Overall, the number of swimming pools involved in the programme is expected to increase to six this year. Two additional facilities in Zaporizhzhia will be included in cooperation with the Department of Sport, Family and Youth of the Zaporizhzhia City Council. The organisers also plan to hold a competition bringing together participants in the project from all three cities.
What the Programme Includes
The Free Waves programme was developed by Denys Sylantiev, one of Ukraine’s leading swimmers. It offers a comprehensive programme of sessions designed to restore the health of veterans, especially those who have sustained serious injuries. The project is based on a scientific approach and incorporates specialised rehabilitation and water-based adaptation methods.
“Swimming sessions are an effective way to restore physical and emotional well-being after the stress and injuries sustained during combat. This form of rehabilitation is considered one of the safest. It enables people to work through traumatic experiences gently and gradually. Water helps to relieve negative effects and reduce strain on the body, while simultaneously supporting the restoration of joint mobility and the strengthening of muscles. It is impossible to create such optimal conditions for recovery anywhere other than in water,” says Denys Sylantiev.
To achieve tangible results, participants are advised to complete at least the basic course of 16 swimming sessions. Qualified coaches work individually with each veteran, combining physical rehabilitation with psychological support.
“During the training, swimming has not only helped me to restore my physical functioning but has also given me greater confidence and eased my mind. I have met an excellent coaching team and fellow servicemen with whom I have a great deal in common. Projects like this provide both physical and moral support,” says war veteran Oleksandr Luhovskyi.
Programme Results
The project was launched in July 2024 at one swimming pool in Zaporizhzhia; by October, it had expanded to Kryvyi Rih, where it now operates at two facilities. Last year, the programme’s geographical reach broadened further with the inclusion of Kamianske. To ensure barrier-free access for veterans, pool lifts have been installed at all four swimming pools to help participants enter the water. An additional indoor lift has been fitted at the facility in Kamianske.
In 2025, the programme was extended because of the strong results that Free Waves has delivered, and the large number of participants interested in swimming that it has attracted.
“It relaxes the muscles, you sleep more soundly, you feel better overall, and there is no muscle soreness. My heart has started working better; doctors say my condition has improved. I called my fellow soldiers and told them that activities like this exist for us, because all of us have problems: both former and active service personnel. So, they should come and improve their health,” says war veteran Mykhailo Prokutin.
Since the launch of the project, more than 400 veterans and service personnel have completed rehabilitation: around 300 in Zaporizhzhia, 87 in Kryvyi Rih and 15 in Kamianske.
The programme is funded by Metinvest Group in cooperation with local partners from business and civil society: in Zaporizhzhia, in partnership with Zaporizhstal and the Zaporizhzhia Joint Action Platform NGO; in Kryvyi Rih, with the Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future NGO, supported by the City Defence Council; and in Kamianske, in cooperation with Kamet Steel.
“The Free Waves project is an important stage in veterans’ recovery and has already proven its effectiveness. We help defenders to regain self-confidence and return to active life. It forms part of a comprehensive reintegration system for former service personnel: we support families, prepare teams for the return of demobilised colleagues, and assist communities in the regions where we operate,” says Metinvest Group Chief Sustainability Officer Tetiana Petruk.
The Free Waves programme is open to veterans and service personnel undergoing rehabilitation. All training sessions are provided free of charge.
For further information and to register for classes, please contact:
- Zaporizhzhia: +38 073 444 19 27
- Kryvyi Rih: +38 096 499 71 49
- Kamianske: +38 063 314 51 38