Support and Employment of Veterans and Their Families

Problem:

Kyivstar, a company where over 66% of employees have relatives or close friends serving in the military, faced a new reality: the topics of war and veterans’ return became a part of everyday life.

The question “how do we talk about this the right way?” became a pressing one. We saw a clear need to help teams understand each other better, to know how to support a colleague without pity, and to not avoid the subject of war – but instead learn to speak about it with respect.

Solution:

The previous format – lectures and trainings with psychologists provided knowledge and theory but we lacked lasting engagement.
That’s why we replaced traditional learning with non-formal formats – support through theatre and art, motivational meetings, and movie nights. And it delivered tangible results.

The first participants of the new format were 50 colleagues from the HR and PR teams.
We organized a special private showing of the chamber play “The Beast” at the Lesya Ukrainka Theater exclusively for Kyivstar employees.

The performance tells the story of a Ukrainian soldier returning home after war. It doesn’t offer ready-made answers, but instead leaves the audience with a haunting question:
Who are you now – a beast among humans or a human among beasts?

After the performance, we hosted a discussion with military psychologist, the director, and the cast.
Colleagues shared emotions and reflections, some cried, others stayed silent, but everyone left changed.

Post-event surveys showed:

• 97% of participants said that the theatre-based learning format helped them better understand the topic of veterans’ return;
• Most noted that after the play, they began viewing colleagues with military experience or those with relatives at the front – differently.

This case became a turning point in our corporate learning approach: a move from formal trainings to education through empathy and emotional experience.

We continued the initiative with a series of motivational meetings at Kryivka Nezlamnykh (“Shelter of the Unbreakable”) inviting  military defenders, veterans, and public speakers. These guests share personal experiences that help others see the war from a human perspective.
We also hold movie days showcasing Ukrainian films about our defenders.

Among our guest speakers were:

• Ivan “Smereka” Smerechanskyi – military pilot;
• Volodymyr Rudkovskyi – veteran and ambassador of the Unbroken rehabilitation center;
• Serhii Zhukovskyi – veteran with double amputation who received a grant and launched his own veteran business;
• Yevhen Halych – frontman of O.Torvald, combining a music career with military service;
• Roman “Dobryak” Kolesnyk – veteran and ambassador of the Second Wind community.

Results:
“When we see real stories – it reaches people much deeper than any training. These meetings became a kind of therapy for mutual understanding. People started asking more questions, showing genuine interest in how to support mobilized colleagues and their families,”
– Coordinator of Mental Health Support Programs.

Engagement in these events doubled, and participant satisfaction exceeded 90%, according to post-event surveys.

Feedback from our colleagues:

“Our military are heroes, thank you for inviting them.”

“It’s amazing that we have such meetings, they truly inspire and motivate in these incredibly difficult times. Thank you for organizing!”

“Please keep inviting similar guests and continue supporting veterans and their businesses.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to hear the experiences of heroes, people who’ve gone through unimaginable trials yet keep finding joy in life. These stories inspire me deeply. Please keep doing this.”

“These meetings are so important now. They motivate, inspire, and teach us not to give up.”

“This format is great, interesting, relevant, and thought-provoking. Don’t stop; keep inviting guest speakers and discussing meaningful topics.”

“I love the activities with military guests, they help us better understand who they are, what they live by, and what they expect from civilians.”

“Such motivating meetings! I’ve attended several already, please continue, because they help both the military and us civilians stay on the same wavelength and understand each other better.”

“Thank you for these meetings, they are truly needed for civilians today.”