Between 2023 and 2025, the National Defence Promotion Foundation, in cooperation with the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, provided comprehensive rehabilitation services and advanced prosthetic treatment to injured Ukrainian soldiers. During this period, 51 Ukrainian soldiers received treatment in Estonia, including the fitting of 57 above-knee and 9 below-knee prostheses.
The programme is centred at the Rehabilitation Clinic of East Tallinn Central Hospital (ITK), where a specialised prosthetics laboratory was established in 2014 with support from the Republic of Estonia, the Embassy of the United States in Estonia, and ITK itself. The facility has developed into a regional centre of excellence capable of delivering both advanced prosthetic manufacturing and multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation under one coordinated system of care.
This integrated approach embodies the principles promoted by CIOR: interoperability, professional expertise, and international collaboration in strengthening societal resilience. Beyond technical rehabilitation, the programme demonstrates how allied nations can combine medical capability, defence-related expertise, and civil preparedness to support long-term recovery and operational readiness.
Each patient undergoes an individually tailored rehabilitation process involving prosthetists, physiotherapists, psychologists, rehabilitation physicians, and mental health specialists. Inpatient rehabilitation in Estonia typically lasts three weeks before continuing in Ukraine. Advanced prosthetic systems such as the Ottobock Genium X3 and the newer Genium X4 microprocessor-controlled knee systems enable many recipients to return to active daily life and, in some cases, resume military or support duties.
The initiative also highlights the value of trusted international partnerships. In Ukraine, the BVG Charity Fund coordinates patient identification and transportation to and from Estonia, ensuring continuity of care and efficient logistical support.
The programme further demonstrates how national resilience capabilities can contribute to wider Allied preparedness. ITK’s Rehabilitation Clinic maintains the infrastructure, operational readiness, and specialist expertise necessary not only for international support missions, but also for responding to potential security challenges affecting Estonia itself. Plans are underway to expand services to include advanced upper-limb prosthetics beginning next year.
Funding for the programme has included:
2023: €2.35 million — 23 Ukrainian soldiers treated and 33 prosthetic limbs fitted
2024: €1.8 million — 18 Ukrainian soldiers treated and 21 prosthetic limbs fitted
2025: €1.824 million — 10 Ukrainian soldiers treated and 13 prosthetic limbs fitted
CIOR Past President Lieutenant Colonel Toomas Luman, together with Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur, recently visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian soldiers who had received prosthetic treatment in Estonia. Discussions focused on future development of the programme, additional areas of support, and opportunities to expand Estonian rehabilitation expertise directly into Ukraine.
The feedback from the soldiers confirmed the programme’s importance and long-term value. Estonia and Ukraine, together with the National Defence Promotion Foundation, remain committed to continuing and developing the initiative. Plans also include cultural programmes introducing Estonian culture to Ukrainian soldiers during their rehabilitation in Estonia, further strengthening people-to-people connections between Allied societies.
This initiative demonstrates how cooperation between governmental institutions, medical specialists, reservist networks, and international partners contributes directly to resilience, recovery, and shared security. It underscores the broader role CIOR member nations play in strengthening cooperation across the Alliance through practical expertise, leadership, and human-centred support.
CIOR Past President LTC (Ret.) Toomas Luman, recipient of the Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle (4th Class), has been a strong advocate for international cooperation, resilience, and support for Ukraine. [cior.net], [taltech.ee]