It is essential for us that the voices of those who are currently fighting for the freedom of the world — the voices of Ukrainian military personnel and veterans — are heard during meetings with foreign partners.
In October 2024, the Pryncyp team had the honour of meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Caspar Veldkamp, and the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ukraine, Alle Dorhout. Pryncyp also invited Ukrainian servicemen to the meeting: combat medic and veteran of the 66th Mechanised Brigade, Yaroslav “Hipokrat (Гіпократ)” Sharkyi, and Mariupol defender Ilia “Smurf (Смурф)” Iliashenko, who was released from Russian captivity in 2023. We are grateful for their service!
We discussed the importance of continued support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the enemy’s violations of international law and the laws and customs of war. Yaroslav spoke about being repeatedly targeted by phosphorus munitions and cluster shells, both of which are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. He also stressed the urgent need for more evacuation vehicles for our troops.
Ilia shared his experiences of captivity and the torture he endured in Russian captivity. The Mariupol defender called for greater efforts to ensure the swift return of all Ukrainian prisoners of war. He also presented the guests with The Moscow Convention — a collection compiled by the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families that includes testimonies of former POWs, their relatives, and fellow servicemen, documenting systematic torture, killings, and violations of international humanitarian law by the Russian side.
We also shared our research on the veteran’s transition journey.
Pryncyp, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine, is preparing a large-scale project to support the transition from military service to civilian life. This project will include a comprehensive study, and we deeply value the support and expertise we receive from our international partners.
