On Monday 21 May, 11-00, a press conference will be held at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre (UCMC) (Kyiv, Khreschatyk St, 2, Ukrainian House) to launch a new crowdfunding platform.
The initial goal of this initiative is to raise much-needed funds to help Ukraine’s war veterans find the necessary support and understanding needed to assist them in dealing with the horrors they have witnessed as they have defended their country against Russian aggression.
The number of Ukrainian service men and women who have taken their own lives following service to their country is disputed: official figures put the number of veteran suicides at just over 500, while some estimates exceed 1 000. Ukraine’s situation today is not unique: service personnel, existing and former, worldwide are at a higher risk for experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and other psychological difficulties as they try to reintegrate into civilian life after military service.
With funds raised through Statement Email, Patriot Defence will be able to design treatment programmes addressing this important question based on best international practices, as indeed this organisation has done with regards to their provision of individual first aid kits and medical training seminars in the past.
The Press Conference will be delivered by:
Paul Niland, founder and CEO of Statement Email, a writer and political commentator in Ukraine;
Marko Suprun, co-founder of Patriot Defence, an NGO which has been working to properly train and equip Ukrainian frontline soldiers in fields relating to life-saving battlefield first aid techniques;
Ihor Kholodylo, Founding Member of Pobratymy and Instructor with Patriot Defence.
The Press Conference is scheduled to start at 11:00, the UCMC media centre will provide simultaneous translation for attendees and also broadcast the press conference live to their 5 000 YouTube channel subscribers. Other speakers may also join the launch of this initiative.
Enquiries prior to the start of the press conference can be addressed to: [email protected]
