Veteran and Faculty of Land Management student Ruslan Topchan represents Ukraine’s human dimension at Recovery Conference in Rome
Veteran and Faculty of Land Management student Ruslan Topchan represents Ukraine’s human dimension at Recovery Conference in Rome
July 16, 2025
On July 10-11, 2025, the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025) was held in Rome — the fourth high-level international event aimed at mobilizing and strengthening global support for Ukraine’s recovery in the wake of Russian aggression.
One of the voices representing the human dimension of recovery was Ruslan TOPCHAN, a master’s student in Geodesy and Land Management at the Faculty of Land Management, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP). Ruslan is a veteran of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who sustained serious injuries in December 2022. Despite this, he never lost faith in his own strength or in Ukraine’s future.
Today, Ruslan is one of the prominent advocates of Ukraine’s modern veteran policy. His mission in Rome was to convey a vital message to the international community: the full inclusion of veterans in society and the modern economy is essential to sustainable recovery.
At URC2025, Ruslan spoke at the thematic session «A Human-Centred Recovery: Why Disability Inclusion Matters». In his address, he underscored the urgent need for systemic solutions to support the medical, psychological, and professional rehabilitation of veterans. He emphasized that inclusion is not a separate issue, but a fundamental pillar of Ukraine’s national recovery.
During the conference, Ruslan also held a number of important meetings, including with Member of the European Parliament Lukas SIEPER.
Also participating in URC2025 was Professor Andrii MARTYN, Head of the Department of Land Management Planning at NUBiP, who has been actively involved in shaping the agricultural agenda of Ukraine Recovery Conferences in Rome, Berlin, London, and Lugano.
This year in Rome, governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society joined forces to reaffirm their commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” The voice of Ruslan TOPCHAN served as a powerful reminder: recovery is not just about rebuilding infrastructure — it’s about restoring lives, dignity, and hope.
The Faculty of Land Management proudly congratulates its student-veteran Ruslan TOPCHAN on his significant contribution to international dialogue and reaffirms its commitment to being an open platform for those who strive to bring Ukraine closer to victory and sustainable development through knowledge and dedicated service.
Taras IEVSIUKOV,
Dean of the Faculty of Land Management
