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The challenge for Ukrainian veterans returning to civilian life

Going to the front line is a challenge. Leaving it is another. For Ukrainian veterans, returning to civilian life is a painful process. After the war, Ukraine will have to reintegrate more than two million former soldiers.

February 22, 2026 - Téo Manisier - Issue 1-2 2026Magazine

Veterans Anton, Dmytro, and Brandon take a cigarette break on the roof of the Superhumans rehabilitation centre in Lviv. Photo: Teo Manisier

With his lips tight and a distant look buried deep under his camouflage bucket hat, Serhii Velychansky wanders through the forest of yellow and blue flags at the military cemetery in Berkovetske, near Kyiv. He stops in front of the grave of a smiling young boy. “This is Anton. He went to war with his father, who was also killed. Now they are both reunited here.”

Serhii talks about the mines, the phosphorus bombs, and the memories of his eight brothers in arms buried here, but he still struggles to find the words to describe his war. “No civilian can understand what we went through over there,” he whispers. The 50-year-old spent almost three years in the 130th Territorial Defence Battalion.

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