On 4 February 2026, the Counsellor of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Sweden Serhiy Polovynko paid a working visit to Gothenburg, where he met with Ukrainian women temporarily residing in Sweden who are currently participating in the vocational training program S.T.A.R. (Strengthening Transnational Automotive Resilience).
The program is supported by the Swedish company V94 AB and funded by the Swedish Institute’s Baltic Sea Neighborhood Program. Within the framework of this initiative, 16 Ukrainian women began a nearly one-month training course in January-February aimed at qualifying them as Service Advisors, a profession in high demand in Ukraine’s automotive sector.
The primary objective of the program is to provide Ukrainian women displaced by the war with practical skills and professional qualifications, while creating clear and sustainable pathways to employment, particularly upon their return to Ukraine.
During the meeting, the Counsellor expressed sincere gratitude to the management of V94 AB for their strong commitment and tangible support to Ukrainians abroad in acquiring new professional skills. He highlighted the company’s collaborative efforts to develop sustainable crisis-response models, designed to support Ukrainian women both during their temporary displacement and upon their eventual return to Ukraine, thereby contributing to the country’s long-term reconstruction and economic resilience.
Addressing the participants, S.Polovynko emphasized that their decision to engage in reskilling and professional development is an important step toward securing a stable future for themselves and their children. He underscored that such training programs play a vital role in shaping lives and strengthening self-reliance, noting that the knowledge, experience, and inner strength gained during the program will be of significant value for Ukraine after their return home.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Sweden highly appreciates Sweden’s continued support for initiatives aimed at empowering Ukrainians affected by Russia’s war of aggression and fostering Ukraine’s recovery and resilience.