Locations‘Ideas that cannot be stopped’
In the village of Zavodske (former Pervomaiske) in Mykolaiv Oblast, much of what once defined the community has been destroyed by the war. Near the ruins of a local sugar factory, there is still a monument to the sugar beet, erected in May 2017 on the pedestal of a former Lenin monument, that bears the inscription: "Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come!"
For 28-year-old Yevhen Rabada, the inscription carries a new, different meaning – about helping veterans return home.
Yevhen grew up here. In 2021, he joined the National Guard as a canine handler. When the full-scale invasion began, he was stationed in Kharkiv, where he spent 14 months defending the city. He eventually returned to Zavodske in 2023 to care for his family, only to find a home he barely recognized.
“There was so much destruction and so few people,” he says. “The sense of community was gone.”
The transition back to civilian life was difficult. Like many veterans, Yevhen initially struggled to adapt, keeping to himself and focusing only on his family. His perspective began to shift when he took a role in coordinating sports activities for local young people. What started as a job soon became a way to reconnect with his neighbours and rebuild his own sense of purpose.
This experience led Yevhen to a new mission: Helping other veterans navigate the same path. With support from the United Nations Development Programme and funding from the governments of Denmark and Japan, he helped restore a youth space through the VidNOVA:UA programme. Today, it is a hub where young people meet, organize activities, and feel part of their community again.
Now, Yevhen works directly with veterans, helping them access social services, find rehabilitation, and handle paperwork, which can often feel overwhelming after service.
“I act as a bridge,” he explains. “I help veterans reach the goals they set for themselves.”
For Yevhen, even small results matter. He recently supported a severely injured veteran who had lost hope; with the right guidance, the man was able to receive treatment and begin rebuilding his life.
Beyond the practical help, Yevhen is working to change how society sees those who served. While some neighbours were initially cautious, their attitudes shifted as they saw his impact.
“Veterans are not a threat,” he says. “We are people who have fought for the future.”
For Yevhen, that future depends on how communities welcome those who return. In Pervomaiske, he has already begun that work.
