Presenting the Concept of the Veteran’s Retreat in Makariv

Meet the Veteran’s Kurin! The "Nashe Place" team, together with the NGO "Union of Combat Veterans of Makariv Region" and the Makariv Village Council, presents the concept of the Veteran’s Retreat. This concept summarizes the needs of veterans, the requirements for the space, its usage scenarios, and the stages of construction. The goal is to provide a quick and simple solution to address the urgent need for gradual socialization and support among comrades.

According to the Ministry of Veterans, Ukrainian society will soon include 5 million veterans and their families. As of April 2023, 759 residents of the Makariv community are serving in the military, 563 of whom are combat veterans. During the reintegration process, veterans must have a space for gradual, gentle socialization — in contact with nature and among comrades who understand and can support each other.

"This initiative demonstrates our commitment to supporting those who have served and continue to serve Ukraine. I hope that the Veteran’s Retreat will not only provide a necessary space for recovery but also become a symbol of gratitude to our veterans, military personnel, volunteers, and their families. Additionally, we plan for the kurin to become an integral part of the service infrastructure for military personnel and veterans in the Makariv community," says Anatolii Karbovskyi, Deputy Head of the Makariv Village Council. 

"The importance of veteran spaces is immense because these are places where Ukraine's defenders can connect on the same wavelength. They lack communication and brotherly support. Here, they can share and find answers to questions without fear of judgment or misunderstanding from those who haven’t been to war. They can release tension, share what causes them pain, and relieve the burden of war. Learn to be calm and balanced in everyday life. This is a place where Ukraine’s defenders will feel our care and love," explains Oksana Herasymenko, Head of the NGO "Union of Combat Veterans of Makariv Region."

The Veteran’s Kurin will be a place where veterans, military personnel, and their families can hold thematic meetings, relax in the company of close friends, and recuperate in nature. The kurin will be built using local natural materials. The concept was co-created with the Makariv community.

"In the initial discussions, we outlined the need for a veteran space in general. In subsequent meetings, we found that the ‘Veteran’s Kurin’ is important not just for a specific group but for the entire community. Our team then involved members of the ‘Union of Combat Veterans of Makariv Region’ and representatives of the village council in discussing more specific questions: how will the project be funded? Who will oversee the space? Who will have the right to use it?" explains Yurii Granovskyi, facilitator, urbanist, and member of the "Nashe Place" team.

Among the building examples that meet the requirements for such a space, the distinctly Ukrainian “kurin” was chosen. It is easy and relatively quick to build, involves the community, uses inexpensive local materials, allows for staged creation, and ensures contact with and immersion in nature. Additionally, according to one version, the word "kurin" has Turkic origins and means "a detachment of warriors," which is very symbolic and aligns with our intention to create a space specifically for veterans.

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The Veteran’s Kurin is planned to be built in several stages. RDS is funding the research, concept creation, visualizations, and preparatory work within the urban project "Nashe Place." 

"RDS's corporate social responsibility within the 'Nashe Place' project is always driven by community needs. It is not surprising and quite expected that our active communication with Makariv residents resulted in not just one but several objects with full-fledged concepts. Among them, the largest is the amphitheater on the embankment, the construction of which will start soon, and the ‘Veteran’s Kurin,’ which we could not overlook. Nowadays, the interests of veterans must be a priority, and we understand this clearly. The ‘Veteran’s Kurin’ is not just a physical object, a building; it is a hub where we are confident that each veteran will find comfort and coziness. This is perhaps the main goal of our social project," comments Alina Onika, Director of Communications at RDS.

To implement the next stages, the "Nashe Place" project is looking for partners who can provide financial or expert support. The Veteran’s Kurin is an extension of the idea of a veterans' home, which was included in the vision for the development of Panskyi Park in Makariv.

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