Croatian officials on Tuesday welcomed 19 wounded Ukrainian soldiers at Zagreb Airport, where they arrived to begin rehabilitation treatment in specialized medical institutions across the country.
The soldiers were received by Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved and Health Minister Irena Hrstić, who described the initiative as part of Croatia’s continued support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Medved said the injured troops had been wounded earlier in the conflict and would now undergo rehabilitation in specialized Croatian facilities, including veteran centers operated by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans.
“Today, as the Prime Minister is in Ukraine with the clear goal of supporting the Ukrainian people, here in Zagreb we are sending a message that we will continue to provide assistance through various forms — particularly by supporting those wounded in the battles for Ukraine’s freedom,” Medved said.
He emphasized that medical rehabilitation is only one dimension of Croatia’s broader assistance to what he called a friendly nation, noting that Zagreb has also provided material, financial and military support.
To date, 72 wounded Ukrainian soldiers have been treated in Croatia in four separate groups. Twelve remain in the country undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, while the newly arrived group of 19 will now be distributed among designated medical and rehabilitation institutions.
“Our teams coordinated with colleagues in Ukraine prior to their arrival, so we are already familiar with their diagnoses and the nature of their injuries,” Medved said. “The institutions where they will be accommodated have a complete medical overview and are prepared to begin the treatment and rehabilitation process immediately upon admission.”
Croatia, a member of the European Union and NATO, has consistently aligned itself with broader European efforts to assist Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. The rehabilitation program reflects both humanitarian support and the country’s longstanding institutional focus on veteran care following its own war in the 1990s.