“I was wounded twice, but I am alive”: Yevhen, a 71-year-old from Vuhledar, undergoes physical and psychological rehabilitation from Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

Yevhen, a 71-year-old internally displaced person from Vuhledar, lives in the Kyiv region. In 2022, the man was injured twice in his hometown as a result of enemy shelling. He is still recovering. Yevhen Valentynovych has recently completed a physical and psychological rehabilitation course at a health resort in Zakarpattia provided by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. 

“Thank you for giving me the voucher. I have nothing; everything is burnt. I survived, although I was wounded twice, but I am alive. It hurts, but I can walk,” the man says.

Yevhen lived in the basement for nine months in the first year of the full-scale war. During two trips outside to get firewood, he was wounded. The second time was worse — he barely managed to crawl to the people and was saved that way. After being discharged from the hospital, he left the city. He found out about the help from the Foundation on the Internet. He applied and received a voucher. 

“The patient visited a mineral thermal pool, mud, balneological procedures, and a salt room. He underwent a rehabilitation course with a psychotherapist. His condition has improved, he is pleased,” says Natalia Vartsaba, a physician at the health resort. 

“When the war is over, recovery will begin. Both of my health and the country. We hope for the best,” says Yevhen Valentynovych.

Under the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Injured Adults programme, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation provides assistance to Ukrainian residents who suffered from hostile shelling of residential areas: treatment, rehabilitation, psychological help, etc.

Since 2014, the Foundation has provided treatment and rehabilitation assistance to more than 11,000 Ukrainians.

If you or someone you know needs help, please write to the Foundation's messenger (https://m.me/AkhmetovFDU) or call the toll-free hotline 0 800 509 001 (the line is open from Monday to Friday).