Dear colleagues - veterans! Pensioners!

Retired generals and officers!

On December 28, 2023, the VI report-election conference of the NGO “Association of Veterans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine” was held. This day was the beginning of the activity of a single unified, powerful organization of the system of bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

The delegates of the conference were addressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine I.V. Klimenko, who said: “We support your initiative to unite into a single strong organization with an effective structure and new approaches. We do everything possible to protect the rights and guarantees of social protection of veterans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is, among other things, one of the vectors of the great Ukrainian doctrine of development, which was defined by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

In the context of a full-scale invasion, we must also pay special attention to those who participated directly in countering Russian aggression. We also continue to work on ensuring high-quality rehabilitation and re-socialization of each of our fighters.” The Minister further states that: “Only by combining your efforts, your knowledge and wisdom, experience of modern challenges, will we be able to create decent conditions for everyone who has worked and continues to work for the Ukrainian state.”

The conference determined to focus the main efforts in the organization and practical work on assisting the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine in approaching the Victory over the historical enemy of the Ukrainian people by the terrorist state Russia and the further reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure of Ukraine, as well as the support of our Heroes - participants in war and legal actions, forces order, rescuers, as part of the large-scale project “Safe Environment”. Among the priority issues is the implementation of a program of rehabilitation and comprehensive assistance to veterans and their families.

It is important to note that veterans and pensioners of the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police of Ukraine from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine of Russia, a terrorist, an invader, an occupier, actively participated in the work of raising funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, having collected more than 27 million hryvnias, 103 passenger cars of various brands, 18 drones and 8 drones, 1100 body armor, 550 tons of food. Material assistance was provided to the families of those killed and died in the war, and 7,457 people joined the Territorial Defense Forces, 8,500 people participated in ensuring public order and in the fight against intelligence and sabotage groups and collaborators, traitors to the state. 1795 pensioners and veterans volunteers went to military service as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Unfortunately, 72 people were killed and 141 were wounded in the fighting zone.

And this work did not stop. Bloody, destructive war continues, and leads to many thousands of human victims, enormous suffering of millions of our compatriots, destruction of settlements, housing, medical institutions, education, culture, sports, decommissioning of infrastructure facilities that ensure the livelihood of citizens of Ukraine, defense objects and civil protection, the continuous destruction of natural and water resources, agricultural lands and forests. The area of ecological diversity, flora and fauna, historical and religious buildings, monuments that have existed for millennia and much more from our historical heroic past from the history of the liberation struggle of Ukrainian patriots for freedom and freedom, for a sovereign and cathedral Ukraine, for the right of Ukrainians to choose their own choice were damaged and the historical path is the way to live, act, develop in the family of democratic peoples, countries of Europe and the world, which is clearly enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine.

That is why in this historic, fateful time for our homeland - Ukraine, the struggle for sovereign Ukraine, its independence and freedom from Russian imperialism, we consider it our civic duty to take an active, purposeful participation in the work that has been going on in Ukraine for almost two years, with strong international support and assistance, we see that the front work on the reconstruction of destroyed facilities in the country is huge, designed for years, with the participation of international partners and donors.

We determined for us, our priority work is chief, humanitarian, sponsorship assistance, moral and psychological support and communication with combatants, police officers, rescuers undergoing treatment, recovery and rehabilitation in medical, rehabilitation institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as leading veterans, pensioners, participants in the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, orphans whose parents died in the performance of official duties and in the war.

The Presidium of the Council of the Association of Veterans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with the Department of Health of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Main Medical Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will interact so that all the work of veteran organizations and medical and rehabilitation teams is coordinated and concretized, personified, so that each of our brothers feels sincere, friendly help and support.

We declare that this will not be a one-time help, but a purposeful, concrete work designed for the future.

The main thing is to clearly define for all Councils of regional, Kyiv city veteran organizations, primary veteran organizations, whose activities should be coordinated and managed, both in the center and on the ground. Among us, veterans, pensioners, should not be indifferent and those who only sympathize with the sick, disabled and orphans. The initiative and the desire to do something concrete for the sake of those who need our daily attention, support and help, and for this we must be united, be like-minded and work to achieve the unity of the entire Ukrainian people in a just fight against the historical enemy of Ukraine - the terrorist Russia, the occupier.

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the indestructible Ukrainian people! Glory to the Defence Forces of Ukraine!

Chairman of the NGO “Association of Veterans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine”, Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, General of the Internal Service of Ukraine
Vasyl DURDINETS

08/01/2024