18.04.2025
Stigmatization of veterans
On April 17, 2025, the presentation of the study “Stigmatization of Veterans and Veterans” took place. This is a joint project of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Rating Group and Syracuse University.
The study consisted of three stages:
- In-depth interviews with veterans and veterans about the experience of stigmatization.
- Focus groups and in-depth interviews with partners of veterans and veterans, that is, analysis of observations of close people regarding stigmatization.
- Content analysis of news about events from the life of veterans and veterans.
Find out about the second stage of the study (conducted by the Rating Group) below:
The release of the study is also available at Ukrainian Veterans Fund website.
Stigmatization of veterans/ok: the view of loved ones
- According to relatives, the attitude of society towards veterans is generally better than before February 2022 (compared to the experience of ATO veterans, in particular).
- At the same time, civilians often show a misunderstanding of how to treat military and veterans. They have feelings of guilt, pity and fear towards veterans, as well as stereotypes regarding the psychological state.
- Stereotypes about veteran women and veterans with disabilities remain a challenge. Women veterans were distrusted because of the association of the military profession only with men, and the fact that women served in the military was perceived as a violation of gender roles.
- They show respect for veterans with disabilities, but there is ignorance about correct communication with them. This causes fear and separation from them.
- The image of veterans and veterans in the Ukrainian media is positive. Veterans are mostly depicted as courageous, strong, successful, heroic. But there may also be some unrealism of heroized images of veterans in the media.
- The media sometimes over-romanticizes the life of veterans, there is a shift in focus from problems in the lives of veterans and veterans
- Potential dangers of stigmatizing veterans: loss of authority, potential conflicts between military and civilians, feelings of injustice on the part of veterans.
Methodology
During the second phase, 6 focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with veterans' partners and 8 in-depth interviews with veterans' partners. Not all respondents serve in the Armed Forces. The sample is built by age and region.
Focus groups (6):
- 2 — with the wives/partners of veterans from the time of the ATO who do not have disabilities;
- 1 — with the wives/partners of veterans from the time of the ATO who have disabilities;
- 2 — with the wives/partners of veterans from the beginning of the full-scale invasion (from 2022) who do not have disabilities;
- 2 — with the wives/partners of veterans from the beginning of the full-scale invasion (from 2022) who have disabilities.
In-depth interviews (8):
- 4 — with husbands/partners of veterans from the time of the ATO;
- 4 — with veterans' husbands/partners since the beginning of the full-scale invasion (from 2022).
