How we support Ukraine

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has dragged on for three years now, a period in which Ukrainian society has demonstrated remarkable resilience, repeatedly mobilizing new forces. Yet this has also been a period in which millions of Ukrainians have experienced untold suffering and despair in the face of ongoing uncertainty around when the war will finally come to an end.

The reports in this dossier address all of these different aspects, telling stories such as those of three Ukrainian war veterans who, in the face of physical injury and psychological trauma, continue to do their part for their country. Similarly, there are accounts from mediators working to mitigate social stratification caused by the war, or from urban planners developing ideas for sustainable reconstruction. Another report, meanwhile, centers a psychologist who vividly relates the toll the war is taking on the mental health of her fellow Ukrainians, as well as how she seeks to use her work to counteract collective trauma.

Each contribution to the dossier tells the story of the people we are supporting in Ukraine. Our commitment on the ground has long gone beyond emergency humanitarian aid: We are looking to the future. In 2024, we massively stepped up our support for Ukrainian civil society; a conscious decision at a time when more and more donors were withdrawing their support. Our expert interview highlights the support the international community should now be affording the country, including pooling its resources. We, as a German foundation with decades-long relationships in Ukraine, feel a special responsibility for this nation and its people – and for a strong Ukraine in Europe.