A meeting was held at the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. with the defenders of Mariupol, who arrived in the U.S. with the support of the "Heart of Azovstal" foundation to undergo post-traumatic growth (PTG) training. The veterans, who endured Russian captivity, will have the opportunity to receive specialized training and become the first certified PTG trainers in Ukraine.
This was reported by Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.
The event was attended by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, Major General Borys Kremenetskyi, Embassy Advisor Kateryna Smagliy, as well as representatives of the American organization Boulder Crest Foundation, Jennifer Halvaks and William Barrow. This organization will conduct mental health training for Ukrainian service members, sharing U.S. veterans' support experience.
Among the participants in the training program are Oleksandr Didur, Yuliia Horoshanska, Eduard Kashpor, Maksym Polupanov, and Mykhailo Chaplia. All of them heroically defended Mariupol and endured severe trials in Russian captivity, yet remained resilient and committed to supporting their fellow soldiers.
Eduard Kashpor took up arms to defend his hometown on February 24, 2022. After his release from captivity, he began studying psychology and supporting veterans. Yuliia Horoshanska, freed in September 2022, returned to service as a military psychologist. Mykhailo Chaplia, an officer of "Azov" since 2015, spent 28 months in Russian captivity and was among the last to leave Azovstal.
Maksym Polupanov, who had combat experience before the full-scale invasion, was captured during the defense of Azovstal. After his release, he has been working with former POWs. Oleksandr Didur, a marine from the 36th Brigade, spent 14 months in captivity and is dedicated to supporting fellow veterans who have faced similar hardships.
The Ukrainian community in the U.S. expressed admiration for their resilience and gratitude for their service. The veterans will now begin their training in the U.S., gaining knowledge that will help them support other military personnel dealing with the consequences of war.
"The resilience of Didur, Horoshanska, Kashpor, Polupanov, and Chaplia is truly inspiring. Having endured the horrors of Russian captivity, they remain determined to support their fellow defenders. After completing their training, Ukrainian veterans will become the first certified PTG trainers in Ukraine," the Embassy’s press service added.
Author: Danylo Pievchev