Ukrainian Action Heroes Veterans Program Supports Over 200 Participants
30 Mar 2026
Ukrainian Action Heroes rehabilitation program launched in 2024 to teach injured Ukrainian veterans to ski and provide psychological support
Ukrainian Action Heroes’ 2026 winter rehabilitation program hosted over 60 more participants in the Carpathian Mountains, over 200 since inception
Ukrainian Action Heroes offers adaptive skiing for veterans with amputations
POLYANYTSYA, Ukraine – March 30, 2026 – Ukrainian Action (UA) has concluded the 5th season of its pioneering, proprietary rehabilitation program, Ukrainian Action Heroes (UAH), providing instruction in skiing and psychological support tools to Ukrainian veterans and families.
Ukrainian Action Heroes rehabilitation program for Ukrainian veterans and families was launched in 2024, teaching veterans to ski in the serenity of the Carpathian Mountains while providing psychological support tools to overcome the mental traumas of war. The pioneering program is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary initiative designed to provide holistic support to veterans and their families, integrating psychological, physical, social, wellness and recreational components, all delivered in a secure environment. Since inception the program has organised 17 cohorts welcoming over 200 participants.
The 2026 winter program began in February and welcomed over 60 more participants in four small groups through March. The program operates at two ski areas in the Ukrainian Carpathians, and includes ski instruction, travel, room and board, daily access to experienced and qualified psychologists and other specialists providing group therapy, wellness, and mindfulness activities. The fourth group of the winter program provided adaptive ski instruction for eight veterans with amputations sustained during combat activities.
Most participants in the UAH program were civilians with no military experience prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several participants were held in Russian captivity.
Ukrainian Action co-founder and CEO, Jeffrey Hartman said “Our Ukrainian Action Heroes program has a real impact on veteran families that have been affected by this war. We provide them with opportunities to recover from the physical and psychological challenges to enable them to become positive contributors to Ukraine’s society and economy. I am grateful to our supporters for enabling this impactful program.”
Need for Rehabilitation for Veterans In Ukraine
Ukraine is facing a substantial and growing need for comprehensive rehabilitation services for military veterans and their families as the war continues.
There are currently approximately over 1.5 million veterans and veteran-status individuals in Ukraine, including many living with war-related disabilities.[i] In the longer term, the number of veterans and affected family members is expected to reach 5–6 million[ii]. This scale alone creates significant pressure on health, social and employment systems.[iii] The need for effective rehabilitation services for veterans and their families is supported by multiple official and independent statistics underscoring the scale of physical, psychological, and social challenges faced by those returning from active duty.
Many veterans return from service with complex physical injuries, including amputations and traumatic brain injury, alongside psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Survey data indicate that veterans anticipate or experience high levels of psycho-emotional instability (84%), substance misuse risks (79%), lack of understanding from society (76%), physical health problems and difficulties accessing medical care (75%), unemployment (73%), lack of inclusive workplaces (72%), and family conflict (71%) after returning from war. These figures reflect not isolated cases but widespread, systemic challenges.[iv]
The failure of veteran families to recover physically, psychologically and emotionally from the traumas of war can result in significant social and economic risks and costs to society. These impacts manifest through increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, family breakdown, and the transmission of trauma to children.[v] However, governmental system capacity remains limited, with shortages of specialised rehabilitation professionals and gaps in integrated service provision. [vi]
Effective recovery therefore requires structured, multidisciplinary rehabilitation that integrates psychological therapy with physical rehabilitation. Taken together, this evidence demonstrates a clear and urgent need for holistic rehabilitation programmes that address the psychological, physical, relational and social dimensions of recovery. Sustainable outcomes require integrated models that combine therapy, physical recovery, family engagement and peer support within a structured framework.
Ukrainian Action Heroes programme is designed precisely to respond to these needs. By integrating psychological rehabilitation, physical activity and adaptive sport, family involvement, mindfulness practices and structured peer support, the programme provides a focused and comprehensive pathway to stabilisation, resilience and reintegration. It addresses the practical barriers veterans face after service and supports measurable progress towards recovery and renewed participation in civilian life, which in turn contributes to the recovery and resilience of the Ukrainian society and economy.
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.
Ukrainian Action Heroes is a pioneering rehabilitation program welcoming injured Ukrainian veterans to the Carpathian Mountains to learn to ski, snowboard and participate in other outdoor mountain sports and activities, while receiving psychological support in the serenity of the mountains. The goal of the program is to help Ukraine’s heroes recover from the trauma of active warfare, provide tools to deal with PTSD, and introduce new activities in a place of refuge and solace. In March 2025, the program was expanded to offer adaptive skiing for veterans with amputations. Our winter and summer programs have supported over 200 participants since February 2024.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Hartman
[i] https://pism.pl/publications/veterans-are-changing-ukraine
[ii] https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/27/7457854/
[iii] https://news.liga.net/en/politics/news/after-the-war-there-will-be-about-5-6-million-veterans-and-their-families-in-ukraine-sviridenko
[iv] https://www.ratinggroup.ua/en/news/veteran-portrait-2025
[v] https://s31949.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/transition-from-war-veterans-with-post-combat-disorders-adjust-civilian-life.pdf
[vi] https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/events/2025/12/webinar-ulkraine/ukraine-veterans-2025-OksanaSyvak.pdf
