An important event took place on 18 February 2025 at SumDU. It brought together representatives of the government, international partners and local NGOs. Also, the veteran community joined.

The new innovative rehabilitation space, which was set up on the basis of the University Clinic, was inspected by Federica DISPENZA (UNDP Ukraine project manager) and Volodymyr ARTIUKH (head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration Department) together with Vasyl KARPUSHA (rector of SumDU).

The SumDU ReHub will provide a wide range of physical therapy and rehabilitation services for military and civilians.

The main focus areas include rehabilitation of soldiers after combat injuries, rehabilitation of patients with neurological and orthopedic diseases, as well as therapeutic massages, physiotherapy, NEURAC, manual therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

A qualified team of physical therapists with practical experience in rehabilitation will work with patients, as well as the staff of the Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy. It will provide a scientific basis for program development.

The specialized equipment for the SumDU ReHub was purchased with assistance of the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine and financial support from the Dutch government.

Vasyl KARPUSHA thanked Federica DISPENZA for her assistance in equipping the ReHub with modern equipment, which cost about one million hryvnias.

“We are showing a successful case of the university partnership with international organizations to provide quality and modern services to the military. Our defenders will be able to undergo rehabilitation according to European standards of rehabilitation,” – the rector emphasized.

Volodymyr ARTIUKH noted the multifaceted activities of SumDU aimed at benefiting the community.

“SumDU provides not only development of science and a high-quality basis for students’ education. It also fulfills a social mission. As a budget-forming institution of Sumy, it actively helps the local community and the entire region, including our veterans. In 2023, the university opened the Veteran Development Center, where boys and girls learn how to help veterans and their families. We keep working in this direction by opening a center for physical therapy and sports medicine. This is an example of a comprehensive approach that combines provision of such important services as rehabilitation of defenders and practical training of future doctors,” – said Volodymyr ARTIUKH.

The participants exchanged views on physical rehabilitation programs and psychosocial support for female and male veterans implemented in Sumy region. They emphasized importance of a comprehensive approach to military rehabilitation.

In this context, the SumDU example, which provides a wide range of services to veterans, is again illustrative. Andriana KOSTENKO (professor, head of the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies) focused on the university’s inclusive educational policy, social, psychological, medical and rehabilitation assistance, training of specialists in social support for veterans, and support for military families in self-help groups.

The important meeting message was veterans are the most valuable part of society, helping Ukraine to survive the war and becoming the engine of its development in the postwar years.