Our friends in Ukraine have now lived through 3 years of the current conflict and many soldiers have been lost on the front lines. There are also many who have been injured and are no longer able to serve – these veterans are back with their families and looking for meaning in lives they had not anticipated or planned for. Our partners at Camp Maximum have been getting involved in caring for veterans by offering family camps, but in early February they hosted a different retreat, for the men only, providing space for them to relax, to talk, and to be heard.
Daily group sessions were delivered through a translator by David, an American visitor who is himself a former soldier and now works for a ministry offering pastoral and psychological support to veterans. Also on hand for conversations were three chaplains; and Maximum staff member Ladan, a masseur and rehabilitation practitioner, provided physical care. There was down-time and activities such as go-karting, as well as small-group sessions for sharing stories and experiences. It was not always easy, but the participants agreed it was worth it.
“I've been through a lot in the war,” a veteran called Dima explained. “Now I'm dealing with the effects of war. My psychiatric condition is not the best, and I require psychological treatment. That's why I'm here now, just to calm myself down a little bit. I'm really thankful that there is such an organization, where I can just come and talk to the other boys, and that we’ve had this time to rest, to get our heads together.”
56-year-old Vasyl was a soldier 10 years ago, but due to a back injury and a heart condition, he was not accepted for enlistment this time around. “But I'm still volunteering; with my age and with my experience, I'm trying to be there for the younger guys returning from the front lines, supporting them. This is like our family: no matter our different ages, we consider ourselves brothers.”
“I never been in a programme like this and on the first day I was going to leave,” shared Anatoly, a veteran from Donetsk. “My life is in chaos at the moment: my home was destroyed, I needed to evacuate my parents and my kids, buy a home here [near Cherkasy]. I heard about this from my Veteran’s Hub and I filled out the application, then Vitaly [Sobko; Camp Maximum Director] reached out to say I was invited. I wasn't really expecting that; I thought it was just for show, and that nobody really wants us. But in reality on the second day I felt that it was good, and since then, the programme has got better and better.”
Aleksander, a chaplain from Odesa, expressed how the retreat had expanded his vision for his own role in the military. “This is a new experience for me,” he said. “I normally travel to serve the guys at the front lines or to come to the units on rotation, and I've seen some problems. But up to now I've only heard about veterans’ problems. This week I've seen firsthand what there is and what I, as a chaplain, I can be faced with. My heart is open for me to serve the military and the veterans.”
The final words of encouragement came from a soldier who is working out the new purpose for his life after demobilisation. “I've just returned from the war, and I didn't know what I should do. So I created my local veterans’ organisation, and I'm speaking to encourage those of you who are thinking about doing that - don't be afraid, that's your power, your field of influence. You can have an impact on others, you can help other brothers to deal with their issues and their challenges. Let's be united, let's become leaders and let's lead others.”
We are so glad to know that there are programmes available to give much-needed support and care to veterans. Whilst we are all hopeful that the war might end soon, we know that the emotional and psychological toll will be felt for a long time to come, and so we look forward to seeing more retreats like this at Maximum in the future.
