply it themselves, even with just one hand.
When someone is wounded under fire or losing consciousness, they can use it on their own injury. It's the only reliable way to stop life-threatening blood loss on the spot and preserve limbs until proper medical care arrives.
In conflict zones across Ukraine, severe bleeding injuries happen daily – from shrapnel wounds to traumatic damage. Medics and soldiers need tourniquets within arm's reach.
Ukrainian hospitals and frontline units are running low on these critical supplies. Each tourniquet costs 400 SEK, and every one we send gives a medic or soldier the tool they need to save a life.
We work directly with medical teams on the ground, ensuring your donation reaches those who need it most. We'll keep you updated throughout the campaign on our progress.
Help us reach our goal of 2000 tourniquets!
Donate 400, 800, 1200 SEK or more:
Swish: 123 0645481 Bankgiro: 5840-2280 Mark your donation: "Julgåva"
If your company would like to consider a larger donation, we would be grateful for any contribution that can help us reach our goal.
By giving a larger amount, you can help save even more lives and make a significant impact.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@hug.ngo to discuss how you can get involved and support our work.
If you'd like to send a customized Christmas card, we’ll take care of it.
You can personalize your card with:
Your name or your organization’s name.
A unique phrase or message that represents your support for Ukraine.
Any additional touch you'd like to add, such as encouragement for others to join the cause.
How does it work?
Send us an email with your details and preferences.
Send us proof that you've donated to us.
Once your request is received, our team will create a unique design and send you back the card.
Whether you’re gifting to friends, clients, partners, or loved ones, this card will carry a heartfelt message of hope and solidarity.
Reach out to us at contact@hug.ngo with your ideas, and let’s create something truly special together!
The first training group of facilitators within the FRID project officially started in Gothenburg on October 4-5. Over two intensive days, participants immersed themselves in the TOIVO methodology, learning the skills and tools needed to lead peer support groups within the Ukrainian community.
What is FRID?
FRID (Facilitating Refugee Integration through Dedicated Mental Health Support) is a community-driven initiative, created in collaboration between Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG), MIELI Mental Health Finland, and Reach for Change.
Funded by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation, the project runs for 18 months — from April 2025 to October 2026 — and aims to strengthen the mental health of Ukrainian refugees in Sweden as a foundation for sustainable integration.
Why FRID Matters?
Recent surveys in Gothenburg reveal significant mental health challenges within the Ukrainian community. In August 2023, 71.8% of Ukrainians reported sleep and eating disturbances, 62.4% experienced anxiety, and 50.9% struggled with loneliness. Follow-up data from the Better You&Me program (May 2024 - January 2025) shows the persistence of these challenges: 67.7% of participants showed probability of anxiety disorders, 51.5% faced difficulties with daily functioning, and 36.9% showed probability of depression.
Despite these challenges, many face barriers to accessing professional help due to language barriers, cultural differences, and the complexity of the healthcare system.
The TOIVO Approach
To bridge this gap, FRID introduces peer-based mental health support rooted in MIELI’s TOIVO model — a proven approach that builds community trust and emotional resilience through shared experience.
Each FRID group will be led by trained facilitators — people who understand the challenges of adapting to life in a new country and can create safe, inclusive spaces for others to share, learn, and heal together.
The TOIVO peer group model is built on the principle of "act-feel-apprehend." In each session, group members decide on an activity to do together, followed by discussions about the emotions the experience evoked. Through this process, participants discover small, practical changes they can incorporate into daily life to positively impact their mental health — such as improving eating and sleeping habits.
Groups meet 8 times, with each session focusing on a key wellness topic: healthy food, physical exercise, sleep, relationships, stress, emotions, and more. By combining MIELI’s experience, HUG’s community work, and Reach for Change’s innovation expertise, FRID aims to make peer-based, culturally adapted support available across Sweden — ensuring that mental well-being becomes an integral part of refugee integration.
Positive Response to the First Training
The demand for the first facilitator training exceeded all expectations — the group was fully booked within just one day. Participants were curious, open, and deeply engaged, sharing their reflections, ideas, and personal experiences.
I believe this project is very important for Ukrainians living in Sweden, as it helps develop valuable skills for building and maintaining mental well-being. - Kyrylo Semenov, participant
During the workshop, we explored the core principles of the TOIVO methodology, discussed how peer support can strengthen mental health, and practiced role-based exercises focused on trust-building and group facilitation.
The discussions touched on what strengthens mental health — and what Ukrainians in Sweden often lack today: continuity, belonging, and community. The atmosphere in the room was warm, attentive, and inspiring. One participant even joined from Malmö, showing how strong the interest in the method is across regions.
I’ve always had ideas, and this truly resonates with my experience, so I really want to try myself in the role of a facilitator. - Yuliia Tretiiak
What Comes Next
In October, the first wave of FRID peer-support meetings will begin. Step by step, we will observe how small group connections can make a big difference — helping participants strengthen resilience, prevent challenges, and feel less alone.
FRID is more than a project — it’s a growing community of care. Together, we’re creating a space where every Ukrainian in Sweden can feel seen, supported, and connected.
For more information, you are welcome to contact:
Mariya Melnyk, Project Manager, Help Ukraine Gothenburg: mariya.melnyk@hug.ngo
Jane-Ange Musekura, Project Manager, Reach for Change: jane-ange.musekura@reachforchange.org
Melis Ari-Gurhanli, Project Manager, MIELI Mental Health Finland: melis.ari@mieli.fi
During the lecture "The Swedish-Ukrainian struggle for the independence of Ukraine”, Marina shared how she discovered original documents in the Swedish state archives that prove Sweden's historic commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.
Swedish-Ukrainian relationsthrough history
The Swedish State Archives contain approximately 800 kilometres of shelves with documents, many related to Swedish-Ukrainian relations. These materials were largely taken during the Polish-Swedish War in the 1650s and survived a major fire in 1697 that destroyed two-thirds of the archive. Marina has spent years researching these historical records from the 1600s-1700s.
Now she leads a team of Ukrainian historians and Swedish State Archive workers processing these documents. Together, they are helping create a virtual map of Ukrainian-related documents in archives worldwide, making them accessible to researchers globally and ensuring that historical truth cannot be hidden or distorted.
The documents show that Swedish kings recognized Ukraine's role in European politics. King Charles XII's 1711 letter explicitly instructed Sweden's envoy to "defend the interests of Ukraine as an independent country, its rights and freedoms, territory, and to seek recognition of Orlyk as Hetman of Ukraine."
A copy of this letter was gifted by Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson to President Zelenskyy.
Marina traced the history from Hetman Pylyp Orlyk to the Cossack alliances, showing how these authentic records break down Russian myths and propaganda, restore historical truth, and give Ukraine back its voice in the world.
The event included a screening of "Incognito: A Secret Network to Save Ukraine and Defend Europe," followed by discussion connecting historical and contemporary struggles for Ukrainian independence.
Community Support
After the lecture, everyone was invited to enjoy Ukrainian borsch in exchange for a donation. Thanks to your incredible support, we raised over 6,000 SEK toward our campaign for 10 ambulances for the frontline and completed funding for one ambulance!
We are deeply grateful to Marina Trattner for sharing her invaluable research and to everyone who joined us that evening. By learning our true history, we strengthen our identity and our resolve.
Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) together with other Ukrainian organizations across Sweden was invited to a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. The meeting focused on how civil society organizations working directly with Ukrainian communities abroad can contribute to building a more inclusive and transparent electoral system for Ukraine's future.
Strengthening Democratic Institutions
While the conversation naturally touched on elections that will take place after the war ends, the scope of the discussion extended far beyond that. The meeting centered on how to strengthen government institutions, build lasting trust between citizens and the state, and ensure that every Ukrainian voice is heard and valued, whether they're in Ukraine or abroad.
Millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee their country due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They left behind all their life - homes, friends, jobs, and belongings to save their lives and ensure safety for their children and families.
But distance or displacement doesn't diminish their connection to Ukraine. They remain an essential part of the nation, and their right to help shape Ukraine's future is fundamental to what inclusive democracy truly means.
Building Strong Partnerships
Through our work, we've learned a lot about what really matters to the Ukrainian community in Sweden. We’ve heard their concerns, hopes, and conversations about the future. We witnessed their desire to maintain cultural ties and stay connected to home despite the distance.
When policymakers invite organizations working with communities on the ground, the resulting policies are more informed, more inclusive, and more likely to reflect the actual needs and aspirations of the people they serve.
We at HUG are grateful to have been part of this important conversation, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) had the great honor of meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Sweden, Svitlana Zalishchuk, at the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden.
We had an inspiring conversation about the strength and unity of the Ukrainian community in Sweden, HUG's contribution to supporting both Ukraine and Ukrainians living here, as well as our future plans and needs.
The meeting focused on how NGOs and community-focused organizations can bridge the gap between people and authorities. Our work at HUG is built around people — we hear their concerns, understand the challenges they face, and see what type of help can make a real difference. This on-ground perspective is essential for identifying community needs and creating more effective programs and policies.
Ukraine fights not only for freedom, but for its very existence. This reality requires uniting the efforts of states, organizations, and individuals to strengthen our collective action and protect our shared future.
We are convinced that strong partnerships between government institutions and NGOs can bring meaningful impact for both sides. We are grateful for the Ambassador's attention and engagement, and we look forward to working closely together to strengthen the voice of Ukrainians in Sweden and continue contributing to Ukraine's resilience.
Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) has received the Government's Award for Voluntary Swedish Efforts in Support of Ukraine 2025!
This award is more than recognition of our work. It testifies to the strength of everyone who didn't stand aside. The strength of those who choose to act when chaos and pain surround us. Those who see not war, but human lives: children, mothers, fathers whose lives changed forever in a single moment.
When we started more than three years ago, we had no idea where this path would lead. We just knew we had to act, to help, to stand with Ukraine in whatever way we could.
Since 2022, HUG has provided humanitarian support to Ukraine valued at more than SEK 140 million. We have delivered humanitarian aid, rescue vehicles, and medical equipment to hospitals and the frontline, supported families forced to flee from war, and created safe spaces for children and adults - both in Sweden and Ukraine.
Today, we help Ukrainian war veterans reintegrate into society – those who defend our freedom at the cost of their own health and lives.
This is the very first time the Government of Sweden, together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Swedish Institute has presented an award for voluntary efforts in support of Ukraine.
“The government has greatly increased support to Ukraine, both civilian and military.But at least as important as these support packages are the great efforts made by Swedes on a voluntary basis. By Swedes who give of their time and their own money to support Ukraine.” - Benjamin Dousa, Minister of Assistance and Foreign Trade
For our team, receiving it is both an honor and a responsibility. It shows that volunteer initiatives, born out of urgency and compassion, are seen and valued at the highest level of Swedish society.
Tilde Addenbrooke was recognized as an individual volunteer who showed exceptional courage in coordinating humanitarian aid to particularly war-torn areas in her activities at the front.
“The x-factor to Ukraine's success is not guns, ammunition or any other aid provided by friends and allies. The X factor is the Ukrianians themselves.
The significance of this recognition extends beyond our organization alone. What began as an emergency response has grown into comprehensive support programs that address both immediate needs and long-term recovery, always guided by needs of the Ukrainian community.
"Getting an award of this kind is not only a way of recognizing what has already been achieved – it can also inspire others to follow. If not by starting their own organization, then by supporting or contributing in some way. This award is another way to create visibility for all the good work that has been done, not just by the state, but also by the NGO sector." - Ann Milton, Head of Project funding at the Swedish Institute
We are grateful to every partner who supported us, every volunteer who joined us, and everyone who donated to help Ukraine. We thank the Swedish community for their trust and continued support.
During the Hug for Heroes program, participants had a unique opportunity to meet David Lega — a Swedish Paralympian with 14 world records, multiple World Championship medals, and a former Member of the European Parliament. His visit became one of the most memorable moments of the program.
David spoke with our participants about resilience, purpose, and our shared humanity. During his meeting with Ukrainian veterans, he reminded everyone of a simple but profound truth: "We are all humans; we need to be needed."
After the inspiring lecture, program participants had the opportunity to try specialized equipment firsthand and experience what accessible sport should feel like: equal, empowering, and forward-looking. Through his own example, David demonstrated that adaptive sport is not an act of charity, but genuine inclusion.
The visit ended with a moving gesture of solidarity: David signed a Ukrainian flag for the veterans, while they signed a Swedish one for him. This exchange was simple, and deeply symbolic — a mutual recognition of resilience and respect.
We are deeply grateful to David Lega for joining our program, sharing his story and inspiring our participants. This visit reminded us that true inclusivity means creating spaces where everyone can participate as equals, where everyone can feel their strength and purpose.
Special thanks to AD Fitness, together with David Lega, for their joint generous donation of adaptive sports equipment, which will travel to Ukraine to help more veterans rebuild their strength and discover new possibilities through sport.
This summer was a time of both challenges and victories. HUG worked in parallel in Sweden and Ukraine — combining humanitarian aid, support for children and veterans, and building stronger Ukrainian communities abroad.
Children & Youth
In Gothenburg, we organized a summer camp for 96 children in two age groups, with a full program of creativity, recovery, and personal growth.
On the island of Styrsö, another 33 children joined a camp that became a safe space for friendship, play, and resilience.
In Sweden, 20 children took part in the Star for Life Program, a motivational camp helping young people build confidence and believe in their future.
In Ukraine, at Manivtsi, we supported two children’s camps for 80 participants, offering creativity, teamwork, and a chance to recover from the impact of war.
Veterans & Rehabilitation
In Manivtsi (Lviv region), we hosted two summer rounds for 120 veterans, followed by an additional September program for 50 veterans. These camps provided a safe environment for recovery, psychological support, and new skill development.
In Gothenburg, we launched the pilot project Hug for Heroes. More than 40 veterans completed a 14-day intensive recovery and reintegration program — combining physical activity, psychological care, social connection, and new approaches to life after war.
Humanitarian Aid
We delivered aconvoy of 10 vehicles directly to Ukraine, supporting evacuation efforts and saving lives on the frontline.
Community Engagement
AtAlmedalsveckan in Visby, Sweden’s leading democracy forum, our HUG team showcased our work and vision for Ukraine throughout the week.
During the annual elections in July, we witnessed strong engagement of the Ukrainian community in Sweden — a sign that our community is becoming an active part of Swedish public life.
Volunteers & Partners
Together with Swedish partners, we held 6 fundraising and community events, which not only secured resources for Ukraine but also built bridges of trust and solidarity between Swedes and Ukrainians.
Summer 2025 proved once again that HUG is more than an organization. It is a network of people building bridges between Sweden and Ukraine, helping to restore lives, and creating a future free from fear.
Our military friends have asked us — urgently. The need is huge. Every day, medics race against time to save lives under fire, and every second lost can mean the difference between life and death.
Since 2022, HUG has delivered over 100 evacuation vehicles to the frontline — each one a lifeline for soldiers and civilians alike.
The Situation Now
The frontline is unforgiving. Roads are dangerous, injuries happen instantly, and medics are stretched to their limits. The call we’ve received is clear: more rapid evacuation vehicles are needed immediately.
These vehicles will:
Extract the wounded safely under fire
Give medics the mobility and protection they desperately need
Expand frontline capacity where it’s most critical
Help Is the Answer
Every donation is more than support — it’s a chance to save a life, to bring someone home safely. The need is urgent, and our friends on the frontline are counting on help:
Act now — every second counts.Your donation today puts a life-saving vehicle on the road, rushing medics to the wounded when they’re needed most.
From 18 to 31 August, Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) hosted the pilot of Hug for Heroes — an international recovery and training camp in Sweden for Ukrainian veterans and their families. For fourteen days, a carefully designed program of therapy, movement, and family work was interspersed with simple human moments: a fishing line in still water, a walk through a Viking village, a shared meal beside the sea, and a Paralympian speaking about purpose.
This was never intended to be a spa or a short-term comfort. It was — and is — a practical methodology for reintegration: a program that works with body, mind, and family in parallel so that recovery can become lasting resilience and, ultimately, leadership.
“Reintegration doesn’t begin in a clinic. It begins where a person is seen, heard, and supported again.” – Rodion Hryhoryan, NATO-certified military psychologist, Hug for Heroes program coordinator
A Method that Matches a Life
Hug for Heroes was built around a single conviction: that healing must be whole. The program’s core elements are interdependent and intentionally delivered every day:
Psychological care — Daily group and individual sessions with Ukrainian military psychologists, focused on trauma-informed approaches, emotional regulation, and practical tools to navigate civilian life. These sessions were led by an experienced clinical team and shaped by the realities veterans face at home.
Adaptive physical practice — Movement as reconnection. From adaptive sports and yoga to sea-side exercises and hiking, physical activity was used as a way to restore trust in the body, re-establish agency and practice calm under stress.
Family-centered work — Every veteran invited someone who matters: a spouse, partner, parent or close friend. Workshops addressed the silences that war creates in relationships and taught practical ways to rebuild communication and mutual support.
Skill-building & leadership — Sessions with partners such as the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) focused on what reintegration looks like in practice: retraining, community roles, and how veterans can become peer-support leaders in their towns.
Peer-to-peer model — The program trains veterans to recognize and support other veterans: how to spot someone in crisis, how to offer first-line psychological safety, and how to lead community recovery initiatives.
This is not therapy in isolation; it is training, practice and the lived rehearsal of life after war.
The Viking Village, the Fishing Rod, the Quiet Breakthroughs
Not every therapeutic breakthrough happens in a therapy room. Some happen on a lake.
A small group left the camp to visit a reconstructed Viking village. The site offered a sense of perspective — a cultural, historical space where participants could be explorers again, take in new stories and, for a few hours, step outside the identity of “patient” or “wounded.” The village visit became a symbol of rediscovery: of curiosity, of stepping toward the world rather than away from it.
Fishing trips on Swedish waters were another unforgettable element. Several participants had long hoped simply to cast a line again. For many, the act of waiting, the rhythm of casting and the quiet reward of a catch offered a kind of therapy words could not replace.
“Fishing gave me peace I had been searching for since the war,” one participant said simply. “It was not about the catch, but about silence, patience, and being present.”
David Lega: A Moment of Inspiration, Adaptive Sport and Signed Flags
A highlight of the program was the visit from David Lega — Swedish Paralympian, former MEP and a public figure who speaks openly about resilience and purpose. David met participants, shared his personal story, introduced adaptive sport practices and reminded the room of a simple truth: we are all humans; we need to be needed.
He helped lead adaptive sports sessions using equipment generously donated by AD Fitness, and he physically demonstrated that adaptive sport is not charity — it is inclusion. The practical demonstrations allowed participants to try specialized equipment and experience what accessible sport feels like: equal, empowering, forward-looking.
At the end of the day, David signed a Ukrainian flag for the veterans; they signed one for him. The exchange was small, tender and deeply symbolic — a mutual recognition of resilience and respect that lingered long after the autograph dries.
Prosthetics, Innovation and Practical Hope: Fillauer Europe
Fillauer Europe — a leader in orthotic and prosthetic innovation — joined the camp to present the latest high-performance prosthetic technologies. For many participants who use prosthetics due to injuries sustained in the war, this workshop was practical and profound.
Participants had hands-on time with several prosthetic models. They could test movement, compare functionality and envision what improved mobility could mean in daily life back home. The Fillauer sessions were not theoretical: they were concrete offers of improved daily function and autonomy.
Reintegration as Practice: FBA Workshop
Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) facilitators Anastasiia Klonova and Olga Yershova led a workshop that began with one question: What does “reintegration” mean to you?
As answers accumulated, it became clear that reintegration is not a single policy or a therapy model. It is a long, sometimes uneven process of rebuilding work, relationships and identity. The FBA session reinforced that reintegration requires both individual care and community systems: employment, education, social support and reduced stigma.
These practical conversations feed directly into the program’s leadership module: what veterans can do, once supported, to support others.
Family Stories at the Heart
Work with families produced some of the clearest evidence that this model works.
Mykola and Kateryna Hradnov-Savytskyi, who attended together, offered a short, powerful testament:
“This trauma isn’t mine alone — it belongs to both of us. Throughout my rehabilitation, Kateryna never left my side. She became my anchor, one of the precious few for whom I would give my life during the war. Our partners are our support. While we fought on the front lines, they fought to hold our families — and our country — together.”
That reflection sums up why the program includes partners: trauma becomes relational, and recovery must restore those relationships. Partners learn tools for communication, for pacing difficult conversations and for co-creating a safe life that can stand up to the pressures veterans face.
Pavlo, another participant, captured the subtle but vast change the camp made:
“I thought I had forgotten what it meant to be grateful. But this journey restored the meaning of gratitude to me. Thanks to the program, I met wonderful people who saw me not as disabled, but first and foremost as a human being. That is priceless.”
Civic Welcome and Radio: Public Solidarity Matters
The camp’s cultural and civic moments reinforced that support for veterans extends beyond clinical care. On Flag Day (23 August) and Independence Day (24 August), participants gathered with the blue-and-yellow flag — a tactile reminder of why they have endured so much and why community matters.
The program received public recognition: a warm civic welcome from Gothenburg’s leadership, including Chairman Aslan Akbas, affirmed that local institutions see the value in long-term reintegration work. Coverage on Swedish Radio — including an on-air segment with our co-founder Kateryna Aleksandrova — helped amplify the message that veterans’ recovery is a public, not private, responsibility.
The Camp’s Community: Tjörnbro Arena, AD Fitness and Local Partners
Tjörnbro Arena provided a quiet, comfortable place where the program could run with dignity and rhythm. Local volunteers, translators and Swedish families welcomed participants into small acts of kindness — rides, fishing assistance, extra blankets, the occasional warm pie.
AD Fitness made adaptive equipment available; Fillauer gave prosthetic access; FBA provided reintegration frameworks; local civic leaders provided political support. Each partner contributed practical resources that turned intention into action.
From Recovery to Leadership
Hug for Heroes is not about creating dependent beneficiaries. It is about enabling agency. The program prepares participants to return home with practical tools — peer-to-peer facilitation skills, community engagement frameworks and leadership practice — so they can be first responders in their own towns: the person a neighbor turns to when the nights are dark, the mentor who can model recovery for the next veteran who arrives at a clinic alone.
Leadership is not a rank. It is impact. It is responsibility. It is the courage to hold others when you are still learning to stand yourself.
Saying Goodbye, Not the End
The final evening was tender: a farewell gathering where people looked back — at the small steps and the quiet breakthroughs — and forward, to what comes next. For many, the camp was fuel for a longer journey. Recovery continues, not as a neat checklist but as a lived practice that will be tested in the months ahead.
The program’s designers are clear: this pilot proves the model. Now it must be scaled, refined and made accessible to more veterans and their partners in Ukraine.
How to Help the Next Camp
The pilot showed what is possible when clinical care, physical practice and family work come together. If you want to help bring more veterans and families to this program:
Donate to fund places at future camps and to support prosthetics, transport and training: hug.ngo/donate
Support partner equipment donations (adaptive sports gear, prosthetics demo kits)
Partner with local hosts to provide safe, quiet venues like Tjörnbro Arena
Every contribution turns into a place at the table, a seat on the bus, a rod cast into still water — and sometimes into the first breath of hope.
A Quiet, Lasting Result
Hug for Heroes is not an event. It is a methodology that insists recovery includes the body, the mind and the family. It proved, in two weeks on the Swedish coast, that dignity and practical care can change the arc of a life. It proved that small acts — a speech from an inspiring Paralympian, a test of a prosthetic, a fishing trip — can have reverberations home in Ukraine that matter.
As Pavlo said, the greatest gifts cannot be measured in money.
What we can measure are the tools veterans now carry: new ways to talk, new ways to move, and new ways to lead.
We’ll keep sharing stories from the camp in the days ahead — because recovery is a road, not a single step. This road begins here, together.
When one person returns from war, the whole family changes. This is a harsh reality faced by thousands of families in Ukraine. Understanding this truth forms the foundation of our approach to working with veterans at Hug for Heroes.
Trauma Doesn't Live in Isolation
Military trauma isn't an individual experience that can be "left at the door." It seeps into conversations, lingers in silence, and shapes the way people relate to each other. The psychological wounds of a veteran become the invisible scars of the entire family.
Children struggle to understand why dad has gone quiet and withdrawn. Partners no longer recognize the person they once shared life, dreams, and plans with. Parents fear saying the wrong thing and making everything worse.
They all become unwilling witnesses and participants in the struggle with trauma.
Why Recovery Must Include the Whole Family
Families often find themselves caught in a cycle where they don't know how to respond, feel guilty for not being able to help, and gradually lose connection with each other while trying not to cause harm.
That’s why family should be a part of recovery. When support focuses solely on the individual, it overlooks the ripple effects trauma creates in every relationship around them.
At Hug for Heroes, we work with the people who share the veteran’s daily life, helping them break the silence, foster understanding, and rebuild what trauma may have damaged.
During our pilot program in Ukraine, veterans spoke about how the encouragement of family and friends gave them strength — you can hear their stories firsthand in the video below.
Healing Happens Together
Recovery isn’t about going back to the way things were before war. It’s about growing into a new way of living — together. Including loved ones in the process strengthens relationships, restores communication, and builds resilience that lasts.
The scars may remain, but they need not define the family's future. When healing happens together, it becomes real. When it includes everyone affected, it lasts.
A Shared Path Forward
Recovery is not a finish line — it’s an ongoing process that touches every member of a family. At HUG, we see recovery as something built in small, everyday moments: sitting at the same table again, talking without fear, laughing together after months of silence.
By supporting both veterans and their loved ones, we help families find their rhythm again and face the future as one.
We at HUG (Help Ukraine Gothenburg) are excited to announce the launch of a new research initiative MAGnituDE, that focuses on investigation of the social and political impacts of mass displacement triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 6 million people have fled to European countries in search of safety. Since then, entire communities have been reshaped. In some places, Ukrainian families and long-time residents are building stronger, more united neighborhoods. In others, rising tensions are fueling division and mistrust.
Introduction of Sens Articulate at workshop in Ljubljana
The MAGnituDe project is asking a crucial question:
How do ordinary people — both refugees and locals — actually experience living together during a crisis? And how do these experiences shape whether communities grow stronger or fall apart?
Based on the human-centered research
Led by Associate Professor Olga Sasunkevich at the University of Gothenburg, MAGnituDE works closely with communities to explore how shared spaces and unspoken emotions influence the experience of integration.
Instead of focusing only on policies or statistics, the project highlights the human side of integration — the emotions, relationships, and everyday moments that shape how people find belonging.
MAGnituDE uses a trauma-informed, sensory-based research approach to explore the impact of war-related trauma in an ethical and sensitive way, ensuring that the research process itself does not cause re-traumatisation to those who have experienced displacement or conflict.
Why the MAGnituDE project matters
Europe is facing its biggest displacement crisis in decades. The choices we make now — how we welcome, support, and listen to those affected — will shape the future of our societies.
By understanding the human side of this challenge, we can build communities that are not just more inclusive, but more resilient and democratic.
Another amazing summer at Styrsö has wrapped up, and our hearts are full of witnessing the joy and growth of every child who joined us!
Our week-long summer camp on the beautiful island of Styrsö, outside Gothenburg, gave children the chance to discover new adventures, build meaningful friendships, and develop confidence. The summer camp program was filled with outdoor exploration, hands-on creative activities, and mental support.
Watching the children grow in confidence and form lasting friendships throughout the week was truly heartwarming.
We're deeply grateful to our amazing community, partners and volunteers who made this magical week possible.
Every contribution, big or small, plays a vital role in rebuilding human lives and creating opportunities for children to thrive. These memories will stay with them forever!
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For thousands of children across Ukraine, war has become a constant background noise of childhood. Together with the sirens, it takes away their sense of safety, certainty, and sometimes even their home. This summer, for the third time we opened the doors in a tourist camp near Lviv to something that should never be a luxury: a peaceful childhood experience.
From June 15 to June 27, 70 children from across Ukraine gathered for a 12-day rehabilitation and adventure camp. This camp created a space for children whose lives have been deeply affected by war — those who have lost a parent, been displaced, or carry the weight of ongoing uncertainty.
Adventure as healing
The program focused on activities that build confidence, trust, and resilience. The children climbed rocks, cycled through forests, paddled rivers, and explored caves. Every challenge gave them a chance to work together, rely on each other, and reconnect with their own strength.
As has become a good tradition, evenings were spent around campfires, as a safe place to share emotions from the day, funny stories, and simply enjoy good company.
"My child came back from the camp full of impressions and inspiration! It was a real break from everyday life - live communication, nature, challenges, and new friends. Thank you very much for this opportunity! Such an experience is impossible to forget - it forms character and leaves a mark for life." — Victoria Sydorska
Supporting childhood
Thanks to generous support from Sweden and our community, every child attended free of charge. All accommodation, meals, equipment, logistics, and the team of instructors were fully covered by HUG. We can't change what children lived through, but we can help shape what comes next. These 12 days gave children a chance to experience adventure, build new friendships, and remember what it feels like to simply be kids.
"Our daughter had an unforgettable vacation at the camp. The child received a lot of positive emotions! It’s only the second day since we came back home and all she is talking about is the next camp." — Inna Pikovets
Thank you for being part of this work. Thank you for making space for childhood.
A special gratitude to the HUG | Help Ukraine Gothenburg from Sweden — thanks to your support, our child was able to visit this wonderful place. Your kind heart, concern, and help to Ukrainian families are a true example of humanity. You give children the opportunity to dream and feel safe even in difficult times." — Viktor Malchevsky
With your continued support, we can keep providing these opportunities. Every contribution helps us continue this important work for children who need it most.
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