After injury and demobilization, veterans can apply their experience in various social projects for their own benefit and that of society.

This was stated on Army FM by Oleksandr Batalov, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and director of the Unconquered Foundation, which supports veterans and their families and helps with rehabilitation and retraining.

Waited a year for a draft notice — but used it wisely

Oleksandr Batalov joined the Defense Forces on February 14, 2023. He came to the enlistment office at the beginning of the full-scale invasion but was told to wait. However, he did not waste that year.

“In fact, nearly a year passed before mobilization. During that time, I immediately started training, took tactical medicine courses, firearms training, and gradually bought all my equipment”, — the veteran recalls.

During assault operations near Klishchiivka in July of that year, Oleksandr sustained a mine-blast injury and lost a leg. Despite the severe injury and a six-hour evacuation, he did not lose motivation or his will to live.

“I waited six and a half hours for evacuation from the battlefield and understood that my main task was to hold on until evacuation. And when I heard the sound of the tracks coming to pick me up, it was the best sound I had ever heard in my life — and I still love it to this day”, — he says.

“When you sit at home, it’s like you’re getting covered in cobwebs”

Oleksandr emphasizes that a veteran returns home not to sit idle.

“Your task after all this is to get up, take steps, inspire if you can. And in the worst case — just get up yourself, take ordinary steps, do basic things: clean your home, go for walks, communicate with people, not just sit”, — he says.

After returning to civilian life, he led the Unconquered Foundation, which focuses on:

  • retraining and reskilling veterans, including humanitarian demining;

  • adaptive sports, including camps for veterans and their families;

  • psychological support and creating environments for recovery.

All programs are free for participants. The foundation is actively seeking partners and donors to expand projects, including opening a glamping center for military personnel.

Batalov is also involved in humanitarian and educational initiatives, including:

  • the “Changemakers” program for rural school students;

  • the course “Recovery: Sexual Life”, developed with the Ministry of Health to break taboos around intimacy and relationships after injuries or PTSD.