Ukrainian Action Heroes Supports More Veterans in Summer 2026 Rehabilitation Program
30 Jul 2026
Over 50 veterans and spouses participated in the 2026 Summer Ukrainian Action Heroes rehabilitation program in the Carpathian Mountains.
UA Heroes is led by veterans for veterans; program leaders are veteran families who previously graduated from the program, creating an environment of trust.
Ukrainian Action Heroes combines physical recreation, psychological support, and mindfulness practices to help participants overcome traumas of combat, captivity, and the challenges faced by families on the home front during wartime.
TRANSCARPATHIA, Ukraine – July 30, 2026 — Ukrainian Action has successfully concluded its 2026 Summer Ukrainian Action Heroes rehabilitation program, welcoming more than 50 participants across three groups to its pioneering, veteran-led rehabilitation initiative in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. The program has organised 20 groups and supported over 270 participants since launching in early 2024.
Ukrainian Action Heroes program provides a holistic approach to recovery for those whose lives have been profoundly affected by Russia's war against Ukraine. Participants included combat veterans and their spouses, recognising that recovery extends beyond the individual and that families play a vital role in long-term healing and resilience. The participants come from a diverse range of regions across Ukraine and various ranks of military service, including several who suffered in Russian captivity.
What makes the program unique is that it is coordinated on the ground by veterans and veteran family members who are themselves graduates of previous Ukrainian Action Heroes programs. Having experienced the challenges of military service, combat injuries, captivity, reintegration, and family recovery firsthand, they bring an unmatched understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of each participant. Their leadership creates an environment built on trust, empathy, and shared experience and understanding of the recovery journey to every participant.
“I’ve been to many rehabilitation programs, but this one is special because the wives are involved. I was worrying about her for over three years while I was at the front, but when my wife is here with me, I don’t have to worry about her. We can recover together,” said Denys, a veteran and participant from Volyn region of western Ukraine.
“This is such a fantastic, unique program, one of the few that cares for both veterans and their spouses. Real recovery is impossible without supporting both members of the family,” said Olena, one of the psychologists on the program.
The comprehensive program combines physical recreation, psychological support, and mindfulness-based activities designed to help participants process trauma, rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop practical tools for navigating civilian life after military service. It addresses the complex and often invisible wounds sustained during combat, while also supporting those who have endured captivity and the immense pressures experienced by families on the home front throughout the war.
"Our veterans have sacrificed enormously in defence of Ukraine," said Jeffrey Hartman, co-founder of Ukrainian Action. "Recovery is not a single event but an ongoing journey. By empowering former participants to lead the program, we have created a model where veterans support veterans through shared experience, understanding, and hope. One of the main strengths of this program lies in our community."
Since its inception, Ukrainian Action Heroes has continued to demonstrate that peer-led rehabilitation provides meaningful and lasting outcomes. As graduates return to mentor and support new participants, the program is building a growing network of resilient veterans and families committed to helping one another heal.
The completion of the 2026 Summer Program marks another significant milestone in Ukrainian Action's ongoing commitment to supporting those who have given so much in defence of Ukraine. As the needs of veterans continue to evolve, Ukrainian Action remains dedicated to expanding innovative, evidence-informed rehabilitation programs that restore wellbeing, strengthen families, and empower veterans to reclaim their futures.
About Ukrainian Action
Ukrainian Action is a volunteer-based, US non-profit and UK charity dedicated to supporting the survival and recovery of Ukraine by delivering emergency support, humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. Since 2022 the organisation has delivered critical supplies to front-line and liberated regions, with a special focus on supporting the psychological and physical recovery of war veterans.
UA regularly drives and donates vehicles filled with humanitarian and medical supplies to Ukraine and supports local reconstruction and healthcare projects. UA volunteers have Delivered over 500 vehicles to Ukraine since February 2022.
Media Contact
Jeffrey Hartman
