Veteran organisations of Ivano-Frankivsk region: how pain turns into action

Ivano-Frankivsk region is a place where the veteran movement is taking shape not only as a response to the war but as a deep attempt to rethink loss, return to life and take responsibility towards those who remain. Organisations born of personal experience of war and grief work here – and that is why they have a special power to influence communities. We continue our series about Ukrainian veteran organisations that are among the twenty participants of the project “Social Cohesion and Reintegration of Veterans in Ukraine”, implemented by the Rokada Charitable Foundation with the support of the International Organization for Migration and funded by the European Union. This time we introduce two different but equally important initiatives from Ivano-Frankivsk region – the Wives of Angels community of widows of fallen Heroes and the veteran NGO New Wings.

The Wives of Angels NGO was founded in November 2023 out of an experience no one can prepare for – losing their husbands in the war. It was initiated by the wives of fallen service members, whose lives were split into “before” and “after”.

Its first resource was not financial but human support – a small circle of women who realised that only those who have been through something similar can be there without unnecessary words. Shared conversations, meetings, walks and even silence became the foundation of a space where pain did not have to be hidden.

Over time, this informal mutual support grew into action: initiatives to honour the memory of the fallen, public events and work with communities. Official NGO status allowed them to scale up their work – to build partnerships, attract grant resources and work systematically.

Today Wives of Angels is a team of 12 women, all of them wives of fallen Heroes. The team was formed gradually: from two founders – me and Iryna Krokhovska – to a wide circle of participants who not only received support but also took on the responsibility of supporting others. None of us had experience of creating NGOs. We didn’t know how to build a structure or write projects. But we knew the main thing: if not us, then who? We accepted this challenge without fully realising the scale of responsibility. And we felt the support of our Heavenly Angels in every decision.

All team members work on a voluntary basis.

The work of Wives of Angels focuses on comprehensive support for the wives and children of fallen soldiers – where, after a loss, people most often remain alone with their pain and a complicated system. The organisation combines legal, psychological and social assistance, creating a holistic space for recovery.

A separate area of work is commemorating the Heroes. Through public initiatives and joint events, the organisation shapes a culture of remembrance and gratitude, helping families keep the names of the fallen alive in their communities.

Wives of Angels also works on women’s development and self-fulfilment and on supporting children, opening up opportunities for learning, participation in public life and building inner strength.

All areas of work are united by a common goal – not to let grief isolate people, and to turn the memory of the fallen into a source of strength, mutual support and change.

“What makes us unique is that we know exactly why we came together,” adds Liubov. “We are not here for awards. We are here for the women who are walking today the path we have already walked. We know what sleepless nights after a loss are like, what the silence is like in a home where there is no more of a husband’s laughter and hugs… That is why we organise, support and implement projects – because we can’t do otherwise.”

We understand that our example of strength shapes strong personalities. Our children no longer have their father’s example, but they must have their mother’s – strong, alive, conscious. The more we work, the less we allow anyone to forget. Neither our children nor society

Liubov Vasyliv, founder of the Wives of Angels NGO

An important stage in the development of Wives of Angels was its participation in the IOM and Rokada Charitable Foundation project, which gave the organisation not only resources but also a clear understanding of how a sustainable civic initiative works. Thanks to the mentoring programme, the team was able to systematise internal processes, put its documentation in order and build a clear management model. A development strategy and a division of roles and responsibilities emerged, allowing the team to work more smoothly and confidently without losing humanity and mutual support.

The New Wings NGO was founded in 2018 by ATO veterans. Its founder is veteran and physiotherapist Ihor Dilnyi – a man who went through the war himself and knows well how difficult the path back to civilian life can be.

For more than eight years, the organisation has worked on a “veteran to veteran” principle: most of its specialists have combat experience, and many veterans stay in the community after rehabilitation – they join the work, run workshops and support others.

“Our space becomes a place of trust, where people don’t disappear after receiving help but come back to help further,” says Ihor Dilnyi. “Every veteran is unique. Everyone has their own combat path, so we work with an individual approach.”

The motto of New Wings is that quality matters more than quantity. The organisation works with those who are ready to invest in their own recovery, creating conditions for returning first to their families and later to society.

We support those who are ready to work on themselves and strive for change. Every positive change inspires both sides – smiles, tears of joy and phrases like “Hooray, I did it!”. Even when at earlier stages they were told “This is your maximum”, “It won’t get better”, “Get used to this condition” – we prove that change is possible. These moments inspire us, give us the strength not to give up, fill our work with meaning and protect us from burnout. Because every success of our veterans is our shared victory.

Ihor Dilnyi, founder of the New Wings NGO

The organisation’s key area of work is physical therapy: working with wounds, injuries and post-operative conditions to improve veterans’ functional and adaptive abilities. It is a long-term process that requires patience and consistency.

At the same time, the organisation develops peer-to-peer psychological support, runs leisure activities (pottery, mountain hikes, rafting, film nights) and holds trainings in communities on the importance of physical recovery.

Among the main challenges is the lack of stable funding, which limits the ability to help more veterans. At the same time, the team stresses that the organisation has been working since 2018 and will continue to do so regardless of the circumstances.

Participation in the project “Social Cohesion and Reintegration of Veterans in Ukraine” has become a source of stability, new partnerships and professional growth for New Wings.

“It is fulfilling, and you realise that you are not left alone – there are always like-minded people and those who are ready to support you nearby,” says Ihor Dilnyi.

Their plans include launching a “Family Rehabilitation” programme aimed at working with couples and restoring relationships and mutual understanding. The team is actively looking for new grant opportunities to implement this initiative.

This material was prepared within the project “Social Cohesion and Reintegration of Veterans in Ukraine”, implemented in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration and funded by the European Union.