MainНовиниPsychological Relief and Physical Fitness: How a Sports Club for Veterans’ Rehabilitation Operates in Baryshivka, Kyiv Region
Psychological Relief and Physical Fitness: How a Sports Club for Veterans’ Rehabilitation Operates in Baryshivka, Kyiv Region
An adaptive sports club in Baryshivka, Kyiv Region, serves as a vital space for veterans seeking physical and mental recovery. Beyond rehabilitation, it offers a welcoming environment where they can spend quality time with their families and connect with like-minded individuals.
Veteran Serhiy Shcherbak, who served in the Russian-Ukrainian war, is a regular participant at the club and actively utilizes all its resources.
“I work out on the treadmill, lift dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells. After training, I unwind with a game of darts. Exercise helps me stay fit, especially after experiencing leg and back issues from wearing body armor. Now, I can’t imagine a day without training. This space provides both psychological relief and physical wellness.”
Before the full-scale invasion, Serhiy was a school principal. When the war reached his homeland, he joined the 136th Territorial Defense Battalion and later defended Ukraine in the Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions. His eldest son also returned from abroad and stood alongside his father in defense of the country.
The Adaptive Club in Baryshivka is among the 15 winners of the All-Ukrainian social initiative competition, Time to Act, Unstoppable. The project received grant funding through a co-financing model, supported by the State Institution “All-Ukrainian Center for Physical Health ‘Sport for All’”, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine’s Presidential Program “Active Parks”, as well as the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation under the MHP Standing Together Veterans Reintegration Program and the Fedir Spyg Foundation.
Pavlo Moroz, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at MHP, emphasizes the importance of sports in both physical and psychological rehabilitation.
“Through the MHP Standing Together comprehensive support program for the military and veterans, we saw firsthand how defenders and individuals with disabilities regain their strength, endurance, and self-confidence. They develop, communicate, and integrate into the community, finding motivation to keep moving forward toward victory.”
– Pavlo Moroz, Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department, MHP
The club’s premises in Baryshivka, previously an unused swimming pool, had long remained abandoned. However, thanks to funding from various sources, including grants, it has undergone modern renovations. The facility is now equipped with specialized exercise machines designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
” Veterans from Baryshivka and neighboring communities regularly attend the club, where flexible scheduling ensures accessibility for all. In addition to weight training equipment, the facility features a recreational area with air hockey, table football, table tennis, darts, chess, and more — allowing families to enjoy both sports and social interaction together.”
Veteran Mykola Kovtun, a table tennis coach at a local children’s and youth sports school, also actively participates in the adaptive club. His military service began on February 24, 2022, when he enlisted in the 136th Territorial Defense Battalion. Alongside his comrades, he endured intense battles in Kupiansk, Lysychansk, Yampil, and other strategic locations.
“Sports are especially crucial for wounded veterans and those with amputations. When we come together, we find the support we need. I hope to see as many veterans as possible benefiting from this space.”
Andrii Rebryna, Director of the State Institution “Sport for All”, underscores the importance of creating accessible environments for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and their families.
“Our mission is to establish conditions for physical activity for those returning from combat zones — those who have sustained injuries but still wish to maintain an active lifestyle. The Adaptive Club in Baryshivka is a place where everyone can discover an activity they enjoy and connect with like-minded individuals on the path to victory.”
According to Maria Lemberg, Director of the Fedir Spyg Foundation, a veteran’s return is not just about reintegration into family life, but also about reconnecting with their community.
“True gratitude from society is reflected in the accessibility of services and infrastructure that veterans can use in their daily lives. Gratitude loses meaning if it is only expressed through words and holidays. Concrete actions — through partnerships with communities, businesses, and the public sector — create a tangible expression of appreciation. Whether through veteran spaces, rehabilitation centers, adaptive facilities, or essential services, these efforts bring real impact. Those supporting from the home front have limited time to build the necessary infrastructure for military personnel returning to civilian life, and support for veterans and their families. Increasing the availability and accessibility of adaptive spaces can significantly contribute to the development of Ukraine’s veteran community.”
Additional information:
Time to Act, Unstoppable is a grant competition allowing communities to get up to UAH 400,000 to establish an Unstoppable Adaptive Club in their village or town.
The project is implemented on the territory of 13 regions of Ukraine, namely: Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Sumy, Ternopil, Khmelnytskiy, Cherkasy, Chernihiv regions, and the City of Kyiv.
Project partners: MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation within MHP Standing Together reintegration program for active-duty military personnel and veterans, the Fedir Shpyg Foundation, State Institution “All-Ukrainian Center for Physical Health of the Population ‘Sport for All’” as part of the presidential “Active Parks – locations of a healthy Ukraine” project, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
The project is intended to establish and arrange community sports centers adapted for people with disabilities, including those injured during the war, where they can take physical exercises, communicate with like-minded people, and get professional support from qualified coaches, thus promoting reintegration into the community’s social life.