Head of Mission visits Dnipro to Strengthen Regional Cooperation to Support Veteran Reintegration
December 05, 2025
For Ukraine it is a priority to ensure the best possible support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans returning from the front, to honour them for their sacrifice and dedication, and to allow them to rebuild their lives and find their place in civilian society.
To learn of the regional experiences on veterans’ support in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, EUAM Head of Mission Rolf Holmboe visited Dnipro as a key hub for regional institutions temporarily displaced by Russian occupation and active fighting. Together with EUAM’s Mobile Unit, he focused on exploring possibilities for reinforcing cooperation with law enforcement agencies, justice institutions, and with veterans’ reintegration initiatives in regions close to the front line.
Veteran reintegration is a priority
To learn about the current challenges that veterans face, the EUAM team attended a thematic roundtable hosted by the Donetsk Regional Military Administration (RMA).
“Many veterans from Donetsk have relocated to other regions, but they remain our people and they need support from regional authorities,” said Artur Nasibyan, Head of Veterans Policy at the Donetsk RMA.
A veteran himself, Nasibyan spoke openly about the practical difficulties many veterans face when returning to civilian life and shared insights drawn from his own experience.
Oksana Holovko, Director of the Department for Investment, Innovation and External Relations at the RMA, highlighted the challenges faced by female veterans, stressing the need for rehabilitation models that take gender realities into account.
The Head of Mission emphasised that rehabilitation efforts must be gender-responsive and address the specific challenges female veterans encounter, including possible social stigmatisation and workplace discrimination.
“Our Mission is working on practical ways to support Ukrainian institutions in strengthening support systems for veterans – from psychological assistance to professional reintegration,” said Rolf Holmboe. “These efforts will be essential for the stability of communities and the resilience of the country.”
Veterans and the civilian security sector
A significant part of the visit focused on veterans entering or reentering the civilian security sector. At the Titans Veterans Hub in Dnipro, the Head of Mission held talks with Oleksandr Ganzha, Head of the National Police in Dnipropetrovsk region, and Denys Skaleukh, his assistant on veteran policy.
The discussion centred on supporting veterans who join law enforcement agencies, and on how EUAM could support the strengthening of psychological support mechanisms within civilian security agencies. The Titans Hub – operated jointly with local authorities and civil society – provided an opportunity to observe how peer-to-peer support models help veterans regain confidence, develop skills, and reestablish community connections.
Partnership: preparing future officers for acute challenges
At the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Acting Rector Ihor Mahdalina noted how EUAM training and expert support have improved the preparation of future police officers. The EUAM team learned about the university’s expanding work with veterans and discussed the university’s possible participation in targeted capacity building, such as EUAM’s newly developed Training-of-Trainers course on Psychological First Aid, designed to create a network of instructors who can deliver specialised psychological support to veterans and to war-affected persons across the regions – an important contribution to veteran reintegration.
The visit to Dnipro demonstrated a shared commitment to develop more coordinated, more effective support for veterans in eastern and central Ukraine. All counterparts expressed readiness to explore joint initiatives.
EUAM Ukraine stands ready to support efforts that help Ukrainian institutions deliver real results for veterans and their families.
