Mykhailo Osipov, survivor of fpv-drone attack in January 2026, internally displaced person from the town of Yarova, Donetsk region, with Mykhailo Osipov, survivant d’une attaque de drone en janvier 2026, personne déplacée originaire de la ville de Yarova | © L. Hutsul/HI
The project provides comprehensive support to people affected by the war, whose protection and health needs remain critical as ongoing hostilities continue to expose civilians to significant risks and limit their access to essential services. Communities in frontline areas, as well as displaced populations, face heightened vulnerabilities, making this intervention vital for their resilience and recovery.
"In the regions near the frontline, we see every day how deep the psychological distress of people is and how many of them need comprehensive assistance. Constant shelling, injuries, loss of loved ones, lack of access to basic services - all this leaves a deep mark on the health of the victims of war. Those who have several risk factors are especially vulnerable: people with disabilities, older people, single mothers, children, and internally displaced people. Their needs are often ignored, which is why our work is critically important. We are focused not only on providing comprehensive support, but also on restoring people's sense of dignity and belief that they are not alone with their pain."
- L.Hutsul, HI, Advocacy and communication senior officer.
The main areas of our work are:
HI’s mobile teams provide physical and functional rehabilitation to affected populations, including people with disabilities. Assistance is often provided through community outreach and the provision of assistive devices (walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, etc.)
Mykhailo Osipov, survivor of fpv-drone attack in January 2026, internally displaced person from the town of Yarova, Donetsk region,
with physiotherapist Maria Topka during at- home physical rehabilitation session. Dnipro, April 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
"Physical rehabilitation has helped me feel more confident. During my sessions with Mariia, HI’s physical therapist, I learned techniques to strengthen my muscles, and to use the semi-active wheelchair provided by HI on my own; we thoroughly practiced safe mobility techniques. Now I can get to the store or use banking services on my own, and I feel much more independent,”
Mykhailo Osipov, a survivor of a drone attack and beneficiary of the project, said.
Viktor Chupryna, an internally displaced person from the town of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region,
with physiotherapist Maria Topka during a physical rehabilitation session. IDP center. Dnipro, April 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
"I became seriously ill while living in a war zone, where there was no proper medical care. Because of this, I was unable to receive timely treatment, and as a result,I have a severe spinal injury. For a long time, I was unable to walk or even stand. Thanks to HI rehabilitation support, I can now go outside on my own, get to a store or hospital, and just walk down the street. My leg muscle strength has increased significantly, and the sensitivity has improved, and I can now walk short distances without assistance. This has given me back a sense of independence and confidence, and I am gradually regaining my zest for life,"
-Victor Chupryna, a displaced person from Myrnohrad
After receiving capacity-building and technical support from HI, the MHPSS team at Angels of Salvation conducts individual and group consultations, as well as information sessions for communities. This helps to reduce psychological distress, increase awareness of psychological support services, and combat stigma around mental health.
— Anna Khasanova, psychologist of the Angels of Salvation Charity Foundation.
Psychologists of the CF Angels of Salvation during a group MHPSS session for displaced people in the village of Mala Danylivka, Kharkiv region, March 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
"In the frontline regions, we see that the condition of people has significantly worsened due to the aggravation of the situation. It is especially difficult for internally displaced people who have already survived the occupation and are now afraid to go through it again. People are often reluctant to go for psychological help, but when we add art therapy elements or simple physical practices, they gradually open up and ask us to come again. It is nice to see how their condition changes - from dark colors to bright ones, from tension to a smile. This shows that our interventions can give tangible results. It is important that the project allows us to work comprehensively: to provide not only psychological help, but also to redirect people to rehabilitation or other forms of help, if necessary. Such support is vital, because it gives people hope for recovery and a dignified life after heavy losses,"
Pokrovske resident Margarita shared —
Margarita Mokienko, a resident of Pokrovske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, survived a Russian Iskander attack,
with Ivanna Nevirets, a psychologist at the Angels of Salvation Charitable Foundation. Dnipro, April 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
«I'm very grateful to Ivanna for her help. Thanks to psychological support, I have regained my inner balance, learned techniques for emotional self-regulation in critical moments, and am gradually finding the strength within myself to support my loved ones. I try not to think about that experience; it’s still painful, but I’ve learned to manage it. I work in the field of education and manage educational projects for young people, and I want to be an example of resilience and strength to those around me, »
With capacity building and technical support from HI, Angels of Salvation’s social workers identify and assess the needs of vulnerable individuals, after which tailored assistance is provided in the form of information about available services and how to access them (Protection counselling), referrals to relevant services, and Inclusive Case Management for the most vulnerable individuals facing complex protection risks Special attention is paid to people at risk of violence based on disability, age, or gender.
— Olena Glukhovshchenko, an internally displaced woman from Bohdanivka
Olena Glukhovshchenko, an internally displaced woman from Bohdanivka, Zaporizhzhia region, who survived a rocket attack
and underwent leg amputation, during a meeting with a case manager of CF “Angels of Salvation”, Zaporizhzhia, May 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
"After I was injured during the Russian missile attack and lost my leg above the knee, my life changed forever. It was very difficult to learn to move again, to use a prosthesis and a wheelchair. Thanks to the help of the CF Angels of Salvation, we installed handrails to go down to the shelter. And this is important not only for me, but also for other residents with limited mobility who use them. For us, it is a matter of safety and independence. In addition, I received the necessary hygiene products, and it was not just practical help, but also very human - it gave me the feeling that I had not been forgotten, and the belief that even after a great loss, you can gradually rebuild your life," Olena said.
The project demonstrates a strategic shift from direct implementation of HI to a partnership approach, where key areas (MHPSS and Protection) are gradually transferred to local organizations. This enables the sustainability of assistance, strengthens local capacities, and ensures that support will be available even after international funding ends.
Complex Technical capacity building allows local teams to work according to international standards and provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable groups in the population affected by war.
Oleg, project manager of the CF Angels of Salvation —
Oleg Oksenenko, project manager of the CF Angels of Salvation, Kharkiv, March 2026 © L.Hutsul/HI
Cooperation with Humanity & Inclusion is extremely valuable for our foundation. The most useful thing about this partnership is that HI is always open to dialogue, ready to support in difficult situations, and flexibly responds to challenges. Thanks to their technical support, we have significantly improved our specialists' skills. The methodology we adopted from HI remains highly relevant today, as it allows us to analyze victims' needs more deeply and provide assistance on an individual basis. This partnership helps us work according to international standards and provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable people in communities," shared Oleg, project manager of the CF Angels of Salvation, Kharkiv, March 2026
Thus, the HI and Angels of Salvation project is an example of successful cooperation between international and local organizations, combining rehabilitation, psychosocial support and protection strengthening the resilience of communities affected by war.
The project is implemented with the support of Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (CDCS)
The assistance was carried out within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacities and resilience of conflict?affected populations in Eastern, Northeastern and Southern Ukraine,” funded by CDCS.
This multisectoral intervention aims to improve access to quality, inclusive physical and functional rehabilitation services, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and protection services for vulnerable groups and conflict?affected populations. The project is implemented in the oblasts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv.
HI relies on its technical expertise in rehabilitation, MHPSS, Protection, and disability inclusion to ensure that health services are accessible and adapted to the needs of vulnerable people, including people with disabilities. The project is implemented in partnership with the local CF Angels of Salvation, which provides MHPSS/Protection services. HI strengthens the partner’s technical capacities, particularly in inclusion , ensuring that services are inclusive and aligned with international protection standards.
Thus, the rehabilitation provided to survivors is part of this comprehensive intervention, combining technical expertise and local partnerships to ensure continuity of care and dignified support.
