About us
Ukrainische Kameraden is a non-profit organization of veterans and volunteers founded in Hamburg to support Ukrainian veterans, military service members, their families, and the Ukrainian community in Germany.
The organization brings together people who understand from personal experience the challenges veterans face when returning to civilian life, undergoing medical treatment, or staying abroad. We help them find the support they need, build new social connections, integrate into the local community, and feel that they are not alone in facing their difficulties.
The main areas of our work include psychological and social support for veterans, cultural and educational activities, the organization of rehabilitation programs, assistance in dealing with government authorities and public institutions, as well as the development and strengthening of the Ukrainian veteran community in Germany.
Our organization works according to the principle “Kameraden to Kameraden” – peer-to-peer support, where veterans help veterans, people with similar experiences support one another, and mutual trust becomes the foundation for recovery and new opportunities.
Our History
The history of Ukrainische Kameraden began long before the organization was officially registered. Since 2014, its future founders had been actively involved in volunteer work, supporting Ukrainian military service members receiving medical treatment in Germany, helping veterans and their families, and organizing humanitarian aid and cultural events.
In 2026, these many years of experience came together in an officially registered organization. Ukrainische Kameraden was founded by Ukrainian veterans and volunteers who understand the needs of military service members not only from a professional perspective, but also through their own personal experience.
Supporting veterans became the organization’s central mission, as returning to civilian life often requires not only medical or material assistance, but also human understanding, trust, and a sense of community.
This is how our core principle – K2K (Kameraden to Kameraden) – was born. It means that the best support can often come from someone who has walked a similar path.
Veterans help veterans, support one another, share their experiences, and overcome challenges together. This principle forms the foundation of all projects and activities of Ukrainische Kameraden.
Our Mission
Together, we are building a strong veteran community.
Our mission is to help Ukrainian veterans, wounded defenders, former prisoners of war, and their families find support, stability, and new opportunities for life in Germany.
We want every veteran to feel part of a community and to have access to essential information, social and psychological support, as well as opportunities for rehabilitation, education, and integration. We believe that no defender should have to face their challenges alone. That is why we are building an environment based on mutual support, trust, and respect.
Andriy Melnikov
2002-2018 served in the Criminal Enforcement Service of Ukraine.
2020-2022 served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine military unit A0989 ground forces
2022-2024 was in captivity in the Russian Federation Volgograd region. Kamysheno, Vladimir region. Kavriv, Kursk, Mordovia, Rostov region. Kamyansk Podolsk
2024- military unit A0989
Anton Chervonenko
Veteran of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Former law enforcement officer with 14 years of experience in operational units. Specialist in credibility assessment and polygraph examinations. Member of the Ukrainian Association of Polygraph Examiners (VAP). Detective working across various fields and sectors.
Artem Richard
Participant in combat operations in Ukraine from 2014 to 2024 and a military instructor with practical combat experience. Specializes in tactical training and the instruction of military personnel. Served in the International Volunteer Corps, participated in combat missions, and trained military personnel for the conditions of modern warfare.
Taisia Kuklinska
She came to Germany in January 2023. She has a background in education and psychology. She began her volunteer work as a psychologist. Since 2020, she has supported civilians in adapting to life after being forced to leave the occupied regions.
In 2024, she joined volunteer activities in Hamburg, providing psychological support to wounded Ukrainian service members undergoing rehabilitation at a local hospital.
At the same time, she continued her volunteer work in Ukraine remotely, providing psychological support to the families of missing and fallen service members.
Chudnovskaya Iryna
She moved to Germany 22 years ago. She initially lived and worked in Erfurt before settling in Hamburg in 2008. She began her professional career at an architectural firm and has been working as a structural designer in a planning department for more than ten years. Her work involves creating three-dimensional digital models of load-bearing structures for buildings and other structures, combining engineering precision, responsibility, and modern technology.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, she became actively involved in volunteer work. In cooperation with volunteers in Ukraine, she organizes fundraising campaigns and helps provide Ukrainian service members with essential equipment, including drones and portable power stations.
Together with a volunteer from Ukraine, she launched the “Saboteur’s Backpack” project, which provides reconnaissance units with specially equipped backpacks and essential gear needed to carry out their missions.
Another important area of her work is supporting Ukrainian service members undergoing medical treatment in Hamburg. She has been involved in this work since 2015. Initially, her support included visiting wounded service members in hospitals and organizing excursions, walks, and trips to the seaside. Since 2022, the scope of this work has expanded significantly: she assists wounded service members with matters involving health insurance providers and the Jobcenter, arranges appointments with general practitioners and medical specialists, and provides language assistance during medical consultations.
Together with other volunteers, she strives not only to help with practical matters but also to provide emotional and personal support. Birthday celebrations and other important occasions are organized for service members, creating an atmosphere of care, human warmth, and a sense of home even when they are far away from Ukraine.
Yulia Gubina
Yuliia Hubina is a qualified history teacher. Since 2019, she has worked with military personnel as part of a patriotic education project for children in Ukraine.
She arrived in Hamburg on April 25, 2022. Since January 2023, she has been involved with “Feine Ukraine” in the “Support for the Wounded” project.
She organized events and fundraising campaigns.
She is one of the founders of “Ukrainische Kameraden”, an association of volunteers and combat veterans.
Within the organization, she is responsible for administrative and organizational work.
Samoilenko Olena
Community activist and volunteer with many years of experience supporting Ukrainian service members, wounded soldiers, and people affected by the war. She organizes assistance, provides social support, and communicates with medical institutions in Germany.
Since 2014, she has participated in a support program for wounded members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were evacuated to the Bundeswehr Hospital in Hamburg for medical treatment.
Since March 2022, with the support of Verein der deutsch-ukrainischen Zusammenarbeit e.V., she has been helping to locate and provide assistance to severely wounded Ukrainian service members evacuated for treatment to various hospitals in Hamburg.
Since 2023, her volunteer activities have developed into professional work. She began working at Verein der deutsch-ukrainischen Zusammenarbeit e.V. as part of the “Social Counselling” project. She dedicates all of her free time to the “Ukrainische Kameraden” project. Her work includes counselling veterans, arranging appointments, assisting with correspondence, and accompanying veterans to public authorities and medical institutions.
Our Values
Mutual Support
We support one another during difficult times and share our experiences. Together, it is easier to overcome challenges, recover, and move forward.
Trust
Openness, honesty, and mutual respect are the foundation of our community. We create a space where everyone can feel safe and understood.
Respect
We value each person’s life journey, experience, dignity, and contribution to the defence of Ukraine. Everyone deserves understanding, attention, and support.
Unity
We are united by shared experiences, responsibility, and a desire to help. Together, we are building a strong Ukrainian veteran community that stands by its members regardless of the circumstances.
K2K — Kameraden to Kameraden
Comrade to Comrade
The K2K (Kameraden to Kameraden) principle is at the heart of Ukrainische Kameraden. We believe that the best support can often come from someone who has walked a similar path and understands from personal experience the challenges of military service, injury, captivity, medical treatment, or adapting to civilian life.
That is why our community is built on the principle of “peer-to-peer support.” Veterans support veterans, share their own experiences, help find answers to practical questions, restore self-confidence, and provide the reassurance that there are people nearby who truly understand.
For example, Andrii Melnykov spent two years in Russian captivity. Today, he supports the families of missing persons and prisoners of war.
K2K is more than just a way of working. It is a culture of mutual support, trust, and comradeship that helps people not only overcome difficulties, but also discover new opportunities, build strong social connections, and together create a strong Ukrainian veteran community in Germany.
