The Superhumans Center, the Ukrainian medical center providing cutting-edge prosthetics, psychological support, and rehabilitation services to those injured during the war in Ukraine, was celebrated at an event held in New York City hosted by business magnate Richard Branson.
Virgin Unite, the nonprofit foundation of Branson’s Virgin Group, hosted the event.
“We feel extremely lucky to be partnering with Superhumans—an advanced rehabilitation center for adults and children in Ukraine supporting the thousands of Ukrainians who have suffered life-changing injuries,” said Jean Oelwang, founding CEO of Virgin Unite and ambassador of the Superhumans Center. “The work their small but mighty team is doing is groundbreaking, life changing and needed now, more than ever.”
Retired Army General Wesley Clark was in attendance and shared his thoughts on the geopolitical context of the Russian-Ukrainian War, detailing his history working with Ukraine during the Bosnian War.
The Superhumans Center has supported over 3,000 patients a year in their rehabilitation journey, some of whom attended the event and shared their stories. Since its founding in 2023, the Center has produced over 850 prostheses for 620 patients and performed 230 surgeries. Over 50,000 people in Ukraine need prosthetic devices and rehabilitation services, and hundreds of thousands more require psychological support.
The Superhumans team plans to open two new centers and a reintegration center to train war-affected individuals in new professions.
“It doesn’t matter how good your prosthesis is, you need to have a reason to wear it,” said CEO Olga Rudneva. “To help veterans and our patients find new roles in life, Superhumans is planning to open a reskilling center in Kyiv in 2025 to return veterans to civilian life, find jobs, and provide for their families. It’s not only about getting new professions and new skills, it’s about finding independence and helping to revive Ukrainian economy.”
“Our friendship with Richard Branson and Jean Oelwang, and our partnership with Virgin Unite mean the world to us—not just to the Superhumans Center, but to every Ukrainian who, fighting for our freedom, lost a limb or needs complex reconstructive surgery,” said Andrey Stavnitser, founder of Superhumans.
Stavnitser gave Branson a bracelet that’s also given to patients that reads, “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided by Virgin Unite.
