A new course of "Kintsugi" art therapy has begun: we are restoring the internal
"Making the Return for Veterans Less Painful": Ukraine's First Abilitation Center Opens in Lviv
“Very often, after leaving rehabilitation or medical facilities, veterans and civilians return home and don’t know what to do next or how to move forward. This transition is extremely painful for them, and adapting to a new life takes a lot of effort,” says Anna Horkun, the project manager of the Abilitation Center. “We strive to mitigate this shock and support individuals at this challenging stage of life.”
The center, the first of its kind in Ukraine, has been operating in Lviv since March 2024. It features a barrier-free living space where veterans, women veterans, and civilians with war-related injuries can undergo socialization and adapt to life in new conditions. Qualified specialists—including psychologists, rehabilitators, and massage therapists—assist them in this process. Moreover, the center offers a variety of activities and events for its residents (as those undergoing abilitation are referred to).
Anna Horkun discussed the work and significance of the center in an interview with veteran.com.ua.
Abilitation Should Take Place Within the City
The idea for the Abilitation Center didn’t come out of nowhere. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Anna has been involved in creating shelters for internally displaced persons. One of her projects in this direction was the Safe Place shelter in Lviv. About a year and a half ago, she began receiving numerous requests from veterans asking for the creation of a living space for them.
“Veterans approached us asking about a place to stay. Over the years, Lviv has transformed into a rehabilitation hub, attracting many people seeking such services or medical care. However, hospital spaces are often insufficient. This led to the idea of creating an inclusive shelter for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, as such locations were and still are scarce in the city. This was how our center’s story began. We managed to secure funding for it from a foreign foundation,” Anna explains.
Anna and her team began searching for a location for the project. Initially, various premises in the suburbs of Lviv were proposed, but this contradicted the center’s main goal: the socialization, adaptation, and reintegration of veterans and civilians with injuries should occur within the city. According to Anna, it’s essential that residents can easily visit cafes, supermarkets, parks, or other places when stepping out of the center.
Two months later, the perfect space was found in Lviv’s central part. Today, the center is equipped with eight inclusive rooms for individuals after amputations and wheelchair users, accessible bathrooms, and an inclusive kitchen. The center also features lifts and ramps. Residents can participate in the abilitation process in an “outpatient” format, visiting from home, or in a “residential” format. Veterans and civilians are allowed to live at the center with their families, as the presence of loved ones speeds up recovery and socialization.
Abilitation as a Quest
The primary goal of abilitation is to acquire and practice new skills necessary for a smooth and non-traumatic reintegration of veterans into society, the community, and their families after injuries and rehabilitation. A standard course lasts three weeks, during which residents work with psychologists, massage therapists-rehabilitators, coaches, and other specialists. Both individual and group sessions are held, and various events are organized with external experts and speakers. Residents also have access to free activities such as swimming, jiu-jitsu, adaptive yoga, biosuggestion therapy, art therapy, and more.
“Yoga is very popular because it helps people relax and immerse themselves in the moment. It’s more about meditation than intense physical exercise,” Anna notes. “Another favorite is our therapeutic community led by our center’s director, veteran and psychologist Serhiy Titarenko. We also organize tea ceremonies, hippotherapy, and what we call ‘fire therapy’—taking residents to a shooting range. We launched Lviv’s first inclusive swimming and jiu-jitsu classes, and since September, adaptive cross-fit has been introduced—a new initiative for the city.”
Residents undergo psychological diagnostics and receive a full range of services, including legal consultations, psychological support, and a sense of belonging to a supportive community. They also participate in designing and planning interventions and activities tailored to their needs.
In parallel with individual abilitation processes, residents create a therapeutic community built on equality, non-judgment, mutual understanding, support, and assistance. This fosters self-identification with others, learning, and behavioral changes through participation, observation, and interaction with peers.
Anna emphasizes that the Abilitation Center is not a medical facility. Its primary focus is on restoring skills or adapting veterans and civilians with injuries to specific life circumstances.
“Many of our residents are wheelchair users or have undergone prosthetic surgeries. We turn the abilitation process into a kind of quest, asking residents about their goals and aspirations. Sometimes the goals are straightforward and clear, while other times they’re surprising and unique. For example, Yana from Avdiivka, who lost a leg, wanted to adapt so she could cook borscht by herself and carry the pot from the stove to the fridge. Another resident wanted to learn to dance tango—a way to prove to himself, despite a major amputation, that he could move and lead an active life. We found a trainer, created a program, and he performed his first tango after abilitation,” Anna shares.
The Role of Family in Abilitation and Future Plans
“Family plays a huge role in the abilitation process. Even our partners note how great it is that veterans can live with their loved ones. But family members also need psychological support to decompress, as their lives often become centered on the injured person,” Anna explains. “This is why we collaborate with the Blizki foundation, which provides training and psychological support to residents’ families at our center.”
As for future plans, the project’s primary focus is on ensuring the center’s long-term operation. Negotiations are ongoing with the Lviv Regional Military Administration regarding this. Additionally, there are plans to expand the program to other regions where similar centers are needed.
Participation in the center’s programs is free of charge, both within and outside the abilitation program. Veterans and civilians with any injuries are accepted if they can care for themselves or have assistance and are in satisfactory physical condition.
Currently, the center actively collaborates with rehabilitation facilities in the Lviv region, but residents from other parts of Ukraine can also undergo the abilitation course. To become a resident, applicants need to fill out an online form. For additional inquiries, contact: 0 (98) 364 42 68.
