The 2024 Cipher Brief Kyiv Economic & Security Forum took place

On April 5th, 2024, The 2024 Cipher Brief Kyiv Economic & Security Forum took place in Kyiv. This conference brought together businessmen and security experts from the United States, representatives of the Ukrainian government, non-governmental organizations and businesses, aiming to strengthen security and stability in Ukraine.

The veteran block, titled «A Reminder of What Ukraine is Sacrificing for its Freedom», moderated by the Founder of the «Pislya Sluzhby» (After Service) Foundation, Edward Marshall, was focused on the current and future challenges faced by veterans.

Guests: Colonel Roman Kostenko, the Ukrainian Parliament member and Donetsk airport “kiborg”, an active-duty military serviceman, the Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Natalia Yemchenko, «Hearts of Azovstal» Supervisory board member, Yulia Payevska, legendary Taira, Ukrainian military servicewoman, paramedic, and volunteer, and Yulia Goncharova the «Pislya Sluzhby» Director.

Our Foundation and the «Heart of Azovstal» charitable project invited veterans, our “cases”.

Natalia Yemchenko spoke on the comprehensive assistance provided by «Heart of Azovstal» to defenders of the garrison «Mariupol».

In her speech Taira voiced the narrative that «people in Europe and America are tired of our war», adding: «You should understand, when we end, the torturers of Donetsk will come to your cities, and you won't like it. To prevent this, we pay with our blood, and you can help us with money and weapons».

Yulia Goncharova spoke about the main activities of the «Pislya Sluzhby» Foundation, emphasizing that the personal mission of all members of our team is to ensure that no defender returning from service or going into service fears being left alone with their problems after injury or in case of an accident affecting family members.

This sentiment was echoed by Roman Kostenko, who added: «Society must understand that 20-year-old veterans, who return from this war, completely burned inside. They were heroes in the war but do not know how to live further».

Yulia and Roman jointly expressed the need to educate our society to meet the huge number of veterans awaiting us. They emphasized the importance of teaching society to communicate rather than forcing veterans and defenders to adapt to society.

Summarizing the veteran block, Edward Marshall expressed an important thought: «If we do not invest in helping veterans, then we will win war, but we will lose peace».

We sincerely thank all participants, speakers, and organizers for creating a platform for dialogue and cooperation! Special thanks to the speakers of the veteran block for highlighting the issues facing veterans. May our joint work contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in Ukraine.