A Brussels panel combined expert debate and a portrait exhibition to probe the challenges of reintegrating veterans and wounded civilians. They called for accelerated prosthetics provision, comprehensive rehabilitation training and services, stronger social support and long term international programs to ensure dignified recovery.

In Brussels, a panel discussion and photo exhibition titled “Brave Faces of Resilience: From Surgery to Society: The Path to Ukraine’s Reintegration,” organized by the Belgian international aid agency Enabel, took place. With the participation of experts and civil society representatives, the event touched on the problems and prospects of successful reintegration of veterans and affected civilians.

A Brussels-based correspondent reported on the event.

“Four years after the start of Russia’s invasion, this event reflects our collective commitment to act.”

– Enabel

An exhibition of portraits taken by photojournalist Yulia Ovsyannikova allows viewers to learn about the stories of rehabilitated civilians and military personnel.

The issues of reintegration of war veterans and conflict victims were discussed at a high level, with a focus on medical, psychological, and social aspects of recovery.

“Through a crossing of personal testimonies, medical analysis, and political perspectives, the meeting discussed the complex aspects of post-conflict reintegration: physical and psychological recovery, social adaptation, access to services, fighting stigma, and paths to employment for veterans, Enabel reported.”

Following this, the exhibition’s author spoke about the challenges of “life between the civilian and military worlds” and emphasized: society must learn to communicate properly with veterans, be present, and ready to listen.

“And this is entirely understandable – after such deep changes, to reappear in the public eye requires immense courage. But some of them agreed. They chose to show their new faces to the world. And that decision is an act of strength. These portraits became the cornerstone of this project.”

– Yulia Ovsyannikova

Veteran Ivan Voynov shared the story of a severe injury, the amputation of a leg, and surgeries, including one on the skull. He also expressed gratitude to the Superhumans project for support in rehabilitation and admitted that for the first time since the injury and prosthetic fitting he cried with joy while running.

He also noted the importance of maintaining good humor among veterans as a factor in successful rehabilitation.

“We even sometimes compete in who has the better sense of humor, especially dark humor.”

– Ivan Voynov

Olga Rudnyenova, executive director of the charitable association Superhumans, spoke about pressing rehabilitation and health-care system problems in the context of targeted strikes on medical facilities. According to her, more than 100,000 people in Ukraine need prosthetics, and the aid process is hampered by longer evacuation times from the battlefield and the prevalence of drones on the modern front.

Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Marina Slobodnichenko thanked the Belgian government and Enabel for stable and multifaceted support, emphasizing joint efforts to return people to full life.

“Rehabilitation is not only about prostheses but also training programs for rehabilitation professionals, the organization of rehabilitation centers, and the supply of medical equipment.”

– Marina Slobodnichenko

The European Union announced the fourth component of security guarantees for Ukraine, which will cover support for defense reform, countering hybrid and cyber threats, and accelerating veterans’ reintegration.

According to the event’s conclusions, organizers emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue between the government, civil society, and veterans for proper rehabilitation and meaningful integration of people into society. The event once again underscored the need for joint action to ensure a full return to active life and to safeguard their dignity.