A Tribute to Ukraine’s Defenders: HUT’s Core Mission
Thoughts from Amy Goodrich, HUT’s Program Director
I arrived in Kyiv around 11 pm, just hours after one of the deadliest attacks on the city since the start of the full-scale invasion, and the largest strike on the capital since last summer. It was a sobering reminder of the ongoing violence and the toll it continues to take on the country. The following morning, I wanted my first stop in Ukraine to be the Defender Memorial in Independence Square.
It’s hard to miss the memorial, what began as individuals quietly laying flags and photos has since evolved into a powerful national symbol of sacrifice, resilience, and collective mourning in the center of bustling Kyiv.
It looked different than the last time I visited in September 2024. That wasn’t surprising because since then, countless new flags had been added, each symbolizing a life lost in this devastating war. While the exact number of casualties is difficult to confirm, in February 2025, President Zelenskyy updated the official military casualty count to over 46,000 killed and 380,000 wounded. That number does not include the foreign fighters who have joined Ukrainian ranks.
Standing there, surrounded by the flags, photos, and flowers, the loss is palpable. Each of those defenders leaves behind a family who must carry the weight of this sacrifice. Each wounded soldier faces a long road to recovery, both physically and emotionally.
I laid flowers at the memorial, focusing on a small area where US flags are displayed, a tribute to American citizens who had come to Ukraine to join the fight and who perished on her soil.
I found myself returning to the memorial nearly every day I was in Kyiv. One day, I left an American flag for an old Army friend whose cousin was killed here in July 2023. Another day, I placed a hand-knitted token made by supporters back in the US. Most days, I simply stood quietly, reading the names, studying the faces, and reminding myself that after three years of war and unimaginable loss, Ukraine is still fighting.
While in Ukraine, the HUT team was focused on fulfilling our core mission: building the capacity of Ukrainian mental health providers to support veterans and their families in healing from the psychological wounds of war. In addition to advancing our training program, we honored Ukraine’s military community in other ways, like leading a discussion at Veteran Hub on innovative approaches to veteran care, including Group KAP, and visiting Lisova Polyana Rehabilitation Center, a key facility providing critical support to wounded soldiers on their path to recovery and reintegration.
As we continue to support veterans and their families, I am reminded of the vital role we all play in honoring their sacrifice.
If you want to support HUT’s work in healing veterans and their families, click here.
