Over 100 veterans and their family members in the Kyiv, Lviv and Vinnytsia regions completed business training, and 52 veteran-led businesses received grants up to UAH 317,000 (€6,545) within an EU-funded project.
The initiative was implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in cooperation with the Ministry for Veterans’ Affairs of Ukraine.
To celebrate the Business Development and Mentorship Programme achievements, IOM and its partner NGO, Startup Ukraine, gathered programme grantees, government and international partners, as well as business experts, for an event in Kyiv.
“Starting their own business opens up new opportunities for veterans to fulfil themselves after service. For many of them, business becomes a path to economic independence and a way to apply their experience, leadership, and responsibility in a new role,” said Natalia Kalmykova, the Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. “The state recognises this need and has already passed a law on veteran entrepreneurship; support mechanisms for starting and developing businesses are being prepared.”
“Successful reintegration is not only about providing opportunities to veterans, but also about ensuring society embraces their skills, resilience, and experience,” said Gediminas Navickas, Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. “Supporting veterans in finding new vocations and goals is essential for their rehabilitation — and equally vital for Ukraine’s recovery and future.”
The EU-funded programme combined in-person business development trainings with online, in-depth mentorship support. It engaged subject-matter experts in marketing, business strategy, finance management and team building, alongside mentors who were accomplished entrepreneurs, including veteran business owners. At the conclusion of the training component, all participants presented their business plans to a selection committee, competing for financial grants aimed at strengthening their enterprises through the procurement of modern equipment, raw materials and essential services.
The Business Development and Mentorship Programme is part of the €6 million EU-funded IOM-implemented veteran reintegration project running since September 2024. The project also covers vocational training and job fairs, targeted community support to promote cohesion, mental health and psychosocial support services and activities, as well as technical assistance to the government of Ukraine and civil society organisations.
