On 14 October, the Lithuanian International Partnerships Centre | CPVA hosted together NATO and Armed Forces of Ukraine representatives in Vilnius to discuss how to ensure appropriate treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. The event was opened with introductory remarks by Vice Minister of National Defence Tomas Mikelkevičius and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lina Rukštelienė. Lithuania, represented by the Lithuanian International Partnerships Center | CPVA, is one of the countries entrusted to implement NATO’s Renovator project. With a overallbudget of more than 120 million euros, the project aims to strengthen the rehabilitation system for Ukrainian defenders.
“The primary metric of our cooperation is not the number of completed activities, but the tangible outcome for the service member. Every wounded warrior must receive timely and appropriate care, achieve maximum possible functional recovery, and have a clear, predictable pathway forward. Renovator can provide the practical foundation for this through shared standards, capability development, and the scaling of proven best practices.” – says Col. Konstiantyn Humeniuk, Commander of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Participants from Ukraine, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Latvia discussed how to improve physical and mental rehabilitation for soldiers, what advanced equipment Ukrainian rehabilitation centres need, and how to ensure that Ukrainian medical institutions can function effectively in wartime.
“We are proud to work with Lithuania and the other lead nations on Project Renovator. Our shared vision is to deliver the infrastructure, equipment and training to strengthen rehabilitation capacities for Ukraine’s battlefield heroes – but also for NATO’s Allies. We are working, learning and improving together, supporting Ukraine but also building our own collective defence capacities. It is inspiring to be part of this effort together with Lithuania.” – mentioned Iryna Novakova, Team Leader of the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) for Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers have been receiving treatment in Lithuania since 2014, and since 2024, the Lithuanian International Partnerships Center | CPVA has been implementing the national 15 million “Programme for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Wounded and War-Affected Persons in Ukraine”. Activities under the Renovator project are a logical continuation of this work. “Renovator” is the first NATO project abroad entrusted to Lithuania.
“The trust placed in us by NATO and Ukraine in implementing this project recognises Lithuania’s long-standing contribution to the rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers. It brings responsibility and also gives our military and civilian medical professionals an opportunity to strengthen cooperation at NATO level and learn from Ukraine’s unique and, unfortunately, extremely difficult wartime experience in physical and mental rehabilitation.” – says Artūras Žarnovskis, Coordinator of Ukraine Recovery and Peace Programmes at Lithuanian International Partnerships Center | CPVA.
Although official statistics are not made public, Ukrainian defenders on the front line regularly suffer severe traumatic injuries – head injuries, burns, spinal injuries, and hearing, sight or limbs. These injuries require comprehensive and long-term medical and psychological support, ongoing specialist care, and access to new medical technologies that, over time, help soldiers to recover and return to civilian life. Through the Renovator project, NATO is upgrading military rehabilitation centres, providing the necessary medical and rehabilitation equipment, and contributing to the professional development of Ukrainian rehabilitation specialists. In coordination with NATO and the military medical forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the aim is to develop a sustainable, long-term rehabilitation system. The countries implementing the project uphold high standards of transparency and accountability.
The NATO Representation to Ukraine supports the implementation of the Renovator project on the ground, facilitating coordination between NATO, Ukrainian defence institutions, and contributing nations to strengthen Ukraine’s military rehabilitation system.
Renovator is the second-largest project under NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine (Comprehensive Assistance Package, CAP), with financial support from thirteen countries. NATO CAP is a funding programme through which NATO countries provide various forms of non-lethal assistance to Ukraine.
