Svitlana Grytsenko, Head of the RECOVERY and RETURNING Projects, Awarded the Order of Merit, III Class

Svitlana Grytsenko, Member of the Board of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and Head of the RECOVERY and RETURNING (Ukr. «ПОВЕРНЕННЯ») projects, has been awarded the Order of Merit, III class. The corresponding Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 136/2026 has been published on the official website of the Head of State.

The award recognizes the team’s systematic work and Victor and Olena Pinchuk’s consistent support for the creation and development of a nationwide ecosystem for the physical and psychological recovery of service members, veterans, and their families.

“We are developing the RECOVERY and RETURNING projects with deep gratitude to the service members defending Ukraine today. Our reports contain figures—the number of centers, patients, and educational programs. But for us, behind every figure is an individual: their pain, their journey to recovery, and their family. RECOVERY and RETURNING stand for support, dignity, and respect for every defender of Ukraine. “We work to ensure that support is systematic, high-quality, and accessible wherever it is needed,” said Svitlana Grytsenko, Member of the Board of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and Head of the RECOVERY and RETURNING projects.  

The RECOVERY and RETURNING projects exemplify a successful partnership between the private sector and the state, with philanthropists creating and developing innovative physical rehabilitation and mental health centers within public medical institutions.

There are currently 18 innovative RECOVERY rehabilitation centers operating in Ukraine, providing free services to service members. More than 40,000 Ukrainian defenders have already undergone rehabilitation at centers across the network. In 2026, the network is expected to expand to at least 20 centers, with the capacity to provide rehabilitation to around 27,000 service members annually.

RECOVERY also systematically invests in the development of the professional community, as specialists are shaping the future of rehabilitation in Ukraine. The project regularly implements continuing education and professional development programs. More than 6,400 medical professionals—from both within and beyond the network—have already participated in educational events and professional placements in the United States and 10 European countries.

Within the nationwide RETURNING project, which supports the mental health of service members, veterans, and their families, more than 10,000 people have already received support. Eleven mental health centers are currently operating, while the first phase of the project calls for the opening of 25 centers across Ukraine.

RETURNING also runs an educational program aimed at the systematic development of Ukraine’s mental health sector. In collaboration with Ukrainian and international experts, the project provides professional development opportunities for specialists, including webinars, training sessions, and supervision. During its first year, the educational program reached more than 1,500 participants through 90 events held in Ukraine and abroad.

The RECOVERY and RETURNING projects exemplify long-term, systematic support for Ukraine’s service members, veterans, and their families, with a focus on quality of care, professional expertise, and sustainable solutions.