From September 11 to 14, a group of veterans from Denmark visited Lviv. They came as part of the “Stories of Warriors” project, which we are implementing in partnership with YMCA Armed Services Danmark.
These days were filled with events and meetings that showed how well veterans from other countries understand what is happening in Ukraine and how clearly they distinguish between good and evil. They also easily found common ground with our defenders, showed great interest in further cooperation, and already know a lot about Ukraine — exploring and learning more every day. We even managed to record four audio stories of Ukrainian veterans translated into Danish, which greatly expands the reach of our project, allowing even more people to hear these important stories.
Whenever we see interest in the Ukrainian veteran community, we see it as our mission to bring people closer to this topic, share more about it, and continue our joint work. Because above all, we believe: our stories matter — and they must be heard throughout the civilized world.
On September 12, the day for the Danish veterans began with a morning walk through the streets of Lviv and a moment of silence to honor fallen Ukrainian defenders. Afterward, they visited our space, where we shared information about our veteran projects: Titans under the Sails, Voices of Defenders, and, of course, other activities within the Stories of Warriors project.
We showed photos and videos, discussed the challenges and difficulties we face in our work, and talked about our future plans. Our friends from Denmark highlighted our methods of art-therapeutic practices and mentioned that they would love to incorporate this component into veteran support in Denmark. While some artistic activities take place in their veteran spaces, there is currently no structured art therapy with deeper engagement and tangible results. This once again confirms that we truly have knowledge and experience to share. Our approach is based on real practice and immediate responses to the challenges we face here and now.
Next, there was a meeting with the head of the Lviv Center for Services for Combatants, veteran Andriy Zholob. He spoke about the transformation and activities of the center, as well as the comprehensive support programs for veterans in the city. Overall, the center’s activities cover various areas: legal and psychological consultations, informational support (literally guiding returning veterans on what, when, and how to do things as they reintegrate into civilian life), work with families of defenders, camps and creative activities for children, and gatherings for spouses.
Our Danish friends listened with great interest and asked many questions, which Andriy Zholob eagerly answered, as he is truly passionate about his work.
Immediately after, we visited the Field of Honor, as it is important for us to show guests from other countries the price at which our independence is being defended today, and to explain the significance of memory and remembrance for us as Ukrainians.
Then veterans went to the recording studio 79014records. Together with sound engineer Nazar Pavlyk, they recorded four audio stories of our defenders.
The day concluded with a visit to the opening of the photo exhibition “Where Strength Begins” at LvivArtCenter, part of the Titans under the Sails project, and in the evening the veterans had the opportunity to socialize informally and enjoy a meal together at a veteran pub.
On September 13, the Danish veterans had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how modern veteran initiatives operate in Lviv. We visited the rehabilitation center UNBROKEN — a place where both military personnel and civilians who have been injured during the war are supported on their path back to life. Guests were shown the spaces for physical and psychological rehabilitation, learned about prosthetics and the individualized approach for each patient, and saw how medical assistance is combined with support for the families of defenders.
Later, we visited the Urban Mobility Center, where we learned about projects aimed at making Lviv more accessible while helping veterans acquire new professions, regain confidence, and return to an active life. Our friends were pleasantly impressed by the modern facilities, asked many questions, and highlighted the professionalism and care of the specialists they had the chance to meet.
Another important part of our program was visiting the House of the Warrior, the First Women’s Veteran Space Rehab, and the municipal shooting hub Strilnytsia. At the House of the Warrior, the Danish veterans saw how a warm and supportive environment is created for Ukrainian defenders and their families — a place where they can receive consultations, connect with like-minded people, and simply feel at home. At Strilnytsia, they learned about programs for physical rehabilitation and training that help veterans regain confidence in their abilities. These spaces demonstrated how crucial not only medical, but also social and emotional support is during the transition back to civilian life.
These meetings became a powerful source of inspiration for the Danish veterans and an example of how structured support can transform the lives of people after the war.
The final evening was spent in a friendly atmosphere, socializing with Ukrainian defenders, discussing shared challenges, and exploring opportunities for future cooperation.
It was very easy for Ukrainian and Danish veterans to find common ground, because those who have fought understand the true value of life and can appreciate every moment of it. And so, we definitely succeeded!
— Yurko Vovkohon, veteran, cultural manager, project coordinator.
*The “Stories of Warriors” project is implemented jointly by YMCA-YWCA Lviv and YMCA Armed Services Danmark (KFUM Soldatermission) with the support of the New Democracy Fund.