Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Ukraine Antonio Gazzanti Pugliese di Cotrone met with Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina.

During the meeting, the Ambassador presented the activities carried out by the Sovereign Order of Malta since 24 February 2022. The Ambassador said that the Order would continue to provide all possible assistance to children, including those from families of Ukrainian veterans and those who died, as well as to families who fled their homes due to the hostilities and moved to safer regions of the country. The Embassy of the Order of Malta will also consider the possibility of cooperating in the humanitarian projects of the Ministry of Veterans.

For her part, Minister Latutina, welcoming the Ambassador to the Ministry of Veterans, expressed her gratitude for the ongoing assistance and support provided by the Sovereign Order of Malta to Ukraine. The Order and the Maltese Relief Service of Ukraine were among the first to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine after the start of Russian aggression. In particular, humanitarian aid for the civilian population affected by the war, including Ukrainian refugees who were forced to seek refuge in the western regions and countries of the European Union.

The Minister briefed the Ambassador on the priority areas of the Ministry of Veterans’ work. In particular, the creation of a scientific and practical mental health centre, “Borodyanka Centre”, in Ukraine on the basis of the destroyed centre for social and psychological rehabilitation in the town of Borodyanka, Kyiv region.

The Minister also noted that the Ministry of Veterans will soon launch a pilot project to introduce the institute of veteran assistants in Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Lviv and Mykolaiv regions. They will facilitate the reintegration of female and male veterans in the transition system by providing professional counselling and support to help them exercise their rights and opportunities.