Visa and partners opened barrier-free rehabilitation units for war-affected Ukrainians in Kropyvnytskyi and Khotyn

Visa, Oschadbank, the “Barrier-Free” NGO, and the “Mindy” charity fund opened two new mobile rehabilitation units that aid veterans, their families and civilians affected by the full-scale war.

The first unit opened its doors in Kropyvnytskyi on December 16, 2024, and the second one was launched in Khotyn, Chernivtsi region, on March 5, 2025.

Completely barrier-free (inclusive) units with an area of 72 sq. m are equipped with high-quality modern appliances. Unit specialists will provide patients with comprehensive rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, social integration and psychological support. This includes gait training on prostheses and prosthetics support, as well as occupational and speech therapy. Patients will also have access to legal support, employment, training, retraining and other social services. Thus, both units bring these services closer to the places of residence of those who need them.

“We continue to expand the network of mobile rehabilitation units, as we see a great need for affordable and high-quality healthcare services. In 2025, we plan to open units in new Ukrainian communities, where they will become part of a unified system of rehabilitation, which we are developing together with businesses, the public sector and the state,” said Taras Yermakov, founder of the Mindy fund.

The unit in Khotyn, in particular, marks the fourth launch within the social franchise implemented by the “Mindy” charity fund with the support of Visa and Oschadbank. The franchise aims to create conditions for rehabilitation and provide high-quality psychological assistance to Ukrainians where these services are absent, logistically complicated or of insufficient quality.

The project is realized in cooperation with the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the “Barrier-Free” NGO within the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?" which is being implemented at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska, as well as members of the “Business Without Barriers” community, Visa and Oschadbank.

“Today we know for sure the value of partnership, common beliefs and movement in the same direction. The puzzle only becomes a picture when all the pieces come together: an idea born from the “Mindy” fund, resources provided by the members of the “Business without Barriers” community, Oschadbank and Visa, united around the initiative of the first lady Olena Zelenska. And there are also the region and local authorities, which serve as a bridge to the community and fill the walls of the units with life and services. Only through close cooperation and joint work can we take care of those who are fighting for our future today and together go through great social transformations,” commented Olha Horbaniova, an expert of the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The format of a social franchise also involves the work of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, which makes the rehabilitation process as effective as possible. The functioning of the rehabilitation unit will be ensured by a case manager, a psychologist, a doctor of physical and rehabilitation medicine, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and specialists from other fields.

“The rehabilitation of veterans is an important task, the solution of which requires the maximum involvement of all stakeholders. Currently, the number of defenders who have already come back from the frontlines is relatively small, but sooner or later we will have a huge number of heroes returning from the war. By developing a network of mobile rehabilitation units, we are conducting a test drive of a solution for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian defenders in small communities. I have no doubt that such institutions in one form or another should be in all Ukrainian cities,” said Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, Serhii Naumov.

“The opening of the rehabilitation units in Khotyn and Kropyvnytskyi is another important step towards creating a society in Ukraine where everyone has access to the necessary assistance, regardless of their place of residence. Now residents of these regions can receive resources for physical and psychological recovery and return to a full life near their home. We are proud that together with our partners, for over a year, we have been supporting a project that builds an inclusive environment for veterans and war-affected individuals,” commented Tetiana Chorna, Visa Vice President, Country Manager for Ukraine.

The social franchise contains a full package of necessary documents and algorithms for interaction between the main stakeholders: the community, the state and donors. This simplifies the integration of the unit into the local healthcare system, the National Health Service of Ukraine’s medical guarantees program, and other state and local services. This approach significantly strengthens the system of secondary long-term rehabilitation after the main period of treatment in an outpatient format.

The first rehabilitation unit of the social franchise, supported by Visa and Oschadbank, opened in Ovruch, Zhytomyr region, in January 2024. The second one opened in Vasylkiv, Kyiv region, in October, and the third one opened in Kropyvnytskyi in December of the same year. Based on the feedback from Ovruch specialists and patients, medical and social spaces in Vasylkiv and Kropyvnytskyi were improved.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at visa.com.ua.

About Oshchadbank

Oshchadbank is the leading Ukrainian universal commercial bank, 100% of whose shares belong to the state. The bank has the largest network of branches and provides services to more than 6 million active customers, including individuals, SMEs, and the biggest private and state-owned Ukrainian companies.

About the “Mindy" charity fund

The “Mindy" charity fund was founded in 2022 with the aim of adapting veterans to civilian life. By the end of 2023, Mindy has provided more than 3,000 free sessions of psychosocial assistance and physical rehabilitation. Based on this experience, the team created a new social franchise project that provides much-needed free services in small towns in Ukraine.

About the “Barrier-Free” NGO

Center for coordination of expertise and promotion of barrier-free accessibility as a new social norm. The “Barrier-Free” NGO is an executive partner of the First Lady Olena Zelenska's initiative “Without Barriers”, aimed at creating equal opportunities for all Ukrainians, and the initiative to develop and implement the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program.