ANNUAL REPORT – 2025: A YEAR OF RESILIENCE AND SUPPORT
2025 was a challenging and very active year for the NGO “Wives of Veterans.” A year of daily work, endurance, and decisions made not out of obligation but from an inner sense of rightness. We did not stop for a single day, even when it was difficult and strength was lacking.
For us, it was important that every Defender, every child, and every family felt the support of the Wives of Veterans. This year is represented not only by reports and numbers but by human stories, trust, and being there for one another. This is the main outcome of our joint work.
HUMANITARIAN FRONT: CARE IN ACTION
Thanks to our regular partners: the Rememberus.org Foundation and the Initiative RASOM Hürth organization:
We worked 365 days a year to provide the most essential support to those in need:
- 536 food packages delivered to veterans’ families; families of fallen Heroes; families waiting for Defenders to return home; families in difficult life circumstances; the elderly; and internally displaced persons.
- 141 families provided with life-saving medications.
- 300+ hygiene kits delivered to residents of Kharkiv region.
- 376 “care” packages with treats and hygiene products received by soldiers in hospitals across the region.
- Oxygen equipment for a seriously ill child – we were able to provide life-saving medical equipment.
OFFICIAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND PSYCHOLOGY
Thanks to participation in the experimental project of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (CMU Resolution 1050 of 10.03.2023) and the support of the KSE Foundation – the charitable fund of the Kyiv School of Economics:
We are an official service provider, and our support became systematic:
- 1,260 families (3,690 people) received assistance over the year.
- 746 consultations and crisis hotline services.
- 650+ hours of psychological assistance: 662 people went through a path to stabilization.
- 70 art therapy events and workshops to restore mental health.
SUPPORT FOR THE FRONTLINE
Throughout the year, we provided multifaceted support to the military and communities of the Kharkiv region. We delivered heaters, medicines, food, clothing, power banks, as well as blankets, pillows, and kitchenware. Additionally, we supplied combat positions with various construction materials for everyday needs.
Over the year, we also delivered 1 ton of cough syrup, more than 1 ton of medications, and an ultrasound device for the 25th hospital, improving medical care for Kharkiv residents.
FUTURE UNDER PROTECTION: CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
Even in wartime, we create spaces for joy and learning:
- Over the year, we organized and held two children’s camps with support from the PolandHelps Foundation, aimed at the psycho-emotional support of children in the Kharkiv region. The camps allowed more than 50 participants to restore inner balance, develop creative abilities, and feel the support of the community in a safe and friendly environment.
- 160+ children received celebrations and gifts at our events.
- The head of the NGO, involved in creating the support program for Defenders, continued in 2025 to conduct binary classes for cadets of the Educational and Scientific Institute for personnel work at NANGU. During the classes, she thoroughly presented the Defender support program, modern approaches in veteran policy, and opportunities for interaction with the public sector, preparing future officers for effective work with personnel in practical conditions.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT
We bring Ukrainian volunteering to a global level:
- Joining Lions Club International in 2025 became an important step in the development of the NGO “Wives of Veterans.” Members of the organization became the sole representatives of Kharkiv in this international network. Participation in Lions Club International expanded opportunities for international cooperation, advocacy for regional interests, and representation of Kharkiv’s needs on a global scale.
- During the summer, organization representatives made a working visit to Germany (Hürth, Cologne), where they presented the realities of life in frontline Kharkiv. The visit included meetings with representatives of German municipalities and active citizens aimed at developing international dialogue, exchanging experience, and establishing further cooperation.
- Throughout the reporting year, new cooperation memoranda were signed with the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health of Ukraine, the NGO “Youth Rights,” and the Kharkiv branch of the Kharkiv Employment Center. Partnerships aim to expand target groups’ access to medical, social, legal, and educational-professional services and strengthen cross-sectoral interaction in implementing joint initiatives.
- Our trainer and psychologist conducted an expert training for officers on social support in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system with the support of the OSCE. The training covered practical approaches and algorithms for providing social support to families of fallen Defenders, considering ethical standards, psychological aspects of working with loss, and interagency cooperation.
Our achievements are the result of the coordinated work of the team: volunteers, social support specialists, and psychologists. Throughout the year, we received, sorted, and delivered humanitarian aid daily, providing support to those in need. We are those who, at the cost of our own time and energy, strive to improve community life and remain useful even during an extremely difficult period for the country.
We sincerely thank our regular partners: we thank our partners, donors, and everyone who is with us. We continue to work!
With support GO “Wives of Veterans”