Sumy: People in the Right Place

It takes a village to raise a child. In other words, caring for one person requires a whole community — people who are attentive, ready to help, and willing to build new ideas or businesses with those around them in mind. This is the foundation of our humanity: showing up when it matters most.

The Ukrainians Media, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), shares stories of people who care for one another. These stories remind us of what’s essential: that no matter the circumstances, Ukrainians continue to embody resilience and compassion.

A veterans’ space in Sumy helps former service members return to life after injury and loss

This material was prepared as part of the flagship “EU4Recovery — Empowering Communities in Ukraine” partnership between UNDP and the EU

In March 2025, the Veteran Space “VETERAN PRO: SUMY OBLAST” opened in Sumy. The regional council established it at the request of veterans, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and other international partners. Its mission is to help service members who have suffered injuries or losses on the front line find their place in civilian life.

The centre is headed by veteran Mykola Zarytskyi, who was first mobilized in 2015 and later served in the border guard. He then worked in private business and agriculture. When fighting broke out in Sumy Oblast in the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022, he returned to the front. Eight months into his service, he stepped on a mine and lost a leg.

After rehabilitation and receiving a prosthesis, Mykola began an active search for his new path, inspiring other veterans by his own example. He has earned numerous sporting achievements and was a winner and medallist at the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, an international adaptive sports competition for veterans and wounded service members. He also opened an inclusive kindergarten in Kyiv.

His deputy, Mykola Zarytskyi, has a similar story. He had served with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine since 2004. During the fighting in Donbas in 2014, he lost both legs. After a long rehabilitation, he joined the veteran movement, leading the Sumy branch of the “Ukrainian Association of ATO Disabled Veterans.” Serhii also took up sports, showing that it is possible to return to an active life despite grim medical forecasts.

Neither of the men remembers at which event they first met, but they’re sure it happened in 2024.

We had been working in the same direction for years without crossing paths. When we finally met, we realized it would be more effective to move forward side by side.

Today, Mykola and Serhii are building an effective veteran reintegration system in Sumy. Together, they are creating a space where men and women veterans are not left alone with their trauma or bureaucratic challenges. The centre offers adaptive sports, including sitting volleyball and CrossFit. With support from UNDP in Ukraine and the Government of Denmark, the gym has been equipped with specialized machines, including an air bike, elliptical trainer, rowing machine, and training bench. But physical rehabilitation is only part of the mission; the key goal is to restore a sense of team spirit.

“In their platoons and battalions, the guys were always part of something bigger — a team. After being wounded, that feeling often disappears. Sitting volleyball or CrossFit helps bring it back,” Mykola explained.

The space also allows veterans to step away from their daily routine and gain new experiences. With support from UNDP and the Government of Denmark, several outdoor camps have been organized for veterans and their families. These combine training sessions, art therapy, and group discussions. Such conditions make it easier to take one’s mind off pain and anxiety and open up to new possibilities.

A major challenge remains the lack of space: the centre does not yet have its own gym, only a 27-square-metre room. The difficult security situation in Sumy Oblast complicates things further. Still, the team keeps looking for solutions. The centre now partners with a local gym, where veterans can train at any time using specialized equipment. Every Tuesday, they gather there for a few hours to play sitting volleyball.

Mykola and Serhii are building an effective veteran reintegration system in Sumy. Together, they are creating a space where men and women veterans are not left alone with their trauma or bureaucratic challenges.

Adaptation through sport is extremely important. We have a guy who withdrew completely after a high-leg amputation — he didn’t leave his house for months. Then he tried playing with us, and now he looks forward to every session. For us, it’s not just movement — it’s an outlet, a source of energy and emotion.