Today, during a press conference titled “Training Program for 2026: Supporting Defenders in the Development of Veteran Entrepreneurship” at Ukrinform, the launch of a nationwide educational project for veterans, their families, and internally displaced persons who aspire to start their own businesses was announced.
The initiative belongs to the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, the Association of ATO Veteran Entrepreneurs, and the Kyiv City Union of ATO Veterans, who have joined efforts to bring the project to life.
Serhii Pozniak, Chair of the Association of ATO Veteran Entrepreneurs, noted that the organizations are already collaborating in several areas, including legal protection and financial support for veteran-owned businesses.
“And from now on, we are also joining forces to implement a large-scale educational project for veterans and IDPs, aimed at teaching people how to properly start and grow a business — including with the support of professional trade union organizations.”
Participation in the program is free for veterans. The course lasts approximately five weeks, with three lectures and one open webinar each week, all of which include a practical component. Plans also include an additional course for current entrepreneurs, focused on scaling businesses and strengthening the economic capacity of enterprises.
From the Trade Union, participants in the press conference included Russian-Ukrainian war veterans: Acting Chair Rakhim Babaiev, Trade Union member Andrii Madzharov, and Head of the Kyiv City Organization Ihor Mari, who are directly involved in implementing the project.
“The goal of this initiative is to provide business education and the opportunity to receive a grant necessary for starting one’s own business for our brothers and sisters. I am confident that this will lay the foundation for a strong platform for the country’s post-war reconstruction, which veterans themselves should and will lead,” commented Rakhim Babaiev, Acting Chair of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine.
“Based on the experience we gained after returning from the ATO, we understand that certain issues often arise in veterans’ interactions with the state. Establishing veteran-owned businesses is no exception. Sometimes the government falters, and it feels as if local officials simply do not understand what kind of support veterans need. We are ready to help both businesses and authorities again in creating an adequate and constructive public dialogue with veterans. I am also pleased that the training program includes a module for civic activists, designed to enhance the effectiveness of veterans’ work in the social sector,” said Ihor Mari.
The educational project is designed to serve as an effective tool for supporting defenders, promoting their professional development and economic stability.
