Barrier-Free Rehabilitation Unit Opened in Talne to Support Veterans and Civilians
TALNE, October 24, 2025 — On October 23, in Talne, Cherkasy region, a new inclusive rehabilitation unit was officially opened. The facility was created to provide support to veterans, their families, and civilians affected by the full-scale war.
The unit is part of a social franchise implemented by the “Mindy” charity fund in cooperation with the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the “Barrier-Free” NGO, within the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?”, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska. The opening was made possible through the support of the members of the “Business Without Barriers” community — Visa, PrivatBank, and Kernel — and with the assistance of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration and the Talne City Territorial Community.
“Each mobile rehabilitation unit is a space for developing human potential—both for the individual undergoing recovery and for the community that gains a new support ecosystem for its residents. It is also proof of how much can be achieved together, and how the power of the ‘Business Without Barriers’ community, united around the First Lady Olena Zelenska’s initiative, translates into practical solutions,” said Oksana Zbitnieva, Head of the “Barrier-Free” NGO and Head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
The new 72-square-meter space is equipped with everything needed for comprehensive rehabilitation — physical, psychological, social, and vocational.
The module operates on the principles of barrier-free access and a multidisciplinary approach, with a team that includes a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor, physical therapist, case manager, psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and legal consultant.
“Expanding the network of rehabilitation units is essential. Every person affected by the full-scale invasion has the right to complete recovery — physical, psychological, and social. Such units allow people to receive help closer to home, in comfort, with professional support. This is a step toward a systemic, accessible rehabilitation system that restores not only strength but also confidence and dignity. We are grateful to our partners for supporting the creation of these units and aim to continue expanding the network,” emphasized Oleksandr Pinkas, Coordinator of the “Mindy” charity fund’s social franchise.
During the opening event, guests toured the facility, viewed the equipment, and spoke with specialists and veterans already undergoing rehabilitation.
“Recovery is not only about the body but also about dignity and returning to life. For Visa, supporting such initiatives is part of our vision of an inclusive economy where everyone can realize their potential, regardless of circumstances. We believe that cooperation between the state, business, and NGOs can create truly sustainable solutions for society. The newly opened unit in Talne is not just another support space but a symbol of how collective efforts can transform lives across Ukrainian communities,” commented Tetiana Chorna, Visa Vice President, Country Manager for Ukraine.
“For PrivatBank, it is important that community residents feel comfortable, receive necessary services, and are fully included in economic and social life. Therefore, creating local rehabilitation centers is a crucial initiative that helps people recover within their own communities,” noted Olha Bezpalko, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at PrivatBank.
“Kernel is a Ukrainian agricultural company that has been growing alongside communities for over 30 years. We believe that Ukraine’s recovery is not only about the economy but first and foremost about people and the environment they live in. That is why Kernel invests in creating social infrastructure — schools and medical and rehabilitation spaces that help communities become stronger. For us, participation in such projects is a continuation of our philosophy as a responsible business actively involved in public life,” shared Liliia Marachkanets, Head of CSR at Kernel.
The Talne unit marks another step toward building a nationwide network of rehabilitation spaces that provide access to support close to home. This format enables veterans and their families to receive care in their communities, without the need for long trips to big cities.
Key areas of support offered at the unit include:
- physical rehabilitation and gait training with prosthetics;
- prosthetic support and occupational therapy;
- speech recovery;
- psychological counseling and peer support groups;
- legal assistance, employment support, and retraining.
“Developing rehabilitation infrastructure in the Cherkasy region is one of our priorities. Currently, 23 facilities in the region already provide rehabilitation services to veterans, both inpatient and outpatient. Our goal is to make these services as close to every veteran’s home as possible, and this project is exactly about that, which makes it deeply valuable to us,” said Ihor Taburets, Head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration.
“The path to victory is not only about the frontlines but also about the home front, which assists in recovery and provides support and space to heal. The opening of this mobile rehabilitation unit is an important part of this path. Here, our defenders returning from the war, as well as community residents, can receive necessary medical and psychological help to regain strength, health, and inner peace. We all understand that victory is impossible without people who have the resources to live, work, and help others. That is why such initiatives are vital for our community. My sincere gratitude to all partners who contributed to this crucial project,” said Vasyl Sidko, Mayor of Talne.
The rehabilitation unit in Talne is the ninth such space in Ukraine, opened through the support of socially responsible businesses in cooperation with state and civil society partners, and the first one in the Cherkasy region.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.
About PrivatBank
PrivatBank is the largest state-owned bank of Ukraine. The Bank serves over 18 million active customers, while over 70% of Ukrainians use its services. The Bank is the leader in retail, introduces services for small and medium businesses, has created a strong digital ecosystem and a wide network of over 1,100 branches, 5,000 ATMs, 10,000 self-service terminals and 223,000 POS-terminals across the country. PrivatBank works to drive Ukraine’s economy, support the Ukrainian residents and businesses in wartime. We are getting things done! More information at privatbank.ua.
About Kernel
Kernel is the world's leading producer and exporter of sunflower oil and the largest exporter of grains from Ukraine. In fiscal year 2024, the company exported 8 million tons of agricultural products to the global market. The company accounts for 9% of global sunflower oil exports. Kernel supplies its products to 60 countries.
About the “Mindy" charity fund
The “Mindy" charity fund was founded in 2022 with the aim of adapting veterans to civilian life. By the end of 2023, Mindy has provided more than 3,000 free sessions of psychosocial assistance and physical rehabilitation. Based on this experience, the team created a new social franchise project that provides much-needed free services in small towns in Ukraine.
About the “Barrier-Free” NGO
Center for coordination of expertise and promotion of barrier-free accessibility as a new social norm. The “Barrier-Free” NGO is an executive partner of the First Lady Olena Zelenska's initiative “Without Barriers”, aimed at creating equal opportunities for all Ukrainians, and the initiative to develop and implement the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program.