Vital rehabilitation support from HI in rural Ukraine
Thanks to HI's vital rehabilitation support, Volodymyr, a 72-year-old stroke survivor from the remote village of Huty in the East of Ukraine, has regained his mobility and independence.
Volodymyr, 72, suffered a stroke in 2022 and is being supported by HI rehabilitation specialists in the Kharkiv region of the East of Ukraine. | © H. Kostenko / HI 2025
A stroke in the midst of war
In March 2022, one month after the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr suffered a stroke. Paralyzed and unable to lift one arm, he had to relearn everything.
“At first, he could only lie down,” recalls his wife, Kateryna.
The couple, originally from Kharkiv, was living in Huty at the time, a small village in the Kharkiv region, where they had temporarily settled to take care of Volodymyr’s mother, who was also paralyzed. The war kept them there, far from their home and their children.
An HI mobile team in the heart of the countryside
It was a local doctor who referred them to HI. From the beginning of 2025, a mobile team of physiotherapists began visiting Volodymyr twice a week to initiate his rehabilitation.
“They brought balls, handrails… He stretched like a ballerina! Thanks to the physical exercises, he started to reclaim his body, step by step,” smiles Kateryna.
The courage of a man, supported by a dedicated team
But beyond the sessions, it is Volodymyr’s determination that leaves a lasting impression.
“The doctors told us: if he doesn’t train by himself, no one will be able to help him,” Kateryna remembers.
Every day, he massages himself, repeats movements, perseveres. Until the day, just forty days after his stroke, he stands up without assistance.
“I told him: Are you crazy? He replied: No, I can stand. Give me a cane.”
A journey toautonomy
Today, Volodymyr chops wood, feeds the dogs, carries water.
“Life in the village keeps you busy,” he says with a calm smile. His physiotherapist, Oleksii, is impressed by his progress:
“He was afraid of falling. Now, he walks with his tripod cane, gets in and out of bed on his own, and uses a wheelchair independently.”
Kateryna never imagined living in a rural village. Yet, despite the war and being far from their children, it is here that they have found balance. A kind of peace.
“Without the HI specialists, I don’t know what we would have done,” she admits. “They literally got him back on his feet.”
A vital need, across ukraine
Even before the war, nearly half of Ukrainians were in need of rehabilitation services. Today, with injuries directly related to the conflict, this need has become even more urgent — even as access to care remains limited, especially in rural areas.
It is to respond to this emergency that HI deploys its mobile teams, with support from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
