Veterans Support Foundation
БЕЛАРУС БЕЛАРУСУ БЕЛАРУС
The Foundation of the Association of Belarusian Veterans is a non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organisation founded on 14 April 2023 by former Belarusian volunteers. It is headed by Pavel Maryeuski.
To create a sustainable support system for Belarusian volunteers, veterans of the war in Ukraine, and the families of fallen Heroes. The Foundation works to support veterans’ social adaptation, medical and psychological recovery, build a positive public image of the Belarusian volunteer, and preserve the memory of those who fell.
To provide systematic humanitarian assistance to Belarusian veterans and their families in their countries of residence, promote their rights and interests, and support their integration into European society based on the principles of dignity, mutual support, and remembrance.
Pavel Maryeuski is Chair of the Board of the Foundation of the Association of Belarusian Veterans. In early March 2022, he joined the volunteers of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Battalion.
On 14 April 2023, together with his brothers-in-arms, he founded and headed the Foundation of the Association of Belarusian Veterans.
In May 2024, he became a member of the third convocation of the Coordination Council, representing the European Choice faction.
From August 2024, he served as Deputy Head of the Commission on National and Regional Security of the third Coordination Council.
From September 2025, he served as Vice-Speaker of the third Coordination Council.
In May 2026, he was re-elected to the fourth convocation of the Coordination Council as a member of the European Choice faction.
The foundation’s official objectives are presented in Polish.
Here you can learn about our projects that are currently being implemented. Also, if you need help or have suggestions of your own, please email us at belarusveterans@gmail.com.
This is not about gifts — it is a chance to tell families and children: We remember. We are here. You are not forgotten.
Learn moreAlthough the war is not yet over, Belarusian volunteers are heroically fighting shoulder to shoulder for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. Sadly, they are dying. They die while carrying out combat missions, fighting the enemy with dignity and self-sacrifice; they die covering their brothers-in-arms, rescuing and evacuating civilians. The volunteers who survive face serious psychological problems and cannot adapt to the realities of civilian life.
Even now, we can observe these processes among those returning, and it is frightening to imagine the scale this problem will reach after the war ends. For this reason, we created a veterans support foundation and ask you to help Belarusian volunteers who, for various reasons, have ended their service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as Belarusian volunteers currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We also ask you to help their families and the family members of fallen Heroes who gave their lives for the liberation of Ukraine. We also ask you to support our cultural and humanitarian projects.
For a person, war does not end upon returning from a combat zone. Many veterans and their family members continue to face the consequences of their experiences long after returning to civilian life.
Physical injuries, the consequences of wounds, psychological trauma, bereavement, post-traumatic conditions, the need for prolonged rehabilitation, difficulties with social integration and returning to everyday life — all of these require timely, professional help.
However, many veterans and their family members do not have access to the medical, psychological and rehabilitation services they need. There may be various reasons: the high cost of treatment and rehabilitation, a lack of relevant specialists where they live, long waiting times, a difficult financial situation within the family or an inability to pay for the necessary services themselves.
A lack of timely help can significantly complicate a person’s recovery and their return to a fulfilling civilian life.
Helping people obtain the support they need is a task we can undertake and our moral duty.
The “Return to life” project aims to pay for psychological help, medical services, physical and psychological rehabilitation, social reintegration and other forms of support that veterans and their family members need to recover and return to a fulfilling life.
Fundraising is ongoing, with no end date. The project will operate continuously, and the number of beneficiaries and the amount of help provided will depend on donations received, current needs and each person’s individual circumstances.
Our goal is to help at least 50 veterans and family members every year who need various forms of assistance and support but, for various reasons, do not have timely or sufficient access to the services they need.
The planned minimum average fundraising amount is €1,000 per person per year.
It is important to understand that this amount is an indicative minimum estimate, not a fixed cost of assistance for each project participant.
Depending on the particular situation, the person’s condition, the nature of their injuries, the duration of the help needed and the cost of services, the amount of support may be lower or significantly higher.
The cost of medical, psychological and rehabilitation services can vary considerably across European countries. For someone who needs limited advisory or psychological support, the amount required may be less than €1,000. At the same time, prolonged psychotherapy, medical treatment, physical rehabilitation or comprehensive recovery after severe injuries may require substantially more funding.
The public and potential donors should therefore understand that €1,000 per person is a minimum indicative amount included in the project’s annual target, taking into account the average cost of necessary services and the differing severity of participants’ injuries and trauma.
A separate problem is the lack of timely access to necessary help. Many veterans and their family members cannot obtain the services they need when they actually need them. Waiting, a lack of funds or an inability to find and pay for a specialist independently may lead to deterioration in a person’s physical and psychological condition.
The “Return to life” project seeks to help bridge this gap and enable people who cannot secure access to assistance themselves to receive the help they need.
After each instance of assistance, a project participant may, where possible and with confidentiality respected, be invited to provide feedback. This will help assess the effectiveness of the support, identify additional needs and improve the project’s work.
The first stage involves preparing the necessary project documentation, drawing up budget calculations and identifying the main areas of assistance.
Rules for reviewing requests, procedures for identifying participants’ needs and criteria for providing support are also established.
Particular attention is given to finding medical institutions, psychologists, psychotherapists, rehabilitation centres and other specialists or organisations whose services may be needed by project participants.
Each case is considered individually.
The project handles requests from veterans and family members who need help but do not have sufficient or timely access to it.
Where necessary, the type of support required, its expected duration and its estimated cost are determined.
Each person’s needs may differ considerably. One participant may need a psychological consultation or a short course of therapy, while another may need prolonged rehabilitation, treatment or comprehensive medical and psychological support.
The amount of assistance is therefore determined by the individual situation and actual need.
Once the needs and the project’s capacity have been determined, the required assistance is funded directly.
Project funds may be used for:
The minimum indicative amount of support is €1,000 per person per year.
However, this amount is not fixed.
Depending on the type of assistance needed, the cost of medical and psychological services, the duration of rehabilitation and the severity of the person’s injuries and trauma, the actual amount of support may be lower or higher.
After assistance has been provided, the support is recorded and the project’s results are analysed.
Where possible and with confidentiality respected, feedback is collected from project participants.
This will help assess how timely and effective the assistance was, identify additional needs of veterans and their family members, and improve the project’s work.
At the end of each calendar year, an analysis is carried out of the number of people helped, the amount of support provided, the most requested forms of assistance and overall spending.
The data collected will be used to adjust the project, assess its effectiveness and set future goals.
The project’s main goal is to help at least 50 veterans and family members every year.
The minimum indicative average amount of support is €1,000 per person per year.
This amount takes into account the need to provide at least basic access to psychological, medical or rehabilitation assistance.
However, the actual cost of assistance depends on individual circumstances.
Costs may be lower when a person needs a limited number of consultations or short-term support.
At the same time, prolonged therapy, medical treatment, diagnostic examinations, physical rehabilitation or comprehensive recovery may cost substantially more than €1,000.
Where:
50 people — the minimum planned number of veterans and family members receiving assistance during the year;
€1,000 — the minimum indicative average amount of support per person per year;
50 people × €1,000 = €50,000
The minimum target budget for direct assistance is therefore €50,000 per year.
Psychological and medical help in Europe may involve substantial financial costs.
Regular psychotherapy, specialist consultations, diagnostic examinations, treatment, physical rehabilitation and other necessary services may continue for several months or considerably longer.
The severity of physical injuries and psychological trauma differs from person to person.
Some project participants may need relatively short-term assistance, while others will require prolonged, comprehensive recovery.
The amount of €1,000 per person per year is therefore a minimum guideline needed to establish a realistic annual target for the project.
It does not guarantee full coverage of every possible expense for a particular person, but it provides a basic financial resource for timely, necessary assistance.
With additional donations, the project will be able to:
The project may include minimal associated expenses for organising work, handling requests, coordinating assistance, accounting support, banking services and other necessary administrative costs.
These expenses are planned separately and must not reduce the main target amount intended directly for assistance to veterans and their family members.
The project’s main minimum target budget is €50,000 per year, allocated directly to paying for necessary psychological, medical, rehabilitation and other individual assistance.
“Return to life” is an ongoing fundraising project with no end date.
Our minimum annual goal is to help at least 50 veterans and family members who need psychological, medical, rehabilitation or other necessary support but, for various reasons, do not have timely access to it.
Every donation helps give a person the opportunity to recover, undergo the rehabilitation they need, receive professional psychological or medical help, return to society and take another step towards a fulfilling civilian life.
“Return to life” is an opportunity to help those who have lived through war receive support when they truly need it.
If you would like to support this project, please enter the following payment reference do projektu powrotu do życia
War leaves severe consequences not only for those who took part directly in hostilities, but also for their families. The families of fallen Heroes face not only an irreparable personal loss, but also numerous everyday, financial and social difficulties. Veterans and their families also often need additional support during recovery, adaptation and the resolution of everyday problems.
Helping the families of fallen Heroes and veterans is a task we can undertake, an expression of gratitude and a moral duty to people who have paid a high price for the struggle and freedom.
The “Families of Heroes” project provides targeted material support to the families of fallen Heroes and to the families of veterans in difficult life circumstances.
Fundraising is ongoing, with no end date. The project will operate continuously, and the amount of help provided will depend on donations received and the families’ current needs.
Our goal is to support about 45 families each year, providing each family with assistance of at least €1,000 per year.
Support may be directed toward a family’s most pressing individual needs. Depending on the situation, this may include help with housing and utility payments, the purchase of necessary goods and items, children’s education costs, medical and rehabilitation needs, everyday matters or other important expenses.
Each case will be considered individually, taking into account the family’s particular circumstances and needs.
The project’s minimum goal for one calendar year is to provide material assistance to 45 families for a total amount of at least €45,000.
The project has no fixed implementation period. At the end of each calendar year, the results of the work will be analysed, including the number of families who received support, the amount of funds raised and distributed, and participants’ current needs. This will make it possible to adjust the project’s further work and expand assistance as the foundation’s capacity and donations grow.
At this stage, the necessary documentation is prepared, rules for reviewing applications are developed, criteria for providing assistance are defined, and the procedure for working with the families of fallen Heroes and veterans is established.
A preliminary annual project budget is also calculated, possible types of targeted assistance are identified, and a system is created to record donations received and support provided.
The project works with requests from families who need help.
Each case is considered individually. Where necessary, information is collected to identify the family’s most urgent needs and choose the most effective way of providing support.
The priority is targeted assistance aimed at resolving a specific problem or need of a family.
After a request has been reviewed and a need identified, the family receives financial or other targeted support.
The planned baseline support is at least €1,000 for one family during a calendar year.
In individual cases, the form and amount of support may be determined according to the situation and nature of the need. If additional donations and project resources are available, assistance to individual families may exceed the baseline amount.
Funds may be directed to the most important and necessary expenses, including:
After each case of assistance, the support provided is recorded and, where possible, feedback is collected from the family.
This will make it possible to determine how well the assistance met real needs, identify additional problems and improve the project’s work.
At the end of each calendar year, the number of supported families, the amount of assistance provided and the expenditure of funds are analysed.
The resulting data will be used to adjust the project’s work, assess its effectiveness and set goals for the next calendar year.
The project’s main goal is to support about 45 families each year.
The minimum planned amount of assistance is €1,000 for one family during a year.
Where:
45 families — the planned number of families receiving support during a year;
€1,000 — the minimum planned targeted assistance for one family during a year;
45 families × €1,000 = €45,000
Thus, the minimum budget for direct targeted assistance is €45,000 per year.
Fundraising is ongoing, with no end date. If additional funds are raised, the project will be able to increase the number of supported families or the amount of assistance for individual families, depending on their needs.
The project may include minimal related expenses for organising the work, processing applications, accounting support, banking services and other necessary administrative expenses.
Such expenses will be planned separately and must not reduce the main target volume of targeted assistance for families.
Every donation helps families affected by the consequences of war receive the support they need and feel that they have not been left alone with their difficulties.
If you would like to support this project, please enter the following payment reference do projektu Rodzina Bohaterów
The war in Ukraine has become part of the modern history of Belarus. Since 2014, Belarusian volunteers have taken part in defending Ukraine, and many have given their lives in the struggle for freedom and independence.
To date, more than 90 Belarusians are known to have died in Ukraine since 2014.
Their stories, faces, personal choices and contribution to the struggle for freedom are an important part of modern Belarusian history. However, remembering those who gave their lives requires not only preserving archives and documents, but also creating a cultural space that allows society to see the individual people behind historical events.
The “Portraits of Heroes” project aims to create an artistic series of portraits of Belarusian volunteers who died in Ukraine, promote a positive image of Belarusian volunteers and preserve the memory of their heroism.
Through art, we want to draw public attention to the lives of Belarusian heroes, their contribution to the defence of Ukraine and the struggle for freedom.
The project also aims to contribute to contemporary Belarusian culture and historical memory. One of its long-term goals is to shape and preserve the image of a Hero of Belarus — a person whose actions and life contributed to the struggle for Ukraine’s freedom and the future of Belarus.
The project plans to create approximately 50 original artistic portraits of heroes.
The planned dimensions of each canvas are 130 × 90 cm.
The canvas material is linen.
Each portrait is an independent, original work of art and requires individual preparation, the collection of visual materials, artistic work and the creation of a finished piece.
The project has no end date in terms of preserving and promoting the collection. After the main phase of artistic production is complete, the portraits can be used for further exhibitions, cultural events and projects aimed at preserving historical memory.
The main implementation phase involves creating the collection, preparing the display and holding a series of exhibitions in major cities across Europe and Ukraine.
The duration of the project’s main active phase will depend on implementation conditions, the availability of exhibition venues, partners’ capabilities, the logistical situation and other circumstances.
The estimated period for preparing and holding the main exhibition cycle is 12 to 24 months. However, individual events and further use of the collection may continue after the main phase of the project has ended.
Exhibitions are planned in at least 5 countries and 5 cities across Europe and Ukraine.
The following will be considered when selecting countries and cities:
Each exhibition may last from one day (24 hours) to 30 calendar days, depending on the conditions of the particular venue and the arrangements for the event.
After each event, visitors will, where possible, be invited to take part in a survey or leave feedback using available online resources.
This will help assess how the exhibition is received, identify possible changes and additions to its format, take visitors’ wishes into account and improve the project’s subsequent work.
The feedback received will also help assess public interest, the effectiveness of communication and the prospects for further development and expansion of the project.
The first stage involves preparing the necessary project documentation and planning its implementation in detail.
This stage includes:
This stage is necessary to ensure that the creation of the collection and the exhibitions can proceed in a coordinated sequence, taking into account the particular circumstances of different countries and cities.
The project plans to create approximately 50 original portraits of fallen Belarusian heroes.
Each work involves a preparatory stage, selecting the necessary visual materials, developing the artistic portrayal and creating the artwork itself.
This part of the project requires purchasing materials for artistic production, including canvases, paints and other materials needed to create and prepare the works.
Once the artistic work is complete, the portraits are prepared for storage, transport and public display.
Photographic documentation of the completed works is also planned to preserve information about the collection, prepare information materials and publications, and present the project in the future.
Once the necessary number of portraits has been created, work begins on organising exhibitions.
Depending on the city and country, this involves finding and renting suitable exhibition space or arranging for it to be made available.
Preparation for an event may include:
Exhibitions are planned in at least 5 countries and 5 cities across Europe and Ukraine.
Each event may last from 24 hours to 30 calendar days.
The number of exhibitions and the duration of the project may be increased if additional opportunities, partners and funding become available.
The project involves creating large-format original works of art and subsequently moving them between different cities and countries.
Continuous coordination is therefore an essential part of implementing the project, rather than a separate supporting task.
Coordination work includes:
This work requires ongoing support throughout the entire implementation period of the project.
Organisation and coordination expenses directly ensure that the completed works do not remain solely artistic objects, but can be presented to the public, transported safely, preserved and used in exhibitions.
Available data is collected and processed after each successfully completed event.
Where possible, feedback is collected from visitors, partners and project participants.
This will make it possible to:
Interest from the public, cultural organisations and the media is also analysed.
The findings are used to adjust subsequent work and assess opportunities to expand the project.
The central part of the project is the creation of approximately 50 original artistic portraits of fallen Belarusian heroes.
Each portrait is an independent work of art, approximately 130 × 90 cm in size, painted on linen canvas.
Artistic production costs cover the creation of finished works of art, preparatory artistic work and the necessary materials.
The project provides funding for the creation of approximately 50 portraits.
The art collection is the foundation of the project and is being created for subsequent public presentation at exhibitions in Europe and Ukraine.
The project involves not only creating works of art, but also fully organising their public presentation.
Ongoing work to organise and support the project is needed so that the portraits can be shown to the public in different countries and cities.
This part of the budget includes:
Coordination costs are an important part of the project, because creating the portraits alone does not guarantee public access to them without ongoing organisational work.
Coordination is what turns the art collection into a fully developed social and cultural project: organising exhibitions, safeguarding artworks, transporting them between countries and cities, preparing materials for visitors and ensuring cooperation with partners.
Funding organisational work therefore directly serves the project’s main goal — preserving the memory of the heroes and presenting their stories to the wider public.
The project is implemented in several countries and depends on many external circumstances.
The costs of materials, transport, storage, venue rental and other services may vary depending on the country, city and specific conditions of each event.
In addition, the duration of the project and its exhibition activities may be adjusted according to the situation and partners’ capabilities.
The budget therefore allows for justified unforeseen expenses directly related to implementing the project.
Creating the art collection, preparing materials, organising and holding exhibitions, transporting and storing the artworks, providing financial support and coordinating the project require a total budget of €70,000.
The fundraising target for implementing the main phase of the project is €70,000.
The portraits will have lasting cultural and historical value and can be used in future exhibitions and events aimed at preserving the memory of Belarusian heroes.
Every donation helps not only to create a work of art, but also to preserve the story of an individual — their face, name and contribution to the struggle for freedom.
“Portraits of Heroes” is a project about memory, history and people who should remain part of Belarus’s national memory.
If you would like to support this project, please enter the following payment reference dla projektu portrety bohaterów
Many volunteers return from the war for different reasons. Some remain in Ukraine, but most cannot return to their homeland for understandable reasons. They therefore travel to the countries where they had previously been forced to flee from the repression of the Lukashenka regime, mainly Poland and Lithuania. Today, a significant number of former volunteers are returning to Poland and already face problems with social reintegration. Housing is the first issue: immediately after arrival, many have nowhere to stay.
Helping to solve this problem is a task within our means and our moral duty.
The Housing for Veterans project provides short-term hostel accommodation for veterans and their family members for no longer than one calendar month.
It is difficult to calculate the total number of beds needed over the full duration of the project. Our goal is to provide overnight accommodation to at least 20 veterans and members of their families during the year.
The expected stay for one person will range from one day (24 hours) to one calendar month (30 days), depending on the individual situation.
After every successful case of providing a bed, room and hostel placement, the participant will be invited to complete a survey. It will help identify the need for other individual support, accommodation-related needs, and suggestions for improving the project.
Monthly rate: many hostels offer discounts for a month-long booking. The fixed cost is approximately PLN 750–900 per bed.
Nightly rate: at an average of PLN 50–70 per night, 30 days would cost from PLN 1,500 to PLN 2,100 or more.
Conditions: utilities and basic amenities such as Wi‑Fi, a shared kitchen and a shower are normally included. Laundry or a private room may cost extra.
A 30-day hostel stay for one person in Warsaw costs an average of PLN 750–1,500 — approximately EUR 175–350 or USD 180–380 — when a bed in a shared room is rented on a long-term basis.
The estimated hostel accommodation budget is €7,000.
20 — the number of people supported during the year;
€350 — the average monthly hostel accommodation cost;
20 people × €350 average monthly accommodation cost = €7,000
In Warsaw, a basic kit — a toothbrush, toothpaste, bar or liquid soap, shampoo and a small terry towel — costs approximately PLN 25–45 when budget options are purchased in supermarkets. This is about €5.50–10.
20 — the number of people supported during the year;
€10 — the average cost of a basic personal hygiene kit;
20 × €10 = €200
Related project expenses — administration, accounting, bank account fees and unforeseen expenses — €300.
€7,000 + €200 + €300 = €7,500
The estimated total project budget is €7,500.
If you would like to support this project, please use the following transfer reference na mieszkania dla weteranów
Christmas and the winter holidays are a time when warmth, attention and the feeling that caring people are nearby matter especially much.
For the children of Belarusian volunteers, veterans and fallen heroes, the holiday can carry particular meaning. In some families, the war has changed everyday life, taken loved ones away, separated families or brought hardships that cannot simply be left in the past.
The Christmas Gifts project organises and purchases Christmas presents for the children of Belarusian volunteers, veterans and fallen heroes.
But this project is not simply about gifts. It is about attention, remembrance and care. It is about the people who remain close, who remember and who have not forgotten the families and children of heroes.
We want children to know and feel during the holidays that they are remembered; that their parents’ courage, lives and fate have not gone unnoticed; and that people are willing to give them warmth, joy and faith in kindness.
Children need to believe in wonder, look forward to a celebration, and receive joy and attention.
Even a small gift can become more than an object: it can remind a child that they are not alone, that their family has not been forgotten, and that the memory of heroes lives not only in words and commemorative dates but also in human care.
The fundraiser is an annual charitable initiative. The number of children who receive gifts and the value of those gifts will depend on the amount raised in each Christmas campaign.
The planned fundraising target is: €5,000
The project will nevertheless be carried out with any amount raised. The funds available will determine how many gifts and how much holiday support we can provide.
If the amount raised is below the target, gifts will be organised within the available means. If more is raised, the project will be able to reach more children or offer broader individual support.
Gifts will be selected according to each child’s age, individual interests and needs, and the family’s particular circumstances. Depending on the project’s resources, they may include toys, books, creative materials, educational or sports items, or other gifts that bring both joy and benefit.
The project’s central task is to bring the holiday into homes that particularly need attention and support: to every family and every child waiting for a little wonder.
The first stage gathers information about families and children who may participate and estimates the possible number of recipients in light of the funds raised.
It also includes organising purchases, communicating with families and preparing the information needed to select gifts thoughtfully and with regard to each child’s circumstances.
The goal is not merely to buy identical presents, but, wherever possible, to make them personal and appropriate to the children’s ages, interests and needs.
Every family and child is in a different situation. Gifts will therefore be selected as individually as the organisation of the project and the funds raised allow.
The selection may take into account:
Once the project’s resources and the number of children are known, the Christmas gifts will be purchased.
Funds will be directed primarily to gifts for children. Where necessary, a small part may cover costs directly connected with delivery, packaging, shipping or postal services, so that gifts can reach children and families in different cities and countries.
No budget is planned for project management. This is a principled and ethical position: we want the greatest possible share of the money raised to go directly towards creating a holiday for children.
After delivery, the project’s results will be recorded. Where possible, and with respect for families’ boundaries and confidentiality, feedback may be collected.
This will help assess the initiative, understand whether gifts matched children’s expectations and needs, and apply the experience to future Christmas campaigns.
The principal result is not the number of items purchased. It is a child’s smile, a sense of celebration, faith in kindness, and the knowledge that people remember.
The number of children reached depends directly on the amount raised. The fundraising target is: €5,000
Reaching the full target is not a condition for carrying out the project. All money raised will be used to organise gifts and holiday support within the project’s means.
The more we raise, the more children we can reach and the more scope there will be for an individual approach. Gifts will be selected with regard to each child’s circumstances, age, interests and needs.
Where necessary, part of the funds may cover minimal costs directly related to delivery, including:
These costs are necessary to ensure that support and holiday attention reach children directly.
No project management or administration costs are planned. For ethical reasons, the initiative will be organised without a separate management budget so that the greatest possible share of the funds goes directly to children and their holiday.
The fundraising target is: €5,000
Christmas Gifts is not merely a collection for buying things. It is an opportunity to tell families and children: We remember. We are here. You are not forgotten.
May the holiday come into every home, bringing warmth and joy to every family, and may every child feel wonder, kindness and care, even if only for a moment.
The memory of heroes continues in the way we care for those they loved most.
If you would like to support the project in another suitable way, please contact us at belarusveterans@gmail.com
If you would like to support this project, please enter the following payment reference dla projektu prezentów świątecznych
