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IN PHOTOS: Inside the eerie rehab centre where Russia’s war veterans try to rebuild their lives

A 53-year-old veteran amputee, call sign “Ded” (Grandfather), navigates the rehabilitation corridor with measured steps, his prosthetic leg a stark reminder of the mine blast that claimed his limb in Russia’s Kursk region. “Ded” served in a paramilitary group during Russia’s military action in Ukraine. Like many others, he now finds himself relearning life at a restorative therapy centre for veterans in Ruza, west of Moscow. (PICS/PTI)

Updated On: 2025-04-16 02:54 PM IST

Compiled by : Anisha Shrivastava

(PICS/AFP)
The centre, located some 80 kilometres from the capital, offers physical and psychological rehabilitation to veterans injured in military operations from Ukraine to Chechnya. In a quiet hall at the Ruza centre, “Ded” pauses between therapy sessions, his silhouette framed by soft afternoon light – a portrait of resilience shaped by conflict.
Veterans at the facility undergo tailored recovery programmes, combining physiotherapy with emotional support in an effort to ease their return to civilian life. The Ruza centre houses a museum chronicling Russia’s recent military history – from Afghanistan and Chechnya to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
A visitor walks past solemn displays of uniforms, flags and faded photographs – relics of battles fought across decades and geographies, now enshrined at the veterans’ centre. The museum space, embedded within the rehabilitation facility, is more than a historical archive – it is a place where memory and recovery intersect.
Women visitors take in the stories of Russia’s wartime past, the exhibits echoing the struggles of those still undergoing rehabilitation just rooms away. Exhibits showcase personal effects, battlefield artefacts and symbolic emblems, offering a curated narrative of service, sacrifice and survival.

The veterans’ centre in Ruza represents a rare confluence of remembrance and recovery – a space where those wounded by war live among daily reminders of its legacy. In a country where military pride runs deep, the men and women at Ruza embody a quieter, enduring form of service – one marked not by victory, but by the long road home.

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