International Veterans Conference; Split, Croatia, October 9–10, 2025

It is clear to all of us that the war in Ukraine is not only reshaping Europe's security landscape but also placing immense demands on the resilience of entire societies. Russia's invasion has forced millions of Ukrainians to live amid violence and destruction. At the heart of this struggle stand Ukraine's defenders, who bear the heaviest burden on the front lines. Yet their return from the battlefield opens a new, equally profound challenge: how to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life.

This is not merely a health or social issue - it is a matter of dignity, security, and the very future of Ukraine. Veterans return with physical wounds that require advanced rehabilitation, with psychological scars that demand long-term care, with interrupted careers that must be rebuilt, and with families and communities that need to reconnect after years of separation. Their recovery is inseparable from the recovery of the nation itself.

Croatia, having experienced the Homeland War and the complex path of post-war recovery, is the only member of the European Union with direct and recent wartime experience. For this reason, its perspective carries special weight, and its experience brings deep solidarity. With the goal of sharing knowledge and lessons learned, Croatia, together with Ukraine, is organizing the International Veterans Conference, to be held in Split from October 9 to 10, 2025.

The aim of the conference is to reaffirm strong political support for Ukraine, offer practical solutions, exchange best practices, and discuss the challenges veterans face as they transition from the battlefield back into civilian life. The conference will provide a high-level international platform for governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, with the mission of building lasting partnerships to ensure that Ukrainian veterans receive the support they deserve.

Over the course of two days, Split will host a rich program featuring six expert panels on topics including practical reintegration, labor market opportunities, veterans in business, security and defense, the recovery process and EU accession, healthcare for veterans, and psychosocial support for veterans and war victims. Discussions with leading practitioners and policymakers will foster international dialogue and the exchange of innovative approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration, engaging relevant stakeholders from various countries.

The content and messages of the conference will be fully dedicated to affirming and strengthening the purpose of this gathering: recognizing the sacrifice of veterans, defending their dignity, and reaffirming that their reintegration is essential to building a stronger, safer, and more resilient Ukraine - and, consequently, a more stable Europe.

Ministarstvo hrvatskih branitelja Republike Hrvatske - Međunarodna braniteljska konferencija, Split, Hrvatska, 9.-10. listopada 2025.



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