Partnerships

After the onset of the full-scale war, Ukraine faced unprecedented challenges in the field of health care and social adaptation of veterans and civilians who suffered physical or psychological trauma. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, in 2024 alone, more than 366,000 patients underwent rehabilitation in rehabilitation departments and centers across the country. In total, since the beginning of the war, over 718,000 people have received comprehensive rehabilitation, and the demand for recovery services is increasing by 20–25% annually.

However, most specialized centers are located in regional hospitals or large cities, creating accessibility barriers for residents of small communities, especially in rural areas where many veterans, their families, and agricultural workers live. For people with limited mobility or those in the post-acute stage of treatment, even a trip to the regional center becomes a difficult and costly challenge. Rehabilitation, particularly for people who have lost limbs, is a continuous process – therefore, it must be accessible within local communities. As a result, thousands of veterans and affected civilians remain without timely assistance, leading to deterioration of their condition, loss of employability, and social isolation.

These challenges became the foundation for the Аgricultural Сompany Kernel (Limited Liability Company “Kernel-Trade”, hereinafter referred to as Kernel) to integrate a focus on accessible community-based rehabilitation models into its Sustainability Strategy. For Kernel, as a leader of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, this issue was not just abstract statistics. The company employs over 10,000 people across various regions of Ukraine, and more and more of them are returning from the war (as of now, 170 veterans have returned to work at Kernel) or have experienced the consequences of traumatic events. This created the need not only to help individuals but to build a systemic model of rehabilitation within the communities where the company operates.

Recognizing the scale of the challenge, in late 2024 Kernel launched the project “Development of a System of Rehabilitation and Psychological Support for Veterans, Female Veterans, Their Families, and Civilians at the Community Level” in the territories of its business presence. The company also joined the social franchise projects of the “Myndy” Charitable Foundation, a partner of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?” – an initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, in partnership with the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, NGO “Barrier-Free”, Oschadbank, PrivatBank, Visa, regional military administrations, and local authorities.

Mobile rehabilitation modules are an innovative solution that provides accessible physical and psychological rehabilitation directly in local communities. They are integrated into the public health system and the service packages of the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), ensuring the sustainability of operations and financing, while strengthening outpatient post-acute rehabilitation. In addition, specialists receive relevant training within the project.

These spaces enable multidisciplinary teams – physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, massage therapists, social workers, and veteran support specialists – to provide assistance to veterans, affected civilians, people with disabilities, and agricultural workers.

The main innovation lies in the decentralized approach: mobile modules are placed in small towns and villages, in partnership with local hospitals and communities. This allows people to receive care close to home, without the need for long trips to regional centers – a factor especially crucial for rural residents, people with limited mobility, and patients recovering from severe injuries.

Through this model, Kernel and its partners are addressing one of the key gaps identified by the Ministry of Health: over 60% of Ukrainian communities lack access to specialized rehabilitation services, as most rehabilitation centers remain concentrated in regional hospitals.

In addition to mobile modules, Kernel also supports the establishment of full-scale rehabilitation departments within communities – an example being the Hospital No. 2 in Poltava. The company implements alternative solutions where modules are not yet available, such as renovations, equipment procurement, and professional exchange programs.

Overall, during the 11 months of project implementation (December 2024 – October 2025), total investments amounted to approximately UAH 21.5 million.

Project Implementation Timeline

2024, Kropyvnytskyi – in December, the first pilot rehabilitation module was opened in a community where Kernel operates. Between December 2024 and October 2025, 266 people (veterans, female service members, civilians) received rehabilitation.

2025, Holovanivsk (Kirovohrad region) – in June, the second module was opened. Between June and October 2025, 135 people received assistance.

2025, Poltava – Kernel ensured the launch of a rehabilitation department in Hospital No. 2. 460 people underwent rehabilitation.

2025, Talne (Cherkasy region) – in October, another module was opened, serving 20 people.

During implementation, the Kernel team faced several organizational challenges:

• difficulty synchronizing with local authorities on project implementation and budget procedures,

• shortage of qualified personnel in local communities.

The solution involved developing a unified methodological approach, collaboration with the NHSU, training of local staff, networking rehabilitation institutions, and organizing joint training and experience exchanges.

“Kernel is a Ukrainian agribusiness that has been growing alongside communities for over 30 years. We believe that Ukraine’s recovery is not only about the economy – it is, first and foremost, about people and the environment in which they live. That’s why Kernel invests in building social infrastructure – schools, medical and rehabilitation spaces – that help communities become stronger. For us, participation in such projects is a continuation of our philosophy of responsible business, one that actively contributes to society. This project is an example of uniting business, government, communities, and the public sector at both local and national levels,”

– shared Liliya Marachkanets, Head of CSR at Kernel, Director of the “Together with Kernel” Charity Foundation.

Kernel implements social projects in 190 communities across 12 regions of Ukraine. In 2026, the project is planned for expansion to Starokostiantyniv, Zolotonosha, Kalynopil, and Chornomorsk.