The full-scale Russo-Ukrainian war has entered its fourth year. What began with Ukraine’s successful defense against a large-scale invasion has now become a grinding war of attrition.
In this prolonged struggle, the country’s most important asset is not its material resources but its people – those fighting on the front lines, sustaining operations in the rear, volunteering, and devoting personal time and funds to keep communities afloat.
This largely unseen daily work has become central to Ukraine’s resilience, building the foundations not only for military resistance but also for eventual recovery. Recognizing this, Kyiv Post is launching a series of stories highlighting individuals and organizations that embody this quiet but essential effort.
This time, we spoke with Arutiun Papoian, head of the NGO From Village to City, which supports communities in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region.
He discussed the organization’s work, its challenges, and how civic initiatives are shaping Ukraine’s capacity to endure.
KP: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get involved in volunteer work and leadership of a non-governmental organization?
Arutiun Papoian (AP): In 2022, I was a commander in our local VTCF (Voluntary Territorial Community Formation) from the very first days (of the full-scale invasion) and took part in defending our community. Later, I volunteered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After I was discharged, I returned home. Then I realized that people needed help here too, so I decided to volunteer, which then turned into charitable work.
Once the front line stabilized somewhat, it became clear that people needed guidance on how to move forward.
We created a public organization to develop a vision for our community’s growth – both during the war and in the post-war period.
KP: What is your organization currently doing? What are its main areas of work?
AP: We are focusing on working with communities. Our main project right now is our own training program, “Tolerant Conversation,” designed for people in the military’s circle of communication – their relatives and friends.
We teach civilians how to better understand and interact with service members, and we give practical advice on how to support those dealing with mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, or concussion.
We explain these conditions so that people aren’t afraid of them.
The truth is, many civilians have become fearful of aggression from military personnel or veterans. Not because of something they’ve actually experienced, but because of stereotypes – “I heard somewhere that veterans are aggressive.” We try to break that stigma. Not every veteran is aggressive, and not every aggressive person is a veteran.
Arutiun Papoian: Not every veteran is aggressive, and not every aggressive person is a veteran.
In addition, we’re running intensive first aid training. Living under constant threat, you never know when the next attack might come. These skills are literally lifesaving.
Another important area is organizing holiday events for children – especially for those who can’t spend summers with their grandparents, and for displaced kids who are essentially stuck in their new homes.
KP: How do you manage to organize people, bring in volunteers? Do you already have a strong, united team?
AP: Interestingly, our main challenge isn’t a lack of volunteers. There are always people willing to help and give their time and energy.
The team of the NGO “From Village to City.” Photo: Mariia Huseinova.
Our real problem is stable funding. Our NGO started as a grassroots initiative among a few like-minded entrepreneurs who came together in 2022 to support soldiers. Over time, it grew into a full-fledged organization.
Right now, most of our activities are funded directly by the co-founders – in other words, our budget depends on private contributions. On the upside, this makes us a completely independent organization.
We’ve received some grants for smaller projects. For example, we installed solar panels for the local clinic with grant money. But overall, it’s been very difficult.
KP: Why is that?
AP: For two years now, we’ve applied to almost every relevant grant program. But it seems much harder for small organizations like ours to get noticed compared to big national projects.
We’ve recently started cooperating with the organization Heart of Azovstal. It’s a fantastic organization. It does a lot of cool things. The only thing is, they operate on a nationwide level, while we work on the ground, directly with soldiers in hospitals or with communities. And for small groups like ours, it’s very difficult to secure even modest grants – despite the fact that we can show concrete results, provide transparent reporting, and meet all requirements.
On a national scale, in my opinion, it is easier to take 50 organizations and distribute 50 small grants, and then there will be more people working than if one large organization receives that amount, as they don’t face the same struggles we do anyway.
Let me remind you that most large companies already work with these large organizations. And for us, the small ones, it is sometimes difficult. However, this does not prevent us from doing specific and very important things.
[*Earlier, Kyiv Post wrote that most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charitable foundations (CFs) in Ukraine did not submit their annual financial reports for 2024. However, as the experience of the NGO “From Village to City” shows, even strict compliance with all the rules does not always help small organizations obtain external funding.]
KP: Continuing the topic of cooperation... Who are your current partners, and how do you interact with officials at different levels?
AP: Overall, we “coexist peacefully.” Local, district, and regional officials don’t get in our way – and sometimes they even provide administrative support. But there’s no real mechanism for financial support from the government. At times, local officials would like to help, but they simply don’t have a framework for doing so. And how to solve that is still an open question.
KP: What would you say are your most successful projects?
AP: Our most successful project has definitely been “Tolerant Conversation.” As part of this project, we are currently conducting two to three training sessions per month. One of them featured our own Mykhailo Panchyshyn (Ptashkin), a veteran and winner of the eighth season of the talent show X-Factor and the thirteenth season of The Voice of Ukraine.
KP: Continuing on this topic, what are the most pressing issues you see right now? What will you be doing in the future?
AP: A month ago, I was invited to head a local veterans’ association in Boyarka (a town in the Fastiv district of the Kyiv region). The main idea is to create a kind of hub – let’s call it a “CNA for veterans” – where all services are under one roof: legal, psychological, social. The key is that veterans know there’s a place where they will definitely get help.
We’re now getting the premises ready ourselves – painting walls, fixing things up. That’s also part of the work
KP: As someone who has been involved in volunteering for many years, what advice would you give to people who are considering this path?
AP: The most important thing is to start by joining forces with people who already have experience. Volunteering in Ukraine is now at the stage where there are real “professionals” who know how to do this work. There are many organizations where newcomers can bring their ideas and get involved.
KP: How do you avoid burnout?
AP: Honestly? My mind is always working – I always have something to think about. There’s simply no time to burn out. I genuinely love what I do. And seeing results gives me energy. When people leave our training sessions with a smile on their faces, I’m happy. That feeling keeps me going.