The international conference “Human Capital in Wartime: Challenges and Solutions” brought together more than 200 communities and experts

On March 27–28, 2025, the large-scale international conference “Human Capital in Wartime: Challenges and Solutions” took place in Kyiv. The event, organized by the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the company “Promyslova Bezpeka” and the Institute for Reintegration, Rehabilitation and Professional Development of Veterans “Architecture of Resilience” with the support of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA), brought together representatives of more than 200 communities, local and central authorities, experts, veterans, and representatives of business and the civil sector.

Main topics of the conference

The conference became an important platform for discussing the key challenges facing Ukrainian communities in wartime and ways to overcome them. Participants considered issues of veteran reintegration, preserving human capital, employment of service members after service, ensuring social protection, developing veteran spaces, and partnership between the state, communities and business.

Among the main topics of the conference:
🔹 Implementing veteran support programs in communities: successful cases and implementation mechanisms;
🔹 Developing veteran spaces as integration hubs for support, training and rehabilitation;
🔹 Best practices for supporting veterans and their families in communities that are members of the Association of Ukrainian Cities;
🔹 Training specialists in supporting war veterans and demobilized persons;
🔹 Cooperation among the state, business and communities to support veterans;
🔹 Occupational safety and preserving human capital in wartime conditions.

Opening of the conference: key speeches

The event began with an official welcome address by a KNUBA representative, who stressed the importance of a scientific approach to the reintegration and support of veterans.

Oleksandr Slobozhan, Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, emphasized:

“This conference is unique in that we are talking not only about rebuilding infrastructure, but about people and their future in communities. Ukraine has a serious shortage of labor resources, and the issue of veteran reintegration is becoming critically important.”

Yuliia Kyrylova, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, presented the “Veterans Policy Strategy until 2030”, where she outlined the main directions of support for service members after their return from the front.

Maryna Honda, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, spoke about the infrastructure for supporting veterans in Kyiv, including psychological centers, veteran spaces and resocialization programs.

Best practices for supporting veterans in communities

Over the two days, conference participants shared their experience of successfully implementing veterans programs. Tetiana Bardina, Deputy Mayor of Poltava for the activities of executive bodies, spoke about the institutional capacity of communities to implement an effective veterans policy.

Valentyna Voitkova, Director of the Department of Social Policy of the Vinnytsia City Council, shared examples of effective interaction with veterans and families of the fallen.

Special attention was given to corporate veteran programs. Svitlana Pavoda (Metinvest) and Serhii Ross (Kernel) presented their initiatives aimed at employment and social support for veterans.

Lesia Lytvynova, a volunteer and founder of the “Svoi” foundation, stressed the need to develop separate programs for the families of service members who require palliative care.

The first day of the conference ended with a panel discussion, “The Ecosystem of Care for Veterans,” moderated by Danyil Honcharenko.

Day two: mental health and occupational safety

The second day of the conference opened with a speech by Artem Honcharenko, Director of the KNUBA Veterans Institute “Architecture of Resilience,” on the topic “Specifics of Restoring Veterans’ Physical Health for Subsequent Employment”.

Dmytro Hryhorenko (Amazon, United Kingdom) shared international experience in managing mental health in the workplace.

Master classes and practical workshops

In addition to the presentations, participants could take part in master classes and practical sessions, in particular:
✔ Anti-stress practices for professionals;
✔ Psychological first aid;
✔ Creating an inclusive environment at the workplace.

✔ A traumatic event. How to overcome the consequences.

✔Aromatherapy for stress reduction

Conclusions and outcomes

As a result of the conference, recommendations were drawn up for local communities, business and the government on integrating veterans into peaceful life. Yuliia Kyrylova, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, summed up:

“Veterans, both men and women, are a powerful human capital. Their experience, resilience and skills must be used for the benefit of society.”

Conference participants agreed that Ukraine’s future largely depends on how effectively veteran reintegration and support programs are implemented.

The organizers stressed that the conference will become an annual platform for discussing and implementing the best solutions in this field.