From September 30 to October 2, 2025, in Dnipropetrovsk region, which has been warmly hosting Donetsk region during the time of active hostilities, a nationwide training “Formation of National Identity: Experience of Defenders and Civil Society Institutions” took place. The event, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine together with the Department of Family, Youth, and National-Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, gathered 75 participants from across the country — representatives of regional and local military administrations, the civic sector, and specialized institutions. The training aimed to develop a unified conceptual approach to strengthening Ukrainian civic identity based on national values — uniqueness, will, unity, and dignity.
At the opening, participants were greeted via video address by Vadym Filashkin, Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration and Chief of the Regional Military Administration. Welcoming remarks also came from Nataliia Hontarenko, Head of the Department for the Promotion of Ukrainian National and Civic Identity of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration. The speakers emphasized that uniqueness, will, unity, and dignity are not just words, but the very foundation on which the future is built — and today, more than ever, unity and joint effort are crucial.
A key theme of the training was drawing on the experience of defenders and veterans, who are true bearers of patriotism and dedication. Over the course of three days, participants took part in a number of activities. A session “Ukrainian Identity During and After the War: The Role of Veterans in the Community” featured veterans and combatants now working in government bodies and the civic sector, including representatives of the Veterans’ Policy Department of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, as well as representatives of the Ocheretyne and Mangush communities and the platform “Center for Unity and National Resistance.”
As a symbol of cooperation strengthening national unity, the orchestra of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” performed.
Special emphasis was placed on events dedicated to memory preservation and cultural resilience: participants visited the Museum of the Modern Russian-Ukrainian War in Dnipro, where they joined the “From Heart to Sky” campaign — planting trees in honor of fallen Defenders of Ukraine.
Art practices for psychological recovery were also presented, including the “Unbreakable Donetsk Region” project of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum.
For an exchange of experience in fostering identity in relocated spaces, participants visited the Pokrovsk Sports and Youth Center, where they learned about the community’s work in engaging veterans and explored a Museum of the Modern Russian-Ukrainian War created by local youth.
Sessions dedicated to civil-military cooperation were also significant, including a training session from the 11th Army Corps and a workshop from the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” on first aid and unmanned systems.
The knowledge, skills, and practical experience gained by participants will be shared locally with communities, helping to strengthen social cohesion and patriotic spirit.