The military and their families get support in the "I'Mariupol" centres

On the initiative of the Mayor Vadym Boichenko, the "I'Mariupol" centres are implementing the "Veterans" project.  It aims to support the military, their families and defenders who have returned from captivity. For this purpose, all centres are staffed by Veterans' Assistants. 

Tamara Saitaieva works as a Veteran's Assistant in the right-bank centre in Kyiv. She has been displaced twice and now provides assistance to those who also need it. She says that the main component of her work is support and guidance:

"We help different categories of people, including families of soldiers who are at the frontline, families whose loved ones are in captivity or have been killed. We also support soldiers who have returned from captivity or the frontline. Everyone needs different support and approach. It can be legal issues regarding payments, social needs or psychological help."

Tamara admits that her work has become her life. But it can also be tough psychologically:

"I went with one woman to get DNA data, which confirmed that those were the remains of her son, who died at the front. I accompanied her to all the authorities and helped her with the burial. The main thing was to show her that she was not alone, to support her and be there for her." 

Oleksandra Kruchenko is among those receiving the aid. Since 2016, she has served in the Donetsk border guard detachment in Mariupol. During the full-scale invasion she defended the city. She stayed at Azovstal, then spent 5 months in captivity. 

When she returned, she carried on her military service in Kyiv. Here she found out about the "I'Mariupol" centre. Veterans' Assistants help the woman with all her needs.

"I applied for payments and psychological support. They always guided and assisted me. There was not a single matter that they did not help to resolve. We also receive all the information about benefits and events. There are meetings where we share our problems. This support is really important," says the defender.