Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many thousands of civilians and veterans have lost limbs to missile and drone attacks, landmines and artillery. One human rights organization has estimated that there are now between 20,000 and 50,000 war amputees in Ukraine. This surge in amputation cases has led to a rapidly expanding demand for physical rehabilitation and prosthetics, as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and social reintegration services for those affected.
In our responses to conflict, disaster and disease around the world, International Medical Corps prioritizes working with local organizations and partners to ensure that our work is tailored to the population’s unique needs and that it supports their sustainable recovery. So, collaborating with the Superhumans Center—an organization established in Lviv to provide free services for adults and children injured in the war—was a natural choice.
In less than a year, our partnership with the Superhumans Center has enabled us to reach 1,184 injured Ukrainians and their families with crucial integrated medical and MHPSS services, as well as livelihoods and career support, helping them regain their independence and confidence after devastating injuries.
Supporting Valentyna After a Life-changing Amputation
When her home in Donestska oblast was shelled in the fighting, Valentyna barely escaped with her life. She crawled out of the rubble with injuries so severe that her left leg had to be amputated below the knee.
With her home destroyed and her life irreparably altered, Valentyna and her daughter traveled west to Lviv and settled in a modular town constructed to house internally displaced persons (IDPs) like them. Life there was difficult. In addition to the struggles of adjusting to her new disability and surroundings, Valentyna soon faced another challenge: her medical documentation misclassified her leg amputation as a general illness rather than a war-related injury. As a result, she was not eligible for an increased pension—money that she desperately needed to help rebuild her life.
As part of our partnership with the Superhumans Center, International Medical Corps has provided hundreds of consultations with social workers for people who had been injured in the conflict. Some of these people needed assistance reintegrating into their communities—while many others, like Valentyna, needed help navigating the complex bureaucracy of medical documentation and benefits claims.
Valentyna heard about these free consultations and began attending regularly. The social worker swiftly arranged legal consultations and supported her at all stages of the process—from collaborating with her lawyers, to developing an action plan for submitting documentation-change requests to the relevant ministries.
Six months later, thanks to the social worker’s assistance, Valentyna’s medical records were updated, and she received the war-related injury certificate that made her eligible for the increased pension. She and her daughter were relieved—this represented a big step forward and a new sense of hope for their futures.
Empowering Serhii and Anna to Open their Dream Coffee Shop
Serhii was serving on the frontline when he lost both his arms in a bomb blast. Though the injury was devastating to him and his family, they decided to see the end of his military career as an opportunity for a new beginning. He and his wife decided to pursue a long-held dream: to open a family-run coffee shop in the heart of Lviv, serving their local community and spending more time together as a family with their young son.
There was just one problem. They had never started a business before.
International Medical Corps had established an entrepreneurship program designed to give people like Serhii the information they needed. Featuring skills-building sessions, advice for grant applications and ongoing mentorship opportunities, the course aimed to give amputees the best chance of success in funding and running their businesses.
For Serhii and Anna, the course was a game-changer. Throughout the program, they developed their business proposal and financial modeling, getting support from the course leaders to write their grant applications. The efforts were a huge success: the couple secured a grant of 300,000 UAH through the Lviv Veteran Business Support Program and an additional 250,000 UAH for business development.
With their new expertise and funding secured, the family renovated a café space on Staroievreiska Street, in the center of Lviv. Today, the bustling café is doing well.
Helping Volodymyr Find Healing Through Theatre
Many of the veterans returning from the front lines don’t just suffer from physical injuries but are experiencing mental health conditions, too. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and sleep issues are all too common for those returning from the fighting. Because the impact on veterans and their families can be profound, mental health support is essential to reduce risks of substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide.
In partnership with the Superhumans Center, International Medical Corps established a Peer to Peer program to help veterans build supportive communities and reintegrate with society. One enthusiastic participant in the program was Volodymyr—an actor and animator known by his creative moniker “The Musician.” Volodymyr was injured while serving on the frontline and turned to his art and creative expression to process his horrifying experiences. Back home, he realized he wanted to help other veterans do the same.
During the Peer to Peer program, Volodymyr undertook training in psychosocial support and project management, and met with a career advisor to explore his options. With the assistance of the course and his advisor, he established the Veteran Theater acting course at the Bit Theater Studio in Kyiv.
Volodymyr hopes the course will help other veterans like himself develop creative skills and mutually support each other as they express their feelings through art—just as art helped him.
A Brighter Future for War-wounded Ukrainians
Our partnership with the Superhumans Center has helped more than 1,000 people with life-changing injuries. But our work isn’t over. As the war in Ukraine rages on, we are continuing to support communities and healthcare infrastructure in the hardest-hit parts of the country.
International Medical Corps’ crucial work in Ukraine is possible thanks to the support of our generous donors. To help us continue supporting Ukrainians—and other crisis-affected people around the world—please donate to International Medical Corps today.