Belgium will invest 6 million US dollars in Ukrainian enterprises. In Kyiv, faces of war victims will be restored using Belgian technologies. Belgium will also provide 10 million euros for the National Center of Excellence for the Treatment of Severe Burns and 4 million euros for Ukrainian veterans.
This was announced by the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prévot, during his visit to Kyiv.
Support for Veterans
Prévot announced Belgium’s contribution of 4 million euros to the Veteran Interoperable Service Platform (VISP). With this funding, Belgium will fully cover the cost of the project, which is being implemented as part of NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine.
The VISP project is being developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and directly supports the reform that Ukraine is carrying out in this area. It is part of Ukraine’s Veteran Policy Strategy for the period up to 2030 and the Strategy for Transition from Military Service to Civilian Life.
The platform will modernize the ministry’s digital ecosystem, enabling better integration of various public services. It aims to make services for veterans more accessible, secure, and coordinated. Specifically, the project involves developing digital services, enhancing cybersecurity and institutional capacity, and improving information exchange between relevant authorities.
“Those who defended their country must be able to count on it when they return to civilian life. Ukraine is building a new system of support for veterans itself, and Belgium is helping to make it simpler, more reliable, and more accessible. By fully financing this platform, we are concretely helping veterans access the medical care, services, and rights they deserve,” stated Prévot.
VISP complements the support already provided by Enabel, the Belgian development agency, under the BE-Relieve program. This program, in particular, helps veterans access medical care, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and social services.
Thus, the project will simultaneously contribute to the long-term reintegration of veterans, the modernization of Ukrainian public administration, and societal resilience. It also addresses the need for better coordination, as a large number of different organizations are already supporting veterans in Ukraine; better integration of services allows for the avoidance of duplication and ensures more effective delivery of aid to those who need it.
Investments in Industry
According to Prévot, Belgium is investing 6 million dollars in the development of Ukrainian enterprises through the RebuildUkraine Fund—the first direct investment fund established after the full-scale invasion began, aimed at investing in real assets in Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s economic reconstruction has already begun. Every enterprise that continues to produce, provide jobs, and invest strengthens the country’s ability to withstand today and rebuild tomorrow. Through BIO Invest, Belgium is channeling capital where it can act as a catalyst and attract other investors to the Ukrainian economy,” he stated.
Managed by Dragon Capital, REBUF provides long-term capital to resilient Ukrainian enterprises affected by the war that require financing for further growth or recovery. The fund particularly focuses on sectors such as healthcare, agribusiness, construction materials, financial services, trade, and technology.
Currently, BIO has an investment mandate in Ukraine totaling €21.8 million, designated for enterprises, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure. These investments also enable the building of economic ties with a country that is gradually and irreversibly integrating into the European market, even today.
Restoration of Faces for War Victims and Burn Treatment
Two operating rooms for craniofacial surgery, renovated with Belgian support, have been opened at the Kyiv Regional Hospital. The electrical network, heating, ventilation, water supply, and sanitary equipment have also been modernized.
This field of surgery allows for the treatment of severe injuries to the skull, face, and jaw, which have been sustained by both military personnel and civilians since the beginning of the Russian invasion. The two operating rooms, with a total area of 200 m², were renovated by Enabel as part of the BE-Relieve program.
“Behind every severe facial injury is a person who wants to regain their dignity and independence and live a full life again. Technologies developed in Belgium today enable Ukrainian doctors to perform extremely complex reconstructive surgeries. This is very specific expertise that we can place at the service of people injured in this war,” emphasized Prévot.
The project, in particular, relies on the expertise of Materialise, a Leuven-based company that emerged from KU Leuven and has global recognition in the field of medical 3D technologies. These technologies allow for high-precision planning of complex surgeries and the creation of customized implants for each patient.
Enabel is also collaborating with the Ukrainian organization Superhumans and medical universities in Kyiv and Lviv to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity in reconstructive surgery in the long term.
The total amount of Enabel’s support for the Kyiv Regional Hospital is €1.755 million. Additional investments are also directed towards 3D implants, training, and the development of medical simulation capabilities in Kyiv and Lviv.
Belgium will also provide 10 million euros for the National Center of Excellence for the Treatment of Severe Burns. The center’s project will be financed under Enabel agency’s BE-Relieve program.
It is noted that since 2022, Ukraine has recorded over 10,000 cases of severe burns among civilians and military personnel annually. Such injuries require specialized treatment and are a significant reason for the medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients abroad. The project aims to enable the treatment of more patients in Ukraine while simultaneously building national expertise to address the long-term consequences of the war.
One of Kyiv’s hospitals will be selected to house the future center. The project includes the renovation or adaptation of infrastructure, the procurement of specialized equipment, the training of Ukrainian medical teams, and the development of protocols in line with European standards. It will also contribute to the formation of a national strategy for treating patients with severe burns.
Belgium possesses internationally recognized expertise in this field. The Grand Hôpital de Charleroi will play a central technical role in the project, in particular alongside the Queen Astrid Military Hospital. Furthermore, at the European level, Belgium leads the specialized rescEU module for the treatment of severe burns.
“Ukraine asked us for assistance in an area where Belgium has recognized expertise. Our goal is for patients to receive highly specialized, top-level care in Ukraine, as close as possible to their families, and for this knowledge and experience to be permanently established in the country,” stated Prévot.
Shelter for a School in Novi Petrivtsi
In Novi Petrivtsi, approximately thirty kilometers from Kyiv, Prévot inaugurated a new school shelter built with Belgian support, as well as a renovated kitchen at the local lyceum. The project was implemented by Enabel as part of the BE-Relieve program.
Following the Russian invasion in 2022, the educational institution was forced to close due to the lack of a sufficiently safe space for students. The area, located near important infrastructure facilities, continues to be subjected to drone and missile attacks. Thanks to the new shelter, approximately 600 students of the lyceum will be able to return to full-time in-person learning.
The 595 m² shelter was constructed in less than a year and is equipped with modern ventilation and fire safety systems. It will also be used as a learning space: laptops, 3D printers, and microscopes allow lessons to continue during air raids. At night, the shelter will also provide protection for residents of surrounding buildings who do not have another safe place.
Belgian investments amount to €1.48 million for the shelter, with an additional €75,045 for the kitchen and €75,000 for accessibility improvements and drainage work.
Source: suspilne.media