The Institute for Veterans at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture hosted Ukraine’s first Open Discussion Day with veterans and their families, dedicated to education, retraining, social adaptation, mental rehabilitation, and employment for veterans.
The event took place at the KNUCA Culture and Leisure Center in Kyiv as part of an Open House for veterans and their families and brought together veterans, their family members, representatives of the university community, medical professionals, socially responsible businesses, and partner organizations.
“Education and the learning process itself are not just about a diploma. They are an important element of veterans’ social adaptation and mental rehabilitation. The university is a large, new-type ecosystem where a veteran can rediscover themselves, feel the support of the community, acquire new skills, and ultimately find employment and return to an active life,” noted Artem Goncharenko, head of the KNUCA Veterans Institute.
The event was attended by representatives of Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, and other higher education institutions in the capital and regions.
The event was co-organized by the Kyiv City Employment Service, which, according to the organizers, underscores a systematic approach to supporting veterans—from education, psychological, and medical support to professional retraining and subsequent employment.
One of the practical components of the Open Discussion Day was a training session on first aid titled “Don’t Panic. Act Correctly,” led by neurologist and epileptologist Denys Boichuk. Participants discussed how to act before, during, and after an epileptic seizure, what common mistakes can harm a person, and why certain widespread “tips from the internet”—in particular, the myth about “putting a spoon in the mouth”—have no medical basis and can be dangerous.
A separate segment of the training was dedicated to medical checkups for veterans and their families, developing the habit of getting regular health screenings, managing the effects of stress and trauma, and supporting loved ones consistently rather than sporadically.
During the event, a prize drawing was also held, and gifts were presented to participants. The event’s partners were Poparada.ua, Axor Industry, and CosmoMultimall. The organizers note that business participation in such initiatives demonstrates the potential for practical and meaningful collaboration between companies and veterans’ organizations.
According to the organizers, the Open Discussion Day held at the KNUBA Veterans Institute marked the first step toward establishing a permanent ecosystem to support veterans and their families through education, practical knowledge, professional retraining, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
The Veterans Cluster of Ukraine and the KNUBA “Architecture of Resilience” Veterans Institute have already begun accepting applications for educational programs for veterans, defenders, and their children. Participants are offered opportunities to study in over 50 fields and more than 100 educational programs, including retraining, courses, second higher education, master’s and doctoral programs, psychological support and rehabilitation, participation in projects for Ukraine’s recovery, and partnership programs with employers.
Study formats include full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning. The program works with communities across Ukraine and provides personalized support from admission through to employment.
Program details are available on the website: www.Veterano.info.
Contacts for additional information: +38 073 94 96 179, +38 050 22 35 182, +38 067 49 81 098, center@uvc.in.net, veterano@knuba.edu.ua. Head of the KNUBA Veterans Institute Artem Goncharenko: +38 073 177 72 73.
Tuition-free education refers to participation in state compensation programs, grants, scholarships, and support from employers. Admission takes place during the standard admission campaign within the standard timeframe.
Under a memorandum between the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine and the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, and with the support of the flagship project “Movement Without Barriers,” a team of researchers has developed a pilot AI accessibility consultant in ChatGPT.
The tool helps users quickly obtain basic answers with references to DBN standards, which, in particular, regulate issues of inclusivity and accessibility, as well as advice for specific spaces or situations.
The AI consultant does not replace architects and accessibility experts, but it can serve as a convenient first step to get oriented, verify solutions, or prepare for working with specialists.
“For me, the topic of accessibility isn’t an abstract policy, but a personal story. My dad is a veteran with a disability who uses a wheelchair, and every day I see the barriers he faces. That is why the launch of the AI accessibility consultant is an important step toward making spaces in Ukraine truly accessible, not just ‘on paper.’” — Artem Goncharenko, Accessibility Ambassador at the Ministry of Education and Science
This approach is intended to make the process of creating an accessible environment more systematic, consistent, and understandable for communities, businesses, and everyone who works with public spaces.
The AI consultant is constantly updated with materials and technical data. The project is coordinated by the KNUBA Veterans Institute and the KNUBA Expert Working Group on Accessibility. If you have any questions while using the tool, please contact us at: veterano@knuba.edu.ua.
The materials generated by the AI Consultant are for informational purposes only. It is recommended to verify the information in accordance with current regulations and consult with specialists if necessary.
On January 16, 2026, the current President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, visited the NGO “Feel” together with the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ukraine, Luboš Veselý, and with the participation of Vasyl Zvarych, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic. The visit was aimed at familiarizing them with the practical results of supporting hearing rehabilitation programs for veterans in Ukraine.
The meeting took place in the format of informal communication with veterans — participants in the project “Can you hear? Plus. Plus.”, which is implemented by the NGO “Feel” with the financial support of the Czech Embassy. The project is a systematic program of comprehensive support for veterans and covers hearing aids, rehabilitation, and further support.
During the visit, the President of the Czech Republic spoke with two veterans, Vadym and his son Danylo Goncharenko, who received comprehensive support from the NGO “Vidchuy” as part of the project “Hear? Plus. Plus.” The meeting provided an opportunity to hear directly about their experiences and discuss the importance of hearing rehabilitation as a key factor in returning to a full and active life.
During the visit, special attention was paid to the approach of the public organization “Vidchuy” to comprehensive support for veterans, which combines hearing rehabilitation, individual selection of hearing solutions, and work with families.
The founder of the NGO “Vidchuy,” Lyudmila Pyshna, and the CEO of the organization, Daria Gerasymchuk, thanked the Czech side for its consistent support of the “Chuyeš? Plus. Plus.” project and noted the importance of international partnership in the development of hearing rehabilitation and recovery programs in Ukraine.
The visit of the President of the Czech Republic confirmed solidarity with Ukraine and a shared vision of the need for long-term support for initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of veterans.
The public organization “Vidchuy” is a Ukrainian non-profit organization that has been working systematically since 2011 in the field of hearing rehabilitation, support, and socialization of children and adults with hearing impairments, as well as their families.
The organization implements early intervention, hearing rehabilitation, hearing aid fitting, psychosocial support, and educational initiatives aimed at overcoming barriers and stigma against people with hearing impairments. A separate area of work is supporting veterans, in particular, restoring their hearing and accompanying them in the process of returning to active life.
The NGO “Vidchuy” cooperates with state institutions, international organizations, and donors to implement sustainable solutions in the field of rehabilitation and inclusion in Ukraine.
The project “Chuyeš? Plus. Plus.” was implemented by the NGO “Vidchuy” with the support of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine.
The second annual “Sports and War Veterans (UBD)” competition took place in Kyiv — a large-scale initiative that has already become one of the key events in the field of sports rehabilitation for Ukrainian defenders. The organizers were the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine and the Training and Rehabilitation Center of the NUPESU, which have been working systematically throughout the year to support veterans and develop an inclusive sports environment.
This year’s series of competitions brought together more than 500 participants who competed in eight disciplines:
swimming, billiards, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, arm wrestling, futsal, and e-sports.
For many veterans, these competitions were not just an opportunity to compete, but a way to return to an active life, feel control over their bodies and emotions, find new friends, and relive the team spirit so familiar from the front lines.
Sport that restores: a project with real impact
The organizers emphasize that sporting events of this scale are not just about physical activity. They are about reintegration, social support, overcoming barriers, and returning to a normal rhythm of life.
Acting Rector of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine Oleksandr Pyzhov emphasizes the importance of consistency and involvement:
“We see how sport helps veterans not only to recover physically, but also to find support in the team, to feel support and confidence. This project is about unity, strength, and the path to new opportunities.”
According to experts, sporting events are the most effective way to help veterans adapt to civilian life after long periods of service. Here, they find themselves among people with similar experiences, where they are understood without explanations or conventions.
An environment of strength and support
The NUFVSU Training and Rehabilitation Center is actively developing the field of rehabilitation and social adaptation of veterans. According to the center’s director, Viktor Korzh, such projects become a point of support for many participants:
“Every day, we work to ensure that our veterans receive the best opportunities for rehabilitation. These competitions are proof that through joint efforts, we are creating an environment where every soldier can feel their own strength and find a new path for development.”
Participation in such events often becomes a bridge between the past and the future for veterans — a moment when they return to activity, feel their strength, and receive inspiration to move forward.
Participants’ voices: sport that gives new life
The impressions of the veterans are the best evidence of the project’s significance.
One of the participants, Danylo Honcharenko, shares his feelings:
“I haven’t felt such drive and support in a long time. Here you realize that you are not alone — there are others who have walked a similar path. Sport restores your strength and desire to move forward.”
Similar comments were often heard from participants in various disciplines. For many of them, the competition was their first experience of serious sporting activity since returning from the war.
Development and future: the project is scaling up
The organizers say that the competition cycle will not only continue but also expand.
The plans include increasing the number of disciplines, involving new cities and regions, and creating additional programs for the comprehensive rehabilitation of veterans through sports.
The NUFVSU team emphasizes that veteran rehabilitation is not a one-time event, but a long-term process that requires systematic, professional, and humane support. And it is precisely such competitions that prove that sport can be not only recreation or leisure, but also a real tool for returning to life.
Special thanks to the partners who joined in organizing these competitions: the Ukrainian Veterans Cluster, the Veterans Institute “Architecture of Sustainability,” the Ukrainian Mass Sports Agency, the “Olympic Style” fitness center, Morshynska, the Ukrainian National Opera, Aksor, Mil Time, the Dynamo Ukraine Physical Culture and Sports Society, Trident, Asino Farm, and Kusum Farm.
COMPETITION, GONCHARENKO, SPORTS, war veterans, Корж, Пижов, УБД
Students and young scientists from the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, with the support of university scientists, presented five innovative projects in the field of construction and architecture as part of the VIRA! pilot project during the V Ukrainian Construction Congress, which took place in Kyiv.
VIRA! is the first pitching platform developed by entrepreneurs to promote innovative solutions in the construction industry. The platform aims to bring together experts and investors with young engineers, architects, and designers who are seeking change for real reconstruction projects.
Here is a brief overview of the projects presented by KNUBA students.
Veteran spaces: Yevheniia Horova, Yevheniia Kostinska, Artem Honcharenko.
A project to create a multifunctional space to provide comprehensive (psychological, medical, social, professional) support to veterans. The main challenge is to rebuild not only buildings but also communities. Each veteran space should be multifunctional and community-oriented. The project requires a flexible approach to design and a multidisciplinary approach involving the community.
Concrete for 3D printing using recycled materials from destroyed buildings and structures: Ivan Ivanov, Oles Lastivka
A project to implement promising 3D printing technology using the remains of war-destroyed buildings and agricultural waste. The goal is to ensure fast, high-quality, and cost-effective reconstruction and solve the problem of construction waste disposal, up to 90% of which consists of debris. The technology also allows for the creation of complex architectural forms for spaces that promote recovery, such as veterans’ spaces.
Fungal technologies and circularity in reconstruction: Kateryna Krolenko, Sofia Galat, Anastasia Melnyk
A project to apply mushroom technologies and circularity in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Taking into account the principle of build back better, testing of the latest environmentally friendly materials, in particular insulation based on mushroom mycelium, is ongoing—not only in laboratories but also in field conditions. The tasks for the next stages include improving the technical qualities of the fungal composite and R&D of the insulation in construction laboratories, as well as working with policymakers on certification and asbestos issues, resource mobilization, and community education.
Administrative Services Center: Yulia Gerya, Danylo Galik
The Administrative Services Center (ASC) project is the winner of an open architectural competition among KNUBA students for the best conceptual project for the reuse of an energy-efficient building to provide administrative services with improved environmental characteristics, “Green Reconstruction in Action.” The master plan includes the ASC building with solar panels on the roof, a shelter, a parking lot, and a utility area. The project demonstrates a comprehensive design that combines a modern facade with detailed planning of all areas.
Game-Based Learning for the Development of Management Competencies: Mykhailo Karpov, Artem Vasyuk, Vladyslav Kontsevyi
The project proposes the use of the Smart PM City educational computer game for building a “smart city,” which is based on project management principles, for the effective training of project managers. A safe environment for mistakes has been created, where participants can experiment with solutions without real risks, but with corresponding consequences in the game. The game develops management skills through the task of building a long-term city development strategy, balancing short-term benefits and long-term investments. It is a universal solution for integrating various educational topics: management, finance, marketing, ecology, etc.
Launched by the organizers of Ukrbudcongress, the VIRA! lifting platform has become a unique space where young people shared their ideas for the future reconstruction of Ukraine with an expert audience—construction business owners and leading industry specialists. The opportunity to receive professional feedback and recommendations for better implementation of ideas and developments became a real pitching of solutions for the future reconstruction of Ukraine and helped to understand how exactly it is possible to influence the future of the industry.
“University education cannot be separated from the market and the situation in the country. We can only develop and produce quality results in close cooperation with stakeholders at various levels. We are now presenting five projects and hope that there will be more next year. We are proud that the projects presented have developed from student initiatives or have arisen in response to requests from our stakeholders in the public sector and business. Businesses have a clear vision of their development path, and the advice of practitioners will be very useful for us, for students, and for young scientists,” said Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Vice Rector for Scientific Work and Innovative Development at KNUBA.
Mark Kestelboim, founder and moderator of the platform, CEO of Well-Being Contech, noted:
“Today, Ukraine has a real opportunity to set an incredible precedent: to become a laboratory of innovation, a startup platform within the entire country, where modern standards and inclusion are combined with sustainable technologies for the sake of the future. VIRA! is the first event that will serve as a bridge between young innovators and businesses seeking change. I hope that the platform will become a regular event and that its results will go beyond the platform and bring real benefits to the country.”
The experts in the professional dialogue with students were Anna Iskierdo, creative director and co-founder of AIMM (a graduate of KNUBA), Yaroslav Korniyachenko, founder and CEO of Vlasne misto, Mykhailo Tarasyuk, Big Waves development, Serhiy Odarych, founder of ODA Development, and Vitaliy Borul, CEO of Credo Development.
The topics that the VIRA! project will continue to focus on are urbanism and territorial development, digital technologies in construction management, architecture and new housing typologies, sustainability and green technologies, innovative materials and structures, community solutions, and social services.
ASC, GONCHARENKO, innovative project, Kestelboim, KNUBA, VIRA!, Ковальчук
On November 7, 2023, the 23rd (and the first since the beginning of the full-scale invasion) award ceremony of the annual competition of pharmaceutical industry professionals “Panacea” was held at the Ukrainian House, hosted by the famous TV presenter Timur Miroshnichenko.
February 24, 2022, undoubtedly marked a new countdown, a new chapter in the history of the competition and the pharmaceutical industry of Ukraine, so this year’s ceremony was different from the previous ones, meeting the new conditions and challenges of today. This year, the organizers of the competition recognized companies and individuals who have become a model of courage and resilience that surprised people around the world, making them look at charity, resilience and Ukrainians themselves from a different angle.
The PharmFront honorary commemorative award, made of the wreckage of the “analog” ballistic missile “Kinzhal”, which was shot down over Kyiv, was presented to Darnitsa, Acino, Kusum, Interchem, Farmak, and BaDM, “Delta Medical, Novo-Nordisk, as well as the National University of Pharmacy, the Polish Medical Solidarity Foundation, and Yulia Klymenyuk, a volunteer, founder of the PharmRukh Foundation, Marketing Director of the 9-1-1 pharmacy chain.
In order to preserve the memory of the tragic chapter in the modern history of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry, examples of heroism, resilience and indomitability, the organizers of the Panacea contest announced the release of a special photo album “FarmFront. Unbreakable”, which will be published in December.
In addition to summarizing the results of the year, celebrating and awarding the winners, the organizers of the contest together with the Ducat auction house held a charity auction, where the lots included paintings by contemporary Ukrainian artists (22 works) and a Superhumans T-shirt signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny. The proceeds will be used to restore the victims of Russian aggression at the Superhumans center, which provides free medical services for prosthetics and rehabilitation to military and civilians who lost limbs during the war.
That evening, 25 Panacea-2023 statuettes were awarded to the best among the best in the pharmaceutical industry. Ukraine. The winners were determined based on the data of the competition’s analytical partners – Business Credit, SMD and IQVIA.
Farmak was recognized as the Company of the Year among domestic manufacturers. The award among foreign manufacturers went to Acino. And MSD was recognized as the best manufacturer of innovative medicines.
Chemoteka Personalized Pharmacy Center was recognized for a unique project for Ukraine, a compounding center that provides a full range of oncopharmaceutical products and services (personalized selection, individual manufacturing and, if necessary, delivery of anticancer drugs from a wide range of active substances).
During the ceremony, drugs in the prescription and OTC groups were also recognized.
The winners in the nomination “Drug of the Year. Among OTC Drugs” nomination were:
– AMIXIN, Interchem;
– ACC, Sandoz;
– BEPANTEN, Bayer;
– Exoderil, Sandoz;
– REGIDRON, Orion;
– RELIF, Bayer;
– Tantum Verde, Dileo Pharma;
The winners in the nomination “Drug of the Year. Among Prescription Drugs” nomination are:
– DIFORS, Acino;
– ZOLOFT, Viatris;
– LEVANA, Interchem;
– MOVEX, MoviHealth;
– NEUROCOBAL, Kusum Company;
– CERMION, Viatris Company;
– SERRATA, Kusum;
– TRITTICO, Deleo Pharma.
In the nomination “Drug of the Year. Dynamic Leader” category, the Panacea statuette was awarded to VITAPROST by Stada.
Among the dietary supplements, the following products were recognized: PROBAM by Baum Pharm, Sakhnil by Kusum, SUPRADIN by Bayer, and FOLIO by Novalik Pharm.
The international company Berlin-Chemi-Menarini was awarded the Panacea for 30 years of conscientious work of the Ukrainian representative office.
The special atmosphere of the ceremony was created by the artists of the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Marta Adamchuk and the Probass & Hardi band.
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