WISPR Institute of War Psychology presented in Kyiv
9 June 2025 15:05
on May 26, 2025, a public presentation of a unique project, the WISPR Institute of War Psychology, was held in the capital, which aims to provide systemic psychological support to all those affected by Russian aggression.
Responding to growing needs
The Institute was created by the NGO Zemlyachky in response to the critical need for qualified psychological assistance for the military, veterans, civilians, and children. According to the co-founders of the project, Ksenia Drahaniuk and Andrii Kolesnyk, the idea was born out of real requests from female defenders who were increasingly asking not only for military equipment but also for professional psychological support.
“Personal experience of loss in the family has only strengthened our understanding that assistance should not be random, but systematic,”
– the founders emphasized.
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The first program for psychologists’ advanced training
The first step of WISPR was to launch a special program for psychologists to work with the military and veterans. The program was created by leading scientists, clinical and military psychologists, taking into account combat experience, international standards and Ukrainian specifics.
The following contributed to the development:
- Hanna Havrysh (Oliynyk), clinical psychologist, project manager.
- Victoria Vintoniak, PhD, military psychologist, professor at the NGO.
- Maksym Baida, PhD – Lieutenant Colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine, Head of the Research Laboratory of Moral and Psychological Support.
- Marta Pyvovarenko is a psychologist and mental health expert.
- Marianna Markova – professor, doctor of medical sciences.
- Ksenia Dubych – psychiatrist, consultant at Veteran Hub.
Recovery and support strategy
During the presentation, a panel discussion “Psychological support as part of the military’s recovery strategy” was moderated by Kateryna Shapoval, special projects editor at Forbes Ukraine. Experts discussed issues of cross-sectoral cooperation, ethical support, training standards and the role of the state in creating a national mental health infrastructure.
Three areas of work
WISPR will work in three strategic areas:
- support for military personnel and veterans who have experienced trauma
- assistance to civilians and military families;
- building the mental resilience of children and youth growing up in war.
Widespread support for the project
The Institute has received support from government institutions, including the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parole Service, and the Land Forces Command. The AVRORA multimarket chain and the Kyiv School of Public Administration named after Serhiy Nyzhnyi became system partners.
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