After a severe injury and amputations, a personally significant goal or dream becomes a key reference point on the path to physical and psychological recovery. For Ukrainian military personnel, this can be returning to driving a car or motorcycle, stepping onto a sports field, conquering mountain peaks, or planning a future with their family. It is such a cherished goal that provides a powerful impetus to action, followed by daily exhausting rehabilitation step by step alongside professional multidisciplinary teams.
The Scale of Rehabilitation Assistance and a Unique Art Project
On the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the national network of innovative rehabilitation centers RECOVERY, founded by Viktor and Olena Pinchuk to help the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, joined forces with renowned documentary photographers Konstantyn and Vlada Liberov. The result of their collaboration was a poignant photo project revealing the dreams and aspirations of Ukrainian warriors who went through severe trials.
Today, the large-scale RECOVERY network includes 20 modern, innovative, and fully inclusive centers located in various regions of the country. In these medical institutions, Ukrainian defenders receive free, highly qualified rehabilitation assistance after severe injuries. As of autumn 2026, over 57,000 Ukrainian military personnel have successfully recovered in the network's centers.
The Power of Visualization: From Dream to Rehabilitation Workdays
The concept of each individual story in the joint photo project by RECOVERY and the Liberovs is built on the contrast and comparison of two photographs. The first image metaphorically or literally visualizes the cherished dream or main goal of the hero or heroine — that very hidden desire which served as a beacon during the most difficult stages of treatment. The second frame demonstrates the thorny path to achieving the intended goal: exhausting training and daily physical and psychological work on oneself.
The heroes of the project share frank stories about how they relearned to keep balance on prosthetics, get behind the wheel of a motorcycle, play football or sitting volleyball, and make plans for a peaceful life. Their stories prove that human will is capable of overcoming the heaviest physical barriers, turning seemingly impossible fantasies into a tangible and beautiful reality.
