Mykolaiv Opens Veterans Spaces for Community Integration and Support

<span><span>Mykolaiv has launched a network of veterans' spaces to help soldiers integrate into the community and receive the necessary services. </span></span>

<span><span>This was reported by the press service of the Mykolaiv City Council.</span></span>

<span><span>According to First Deputy Mayor Vitaliy Lukov, the city currently has a support center for war veterans that provides psychological and physical rehabilitation. However, due to the growing number of veterans, there is a need to create additional accessible spaces throughout the city.</span></span>

<span><span>The first veterans' space has already been opened in the Ingul district with the support of US partners. A psychologist works there, and veterans' assistants will start working there in January. </span></span>

<span><span>A location for the new space has also been identified in the Korabelny district, where the issue of financing the renovation is currently being resolved. In the future, it is planned to open such spaces in other districts of Mykolaiv to ensure maximum access to assistance.</span></span>

<span><span>"We have to create maximum conditions for defenders to quickly receive the information and services they need," emphasized Lukov.</span></span>

Earlier , nine marines from two Mykolaiv units returned from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers who were captured while defending Mariupol.

On New Year's Eve, 189 Ukrainians returned from captivity. In total, 3,956 people have returned from Russian captivity as part of the work of the Coordination Center, including 1,358 prisoners released in 2024. This is the eleventh exchange in 2024.

Recently, residents of Mykolaiv organized a march in support of prisoners of war and missing persons. They marched along the city's main street and held a performance. The event was attended by relatives and friends of the military, who once again reminded of the captured soldiers by coming out with posters and flags. More than 300 citizens joined the event.

As part of the Documentary Film Lab, the Tochka Skhidu media team created a film about a captured and tortured Mykolaiv infantryman. The film tells the story of Vitalii Klochenko, a soldier of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi, who was captured by Russia in April 2022.

Андрій Колісніченко