From 8 to 10 September 2025, EUROMIL President Emmanuel Jacob visited Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian partners, institutions, and civil society representatives. The visit built on EUROMIL’s ongoing engagement in Ukraine and offered an opportunity to deepen cooperation on issues such as soldiers’ rights, veteran policies, trade union freedoms, and democratic oversight of the armed forces.

Soldiers’ Rights and Institutional Cooperation

The visit began with exchanges at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights. The discussions highlighted the Office’s important role in monitoring the rights of prisoners of war, addressing cases of missing persons, supporting displaced people, protecting children taken from occupied territories, and facilitating prisoner exchanges. The debate also touched on draft legislation to establish a Commissioner for the Rights of Soldiers, a proposal still pending parliamentary approval.

Later the same day, Jacob met with Olha Reshetylova, the designated Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and their Families. Reshetylova, whose office already receives about 300 complaints per week, underlined the urgency of strengthening institutional mechanisms for soldiers and their families. She also noted her direct contact with  President Zelenskyy, enabling her to escalate cases and systemic issues effectively. Reshetylova expressed her openness to maintain contact with EUROMIL and its Ukrainian partners, recognising the value of European expertise and solidarity.

Civil Society and Veteran Policies

On the second day, meetings with the State Watch think tank and the Human Rights Center “Pryncyp” underlined the strength of Ukraine’s civil society in advancing transparency, accountability, and human rights in the defence sector. With Pryncyp, EUROMIL continued earlier debates on the Ombudsman for Soldiers initiative, shared experiences on whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms, and exchanged views on reserve systems, a topic relevant both in Ukraine and across Europe.

The afternoon was dedicated to discussions at the office of UUMS with activists and experts. Topics ranged from the challenges of dealing with missing in action

to the drafting of a new veteran law. Together with MPs, lawyers, veterans, and trade unionists, participants explored possibilities for European support and cooperation, particularly through debates and advocacy on veteran rights and representation.

Boryviter, Anti-Corruption, and Trade Union Rights

The third day included a meeting with the Boryviter Center of Excellence, a young NGO that has rapidly gained recognition for its training and expertise. With 140 volunteer trainers, Boryviter is recognised by the Ministry of Defence, NATO, and the European Security and Defence College. Its eight areas of work include cyber security, resilience, hybrid threats, leadership, and notably the human dimension – a field of special importance for EUROMIL and its Ukrainian partners.

At NAKO (Independent Anti-Corruption Commission), discussions focused on strengthening transparency in procurement, oversight of the defence sector, and anti-corruption measures. These are areas where EUROMIL sees strong overlap with its advocacy for accountability and democratic control of the armed forces.

The visit concluded with a meeting at the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU), hosted by its President Sergiy Bizov, with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, parliamentarians, and union leaders. Exchanges focused on trade union rights for soldiers, legislative reforms,

and potential cooperation in the field of veteran representation. Bizov underlined the societal demand to integrate defenders and veterans into Ukraine’s trade union movement, and a gift from the children of Chernivtsi was presented in a symbolic gesture of solidarity.

Reflection

Throughout the three days, discussions repeatedly highlighted that protecting the rights of soldiers and veterans is not only a national but also a European challenge. EUROMIL’s engagement in Ukraine is guided by the principle that defending democracy requires defending those who serve it.

EUROMIL President Emmanuel Jacob emphasised during the visit:

“We have a lot to learn in Ukraine. The important thing is not only what we do for Ukraine, but also what we do together with Ukraine.”

The visit also served as a reminder of the daily realities of war, with air alerts and nights spent in shelters, including a nearly nine-hour alert following a Russian attack on Poland. Despite these circumstances, Ukrainian colleagues and friends continue their tireless work to defend freedom, democracy, and values shared across Europe.

EUROMIL warmly thanks Halyna Kavun and Artem Dudka for their engagement and support throughout the visit, which ensured fruitful discussions and a strong sense of solidarity.