The youth work sector in Ukraine is directly affected by the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Many youth workers have been displaced, forced to leave the country, or experiencing other forms of disruption to their professional activities and personal well-being. With the war, youth workers’ roles and responsibilities have expanded far beyond their usual scope to include providing humanitarian aid and psychological support and have allowed Ukrainian youth work practitioners to develop unique expertise that is being shared with their peers in other Council of Europe member states.

Against this backdrop, from 21 to 23 October 2025, in Strasbourg, the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine organised a study visit to the Council of Europe, for youth workers and representatives of youth centres from Ukraine who are providing youth work during war time.

Hanna Mazarska, Acting Head of the International Cooperation and Protocol Unit at the International Cooperation and European Integration Department of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, underlined that participants carry the experience of hundreds of young people who continue to volunteer, learn, and create, despite everything. "You are part of the democratic fabric of your communities. Through youth councils, centres, and local initiatives, you take responsibility, influence decisions, and shape the direction of change," added Mazarska.

Sophie Kwasny, Head of Education, Training and Co-operation Division in the Council of Europe Youth Department, stated that the recent Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in Malta, which saw participation from Matviy Bidnyi, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, as well as the Reykjavík Summit Declaration and the New Democratic Pact for Europe, all of which recognise the importance of youth perspectives in shaping Europe's democratic future, confirmed that the needs and aspirations of young people must be at the heart of policy development.

The study visit brought together 28 professional and volunteer youth work practitioners working with young people in Ukraine. The programme included an introduction to the Council of Europe and the Youth Department, as well as the most relevant developments in youth policy and integrating youth perspectives, notably the outcomes of the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth.

Youth workers visited the European Court of Human Rights and met with Mykola Gnatovskyy, the ECtHR judge elected in respect of Ukraine. They exchanged views with Council of Europe experts on protecting the rights of Ukrainian children, the Register of Damage for Ukraine, youth participation in local and regional life, and initiatives of the Sport Division.

They were introduced to the Council of Europe co-management system by Yevheniia Feodotova, a member of the Advisory Council on Youth, and explored opportunities within the European Youth Foundation (EYF). Youth workers also explored methods and approaches to youth work at European, national, and local levels.

The visit was organised within the Framework Programme on Cooperation in the Field of Youth Policy between the Council of Europe Youth Department and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, with a contribution from the Action Plan project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine". Thus far, the Framework Programme has focused on the following key areas:

• the situation of Ukrainian youth workers living inside and outside Ukraine.
• mental health challenges affecting young people in Ukraine
• strengthening the capacity of youth organisations to develop and implement youth projects and non-formal education activities inside Ukraine and with European networks.