Respect dignity: three stories of initiative Ukrainians

Iryna Matviyishyn

Anastasia Aleksienko

Respect for dignity is one of the EU's core European values. Many people in Ukraine prove by their example and perseverance that it's not an empty statement, but a driver of positive changes in the regions and communities. Whether it's helping veterans or creating a food bank, the stories of Ukrainians show that respect for human dignity is very practical.

Veteran Sontseslava: recover by helping others

Olena Sontseslava is an anti-terrorist operation veteran who today helps her brothers and sisters to adapt to civil life in a hospital near Kyiv.

Since the beginning of the war, Olena has served for 5 years in eastern Ukraine, in particular, she worked as a nurse-shooter at a strategic point near Debaltseve. Without special medical education or experience, she rescued the wounded in the hottest flashpoints of war. When she returned home, Olena experienced a difficult period of adaptation. To normalize her mental state, she was eventually forced to seek medical help. That's how she ended up in the Lisova Poliana hospital for war veterans near Kyiv. At the end of the treatment, Olena was offered a job to help other veterans in rehabilitation. Unexpectedly, this gave the woman hope for a return to normal life. Today, she helps veterans to adapt to everyday life through the renovation and arrangement of the hospital space.