A charity gathering was held in Lviv in support of Ukrainian service personnel who have returned from Russian captivity and undergone recuperation and rehabilitation with the backing of the charity foundation “With an Angel on the Shoulder”.
The event brought together released defenders from various regions of Ukraine, volunteers, benefactors, entrepreneurs and representatives of civic organisations. During the event, on behalf of the Lviv Regional Council, partners and patrons were presented with letters of appreciation for their help in the recovery of service personnel and support for their families.
The “With an Angel on the Shoulder” foundation has been operating for almost ten years, and after the start of the full-scale war one of its key areas of work became the programme “WE ARE FREE!”. Over the past four years, with the support of partners, more than 300 Ukrainians released from captivity have undergone recuperation and rehabilitation.
“Over four years, together we have helped more than 300 people who returned from captivity to recuperate – both men and women. This is already our big family,” noted the Chair of the Foundation’s Board, Iryna Plakhtii.
One of the programme’s partners is the “TuStan” hotel and health complex in Skhidnytsia. There, recovery programmes are organised for service personnel, along with sessions with rehabilitation therapists, psychologists and other specialists.
The main focus of the gathering was on the stories of the defenders themselves. They spoke about their plans after returning from captivity – starting their own business, building or rebuilding a family, travelling, coming home and, above all, their shared dream of Ukraine’s victory and the liberation of all Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The event was joined by a representative of the Lviv Veterans’ Centre, Vladyslav Hirnyi, who works with the families of prisoners of war and those missing in action. He himself has also been through captivity and rehabilitation with the support of the foundation’s team, and during the gathering he performed a musical piece for his comrades-in-arms, volunteers and benefactors.
Among those performing for the guests were singer Oksana Mukha, the band “Yaka isnuYe” and other friends of the foundation. In addition to the concert programme, the organisers held a charity auction featuring lots from artists, craftspeople, jewellers, entrepreneurs and benefactors. All the proceeds will be directed towards the next stages of recuperation and rehabilitation for service personnel released from Russian captivity.