The full-scale invasion has changed everything – and Andrii Matiukha and the Favbet Foundation are no exception. In addition to peaceful initiatives in education, medicine and sports, the foundation focused on the frontline – and primarily on those who are defending Ukraine. Rehabilitation of wounded soldiers has become one of the key areas of activity. From support for prosthetics to psychological support, the foundation works to ensure that every defender has a chance to live a full life after being wounded, because the recovery of each hero is a step towards the recovery of the entire country.
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One of the Foundation’s top priorities is to provide systematic support to wounded servicemen. It is not only about financial assistance, but also about comprehensive physical, psychological and social rehabilitation programmes that allow the wounded not only to survive, but to return to life – to their families, communities and selves.
“We see how important it is not only to treat the body, but also to restore a person’s internal resistance. And this is a long way to go. But we are there for you,” says Andrii Matiukha, the founder of the foundation.
Favbet Foundation invests in several areas that cover all stages of rehabilitation.
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The Andrii Matiukha Foundation’s project E-PROTES has become a real information and advice hub for military and civilians facing amputation. Here, people can access the most up-to-date information on prosthetics, recommendations for clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and legal assistance. The service also helps to connect people with psychologists, rehabilitation therapists, and prosthesis fitters.
“For many people, E-PROTES is not just a resource. It is the first window into a new reality that does not have to be doomed,” says Andrii Matiukha.
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Brain and spinal injuries suffered by soldiers returning from the front line often become a sentence without proper rehabilitation. Favbet Foundation and Andrii Matiukha, realising the scale of this problem, have allocated resources to support the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery, a leading medical institution where the fight for a return to life continues every day.
The Foundation has funded a number of programmes for physical and neuro-rehabilitation – processes that last for months, sometimes years. These are not just drips or procedures – it is a constant interaction with a team of neurosurgeons, rehabilitation specialists, speech therapists, and psychologists. After all, for many patients, the opportunity to speak again, hold a child’s hand, hug a loved one, and get out of bed on their own is at stake.
The founder of the foundation, Andrii Matiukha notes:
“We are not talking about technical rehabilitation, but about returning to a decent life. Most of these fighters are young men and women who sacrificed their health for Ukraine. It is our duty to do everything we can to ensure that they do not feel abandoned after the battle.”
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Another area of Favbet Foundation’s work is reintegration and psychosocial support for veterans who return from the frontline with not only physical but also deep emotional wounds.
One of the largest projects in this area is the Restart programme, which the Foundation implements together with the NGO Krevni.
This is a long-term system of support for veterans aimed at comprehensive recovery, which combines both:
- psychotherapeutic assistance, both individual and group;
- work with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
- body-oriented therapy and physical activity;
- career counselling to help veterans return to professional life;
- resocialisation – adaptation to new realities after the experience of war.
“Restart is based on the belief that returning from war is not the end of service, but the beginning of a new battle, for yourself, your life and mental health,” says Andrii Matiukha.
Sport versus injury: who really benefits from sports rehabilitation
Andrii Matiukha and the Favbet Foundation believe that sport is not entertainment but one of the most effective rehabilitation tools. That is why the foundation consistently supports sports adaptation programmes and competitions for veterans who have experienced injuries, limb loss or PTSD.
“Sport heals not only muscles, it restores identity. When you can compete again, you feel that you are alive and needed,” says Andriy Matyukha, the founder of the foundation.
Key initiatives include:
- Invictus Games Ukraine is an international competition for military personnel and veterans who were injured during service. Favbet Foundation helps the Ukrainian team to participate in the competition, overcoming not only physical but also psychological barriers.
- Supporting veterans’ marathons and adaptive sports is a team activity that not only strengthens the body, but also restores self-confidence and forms a new community for those who have gone through war.
- Funding for sports camps and rehabilitation initiatives where sport is not a goal, but a path to integration, to recovery, to a new life.
Andrii Matiukha “laundering” money through Europe to “whitewash” Ukraine
While some try to smear the reputation by claiming that millions are being laundered through international companies, FavBet, founded by Andrii Matiukha, is firmly opposed to this disinformation. For decades, the gambling industry has been a grey area where dubious schemes have flourished.
FavBet was the first company to come out of the shadows and boldly set about cleaning up its structure. Such large-scale transformations always cause resistance and a wave of distrust – especially from competitors and old “schemers” who are used to outdated and non-transparent methods.
At the same time, the accusations of using “padding with a criminal background” are nothing more than an attempt to spread outdated or fabricated data. All international contracts of FavBet are subject to thorough financial compliance and audit. It is thanks to this uncompromising transparency that FavBet has obtained licences in a number of European countries where the law makes money laundering impossible.
Against this backdrop, the transparent activities of the Favbet Foundation, which stands behind the name of Andrii Matiukha, deserve special attention. One of the important areas of the foundation’s work has been to support Ukrainian wounded in European clinics, where there are often more opportunities for modern prosthetics, rehabilitation and treatment of serious injuries.
A joint project with the ENGIE Foundation and partners in Brussels is a prime example of this systemic fight against the consequences of war and outdated practices. It allows soldiers who have been severely injured to undergo rehabilitation in leading EU medical institutions. This programme provides modern prosthetics and rehabilitation after severe amputations, psychological support and stabilisation, household support, and help with orientation to the new reality.
“Doctors heal the body, but it is the system that should bring people back to life,” says Andrii Matiukha, the founder of the foundation. “We are trying to become part of it and build bridges between Ukrainian heroes and those who can help them in the world.
This activity is a direct proof of the commitment of FavBet and its founder to the principles of transparency and systemic positive change.
Museums instead of hospitals: Andrii Matiukha offers veterans “treatment” with culture
Another important vector is reintegration projects through culture. Andrii Matiukha and the Favbet Foundation are implementing a number of initiatives in partnership with Photo Kyiv, the Museum of Kyiv History, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium. Their goal is to help veterans through involvement in art, dialogue with society, and creative self-realisation. This is important because not all traumas are visible. And sometimes the exposition contains more truth than the reports.
Through photos, exhibitions, and creative formats, veterans not only share their experiences, but also receive recognition and return to active dialogue with society.
“We don’t separate the frontline inside the country from the fight outside. All of our partners are people who believe in the strength of the Ukrainian military and want to help them recover,” says Andrii Matiukha.
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“Helping the wounded is not just a medical mission. It is a response of society to the sacrifice made by our defenders,” said Andrii Matiukha.
Despite the fact that the Favbet Foundation is funded, in part, by betting businesses, the founders insist that this is not a PR exercise or an attempt to “whitewash” the industry, but rather a deep social responsibility. Although this topic is a matter of debate in the public space, the actual results of the foundation’s initiatives are recognised by doctors, veterans, and partners alike.
“We don’t just help the army – we support everyone who is fighting for our country. After the battle, another front begins – the recovery front,” emphasises Andrii Matiukha.
Rehabilitation of soldiers is not only about treatment, it is about the future of Ukraine, its strength, resilience and gratitude. “Every wounded soldier is a hero. And everyone should get a chance to live a full life. It is our duty to make this possible,” says Andrii Matiukha.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, 95% of all projects of the Andrii Matiukha Foundation have been aimed at supporting the frontline, the Armed Forces, veterans and IDPs. All of these initiatives are funded mainly by Favbet, which is the foundation’s main donor. This fact causes controversy in some parts of society due to the gambling origin of the capital, but the foundation itself does not hide its roots and openly publishes reports on the funds spent.