On 29–30 June, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Office in Ukraine, in cooperation with the Centre for Security Studies "CENSS", organised a two-day event in Kyiv dedicated to the role of veterans in Ukraine's post-war recovery. The conference “Veterans’ Political Capital: From Comrades-in-Arms to Nation-Building and Party Development”, together with a series of follow-up meetings between Ukrainian veterans and a delegation of veterans from the Western Balkans, provided a platform to discuss how military experience can be transformed into a valuable resource for democratic development, effective governance and the strengthening of state institutions.
The conference brought together Ukrainian veterans, Members of Parliament, representatives of public authorities, experts, civil society organisations, as well as veterans and political leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Croatia who, following the wars in their respective countries, continued serving their societies as members of parliament, ministers, local government representatives and civic leaders.
Opening the conference, Dr Jan Philipp Wölbern, Deputy Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Office in Ukraine, emphasised that supporting veterans remains one of the Foundation's key priorities in Ukraine. He reaffirmed KAS's commitment to continuing its efforts to develop initiatives aimed at supporting Ukrainian veterans and expressed his gratitude to Ukraine's defenders for protecting not only their own country, but also the security of Europe as a whole.
Over the course of four thematic panel discussions, participants explored the role of veterans in Ukraine's democratic development, prospects for their political participation, lessons learned from the post-war transformation of the Western Balkans, as well as the legal and reputational challenges related to integrating veterans into public administration.
One of the central themes of the conference was political representation. Speakers agreed that veterans are already an integral part of Ukrainian society and that their experience should be reflected in the country's policymaking. At the same time, they stressed that the greatest integration challenges will emerge at the local level, where communities must prepare for the return of large numbers of veterans and create conditions for their active participation in public life.
Another important topic concerned veterans' participation in politics. Participants agreed that the high level of public trust enjoyed by veterans creates unique opportunities for their involvement in state-building. However, military service alone is not sufficient for a successful political or administrative career. It must be complemented by professional expertise, leadership skills, an understanding of democratic processes and a genuine commitment to public service.
Experts also noted that the emergence of dedicated veterans' political parties is unlikely. This is due not only to the considerable financial and organisational resources required to establish a viable political party, but also to the broader public distrust of political institutions, which often extends to veterans once they decide to enter politics. As Ivona Kostina, co-founder of Veteran Hub, observed: "There is a stigma even within the veteran community itself. As soon as someone from the veteran community becomes politically active, they are labelled a traitor, a politician, someone who has sold out. This is precisely where awareness-raising efforts are needed."
At the same time, veteran and adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Finashyn stressed that veteran status alone does not automatically make someone a successful politician: "A veteran does not necessarily become a good politician... Some will say, 'I've done my part, leave me alone.' Others will say, 'I can, I want to, and I will.'" This underlines the importance of creating opportunities that enable veterans who wish to continue serving their country to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and support for successful public leadership.
A particularly valuable dimension of the conference was the participation of veterans from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Croatia, who shared first-hand experiences of post-war reintegration and democratic institution-building. Despite the different historical contexts, participants repeatedly emphasised that the end of armed conflict alone does not guarantee successful recovery. What ultimately matters is creating opportunities for veterans to realise their potential in civilian life.
One of the most powerful messages came from Anton Quni, former Minister of Defence of Kosovo, who stated: "Veterans are not merely beneficiaries of the state budget; they are the nation's greatest source of human and political capital."
This discussion culminated in practical recommendations from the Western Balkan participants. According to Miljenko Vahtarić, former Deputy Director of the Croatian Mine Action Centre, the state's primary responsibility after war is not limited to providing social benefits but extends to creating meaningful employment opportunities that enable veterans to remain active members of society: "My proposal for Ukraine is simple: give veterans good jobs, not benefits, but good jobs. They need to remain active, feel needed by their country and continue contributing to society. Veterans are part of society—they should never be separated from it."
The second day of the programme focused on translating these discussions into practical experience. The delegation of veterans from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo visited one of the Recovery rehabilitation centres in Kyiv. During the visit, they learned about the work of the modern rehabilitation facility, which specialises in helping Ukrainian service members recover from severe combat injuries. The delegation met with patients and medical professionals while also sharing their own experiences of returning to active civilian life after war.
The visitors were particularly impressed by the determination of Ukrainian service members who, despite suffering severe injuries, are already planning to return to military service after completing their rehabilitation. At the same time, Ukrainian veterans had the opportunity to speak with people who had travelled a similar path decades earlier and who today continue serving their countries through politics, public administration and local government.
The programme concluded with a networking brunch bringing together Ukrainian veterans and the Western Balkans delegation. In an open and informal atmosphere, participants exchanged experiences of reintegration, discussed personal transitions from military to civilian life, explored veterans' participation in public institutions and reflected on the role of veteran communities in strengthening democratic societies. The informal setting created space not only for discussions about politics, but also for conversations about the human dimension of war, recovery and shared responsibility for the future of their respective countries.
The two-day event once again demonstrated that veterans' experience does not end when military service concludes. Given adequate public support, opportunities for professional development and an open society, this experience can become one of the key drivers of democratic development, state-building and Ukraine's post-war recovery. International dialogue and the exchange of practical experience already contribute to shaping the solutions that will define the role of veterans in a strong, democratic and European Ukraine.
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About this series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.
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