Recovery Center Helps Ukrainian Soldiers Deal with Effects of War
2023-01-13
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1Some Ukrainian soldiers are spending time at a recovery center designed to help them deal with the harmful effects of war.
2A Ukrainian military commander created the recovery center in Kharkiv.
3The building served as a long-term rehabilitation hospital when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.
4Army commander Oleksander Vasylkovskyi said the recovery center is able to treat both physical and mental conditions.
5"This rehabilitation is helping soldiers, at least for a week, to put themselves together," he told The Associated Press.
6Vasylkovskyi remembers how soldiers suffered silently after returning home from fighting Russia in Ukraine's Donbas area in 2014.
7Suicide rates among veterans increased in the following years, with many untreated cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.
8Vasylkovskyi says he hopes such centers can raise awareness of the need for mental health care and prevent suicides in the future.
9Soldiers visiting the center are offered a series of different treatments.
10These include water therapy in a hot pool to heal muscle pain, red light therapy to improve heart and blood circulation and a salt room to improve breathing.
11Some also receive electrosleep therapy - a method of electrotherapy that some believe can calm the nervous system and cause sleep.
12Psychologists are also available at the center to advise soldiers and their families.
13Vasylkovskyi says visitors also have full medical examinations.
14"It's the most important thing because a person develops several illnesses from the stress of fighting."
15"If someone has trauma and cannot walk, my department will put them back on their feet," said Artem.
16He is a physical therapist working at the center who only wanted to give his first name for security reasons.
17More than 2,000 soldiers have been treated at the center since it opened in June.
18It receives support from international partners in Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, the United States and Spain.
19The cost of one day of rehabilitation for one soldier is around 20 euros, Vasylkovskyi said.
20But more financing is needed, he said, "because (the war) is not over."
21One soldier treated at the center spoke to the AP.
22He only wanted his first name, Viktor, to be used.
23He said he worked as a miner before joining the army.
24He took part in the military operation that pushed Russian occupying forces out of the Kharkiv area.
25For months, he said he slept in cold, wet trenches.
26"We worked in conditions that were bad for our health," Viktor said.
27"We have back pain, leg pain, we carry heavy equipment."
28But after four days at the rehabilitation center, Viktor said he felt reenergized.
29"I'm already determined to go further, continue my work, destroy the enemy, and bring us each day closer to victory," Viktor said.
30One of the most desirable things about the center might be the fact that soldiers have the ability to bring family members along to spend a few days with them.
31Maksym, who, like Viktor, did not want to give a last name for security reasons, had not seen his wife and son in five months.
32One of the hardest parts of the war, he said, is when "you cannot connect and speak to your loved ones."
33He was able to spend a few days with family at the center.
34"I can see that men are returning to the unit after a week, rested and gaining more strength," Maksym said about time spent at the center.
35"And the thoughts that they had before go away."
36When asked how many soldiers he served with were lost in the war, Maksym lowered his eyes and said, "Too many."
37I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Some Ukrainian soldiers are spending time at a recovery center designed to help them deal with the harmful effects of war. 2A Ukrainian military commander created the recovery center in Kharkiv. The building served as a long-term rehabilitation hospital when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. 3Army commander Oleksander Vasylkovskyi said the recovery center is able to treat both physical and mental conditions. "This rehabilitation is helping soldiers, at least for a week, to put themselves together," he told The Associated Press. 4Vasylkovskyi remembers how soldiers suffered silently after returning home from fighting Russia in Ukraine's Donbas area in 2014. Suicide rates among veterans increased in the following years, with many untreated cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. Vasylkovskyi says he hopes such centers can raise awareness of the need for mental health care and prevent suicides in the future. 5Soldiers visiting the center are offered a series of different treatments. These include water therapy in a hot pool to heal muscle pain, red light therapy to improve heart and blood circulation and a salt room to improve breathing. Some also receive electrosleep therapy - a method of electrotherapy that some believe can calm the nervous system and cause sleep. 6Psychologists are also available at the center to advise soldiers and their families. 7Vasylkovskyi says visitors also have full medical examinations. "It's the most important thing because a person develops several illnesses from the stress of fighting." 8"If someone has trauma and cannot walk, my department will put them back on their feet," said Artem. He is a physical therapist working at the center who only wanted to give his first name for security reasons. 9More than 2,000 soldiers have been treated at the center since it opened in June. It receives support from international partners in Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, the United States and Spain. The cost of one day of rehabilitation for one soldier is around 20 euros, Vasylkovskyi said. But more financing is needed, he said, "because (the war) is not over." 10One soldier treated at the center spoke to the AP. He only wanted his first name, Viktor, to be used. He said he worked as a miner before joining the army. He took part in the military operation that pushed Russian occupying forces out of the Kharkiv area. 11For months, he said he slept in cold, wet trenches. "We worked in conditions that were bad for our health," Viktor said. "We have back pain, leg pain, we carry heavy equipment." 12But after four days at the rehabilitation center, Viktor said he felt reenergized. "I'm already determined to go further, continue my work, destroy the enemy, and bring us each day closer to victory," Viktor said. 13One of the most desirable things about the center might be the fact that soldiers have the ability to bring family members along to spend a few days with them. 14Maksym, who, like Viktor, did not want to give a last name for security reasons, had not seen his wife and son in five months. One of the hardest parts of the war, he said, is when "you cannot connect and speak to your loved ones." 15He was able to spend a few days with family at the center. "I can see that men are returning to the unit after a week, rested and gaining more strength," Maksym said about time spent at the center. "And the thoughts that they had before go away." 16When asked how many soldiers he served with were lost in the war, Maksym lowered his eyes and said, "Too many." 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 19___________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21rehabilitate - v. help someone live a normal life again after they had a serious illness of spent time in prison 22post-traumatic stress disorder - n. a mental condition in which a person suffers severe anxiety and depression after a very frightening or shocking experience 23therapy - n. a treatment that helps someone feel better or grow stronger 24stress - n. great worry caused by a difficult situation 25trauma - n. severe and lasting emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely upsetting experience 26illness - n. sickness 27trench - n. a narrow hold dug in the ground 28damp - adj. slightly wet in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable 29determined - adj. wanting to do something very much and not permitting anyone to stop you 30unit - n. a group of people living or working together, especially for a particular purpose 31__________________________________________________________________ 32What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 33Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.