In mid-October, a rehabilitation hospital in the Central region of Ukraine was granted the status of Center for the reintegration of servicemen released from captivity. An interagency working group evaluated its work and necessary improvements during a visit.

The facility started working with servicemen released from captivity in late August this year. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Defence recently presented the concept of the Center's services to representatives of the Office of the President and the Government. The Center will provide comprehensive medical, rehabilitation and psychological assistance and reintegration measures. 

The officials also talked to the Center's staff and servicemen who are undergoing reintegration activities there. Their feedback and suggestions will form the basis for amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine №296 from March 15, 2024 on reintegration measures that are already being prepared by the Ministry of Defence.

“We have to clearly define the entire path of a serviceman after his release from captivity - from the first medical examination to a full course of rehabilitation at the Center and further psychological recovery, including after discharge from military service. We are currently working on creating a targeted model with specific timelines and a sequence of all necessary measures for medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological assistance”, emphasized Oksana Sukhorukova, head of the Department of Health Protection of the Ministry of Defence.

According to her, the updated resolution will help structure the reintegration process and provide servicemen who have returned from captivity with full access to all necessary medical, rehabilitation and psychological services in one place.

The Center has already established basic conditions for medical, psychological assistance and rehabilitation, and the Central Department of Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is providing reintegration activities. Civilian healthcare facilities are also involved in providing the necessary medical examinations and assistance.