Tolerant Communication with War Veterans and Former Prisoners of War

On April 7, 2026, PhD students within the course “Inclusive Approaches in Education” (lecturer – Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor Olha Hurenko), attended a guest lecture delivered by PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Psychology and Speech Therapy, Alina Synytsia, on the topic “Tolerant Communication with War Veterans and Former Prisoners of War.”

Today, the issue of integrating war veterans who have experienced combat and captivity into civilian life is extremely relevant. It is important to understand the role each individual can play in creating a supportive and safe environment. Therefore, the lecture focused on how to provide support to veterans without violating their personal boundaries and without imposing one’s own views on assistance.

Particular attention was paid to practical recommendations for building dialogue with war veterans. The participants concluded that maintaining sensitivity and tact in communication is crucial. Even nonverbal behaviors, such as avoiding eye contact, ignoring, or, conversely, excessive staring, may cause discomfort, tension, and a sense of otherness. Thus, it is important to develop empathy and the ability to build interaction based on respect, equality, and acceptance as the foundation of a safe communicative environment.

At the end of the meeting, participants emphasized that the adaptation of military personnel to civilian life is an extremely important and responsible task that requires the attention of society as a whole. The formation of a culture of tolerant communication is one of the key factors in supporting veterans, while the creation of an atmosphere of trust, acceptance, and mutual respect largely depends on each of us.

Based on materials prepared by PhD students