On 24 February, as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, Mehad continues its commitment to the victims of the conflict. In its rehabilitation centres in Vinnytsia, the NGO provides comprehensive care for war wounded, including physical rehabilitation, psychological support and social assistance.
Mehad mobilises its expertise in war medicine in Ukraine
Present since the beginning of the conflict, Mehad draws on its experience in war medicine acquired in Syria over more than 12 years to respond to needs in Ukraine. In 2022, the NGO launched training programmes for local healthcare professionals, particularly in advanced first aid, pain management, emergency ultrasound and protection against chemical weapons.
In three years, over 5,200 healthcare professionals have been trained across the country.
Rehabilitation of war wounded: comprehensive care in Vinnytsia
Today, Mehad focuses its efforts on rehabilitating war victims. At its two rehabilitation centres in Vinnytsia, patients receive comprehensive support to regain their independence and better cope with the aftermath of the conflict. To discover one of these centres, you can also watch our guided video tour.
The service includes:
– physical rehabilitation and physiotherapy,
– psychological support,
– social support,
– guidance on prostheses and assistive devices.
The teams also use innovative approaches, such as mirror therapy, particularly to relieve phantom limb syndrome in amputee patients.
War in Ukraine: immense health needs, particularly in physiotherapy
The Ukrainian healthcare system remains mobilised, but faces major difficulties in treating war wounded. The shortage of physiotherapists is particularly critical: Ukraine has 0.68 physiotherapists per 10,000 inhabitants, compared with 24 per 10,000 in Germany.
In this context, strengthening local capacities and training healthcare workers remain essential.
Rehabilitation journeys marked by war
In Vinnytsia, Mehad teams support patients who have been through particularly difficult experiences.
Tetyana, originally from Izium in the Kharkiv region. While collecting wood, she stepped on a mine placed near her home. She lost her right leg. Treated at our war wounded rehabilitation centre in Vinnytsia, she received a prosthesis and began a rehabilitation programme with Mehad physiotherapists. After a recent stroke, she is now back at the centre for a new phase of rehabilitation.
“When I arrived here, I couldn’t move my arm or lift objects normally,” says Oleksandr, one of the patients treated by Mehad’s teams, who was injured by a missile strike. “The therapists did everything they could to get my arm working normally again fairly quickly,” he explains, “including massages, electrical stimulation and various physical activities, such as stretching my arm. Larysa, the psychologist, also helped me to free myself from all my negative thoughts, and the social worker came immediately when I was admitted to the rehabilitation centre .”
Mehad’s key figures in Ukraine in 2025
In 2025, Mehad’s teams ensured:
– over 33,000 physiotherapy sessions,
– 3,700 individual psychosocial support sessions,
– 123 group sessions.
These figures illustrate the scale of rehabilitation and mental health needs in Ukraine, as well as Mehad’s ongoing commitment in the field.
Mental health and training: Mehad’s priorities
Moving forward, Mehad wishes to continue and strengthen its programmes in Ukraine, with two priorities:
– mental health, to better respond to psychological trauma related to war;
– physiotherapy training, to strengthen local skills in the long term.
By accompanying patients and supporting caregivers, Mehad is working long-term to provide a medical and humanitarian response tailored to the consequences of war.
