Themes by tag: casualties

Andrii Badarak, a veteran who served on the front lines from 2015 through volatile areas like Zaitseve, Zolote, and Shyrokyne, endured a life-altering injury in 2016 when he was struck by a mine near Shyrokyne, sustaining severe injuries to his lungs and spine. 

Despite the setback, Badarak’s resilience shone through as he joined Ukraine’s national team for the Invictus Games in 2019, competing in swimming and archery at Invictus Game The Hague 2020 event. His dedication paid off as he clinched the top spot in the 50-meter backstroke, surpassing his previous performance. 

In 2021, Badarak achieved the prestigious title of Master of Sports in Swimming at the Ukrainian Swimming Championships for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. Demonstrating his commitment to giving back, he transitioned to a coaching role in 2023, serving as an assistant swimming coach for the Invictus Games national team, and mentoring young boys facing similar challenges. 

Journalists seeking to interview Badarak can reach him either in person in the Rivne region or via online platforms.

In Ukraine, preparations are underway for the 2025 Invictus Games as the selection process for the Ukrainian national team kicks off. Starting April 8, eligible candidates can register to vie for a spot on the team set to represent Ukraine at the prestigious event in Vancouver-Whistler, Canada. Journalists interested in learning more about this initial phase of the selection process can obtain additional details. 

For reference: The Invictus Games stand as the premier international gathering for veterans and military personnel who have endured injuries, trauma, or illnesses during their service, underscoring the resilience and spirit of these individuals.

• casualties
• military

Ivan Shostak, who initially served in the 79th Air Assault Brigade during the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2015, returned to civilian life after his contract ended. 

However, when the all-out invasion escalated in 2022, he reenlisted and was injured, resulting in blindness during a mission in the Bakhmut sector. Following rehabilitation, Shostak immersed himself in pottery, mastering the craft within four months. He now produces clay items adorned with his personal logo and slogan, “Nobody but us,” which he markets through exhibitions and social media. Shostak aims to gather funds for specialized education and hopes to launch a massage parlor in his hometown of Vinnytsia.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Vinnytsia

Haiane Avakian from Bakhmut found out about her destroyed home from photos of the city in the russian social media. Yuliia Mashuta watched a livestream of her house in Severodonetsk burning down after a rocket hit. Currently, these women are a part of the team of the “Sviy Dim” platform, which collects testimonies by people whose property and homes were destroyed by russia.

“Sviy Dim” is a platform for people who are building the foundation of a new life in Ukraine. Over 600 testimonies have already been published. Most of them are from the people who come from the regions of active hostilities (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions as well as others). The platform records russian war crimes related to the destruction of the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine: apartment buildings and detached houses, schools and kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities. Every story is human-centered. Those who lived or worked there share stories of their house, factory or cultural center.

The platform is also creating a database of objects that need restoration. A separate section – reconstruction – tells stories of those who are rebuilding the affected regions right now.

By prior agreement, journalists can talk with Haiane Avakian, Product Development Director of the Abo Agency, who founded the “Sviy Dim” platform, as well as with other people who have shared their testimonies on the platform.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Hearing Restoration Department has started working at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. According to the Center, every third military or civilian patient in the institutions has experienced hearing loss and needs specialized help encompassing medical treatment, hearing aids and surgical intervention. That is why, together with the specialists of Vidchuy (Feel) NGO, from now on the Center will help to restore another opportunity lost due to the war.

Within just a few days of the department’s operation, Superhumans specialists examined 32 patients, of whom 7 people needed surgical interventions (tympanoplasty), 2 needed hearing aids, another 2 needed cochlear implants, and 12 were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, which requires constant monitoring.

All the Superhumans Center’s patients with acoustic trauma undergo examinations and remain under the supervision of the Center’s otolaryngologists as well as work with the specialists of Vidchuy NGO, mainly deaf educators and speech therapists.

• casualties
• doctors
• Lviv

After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 8,500 Ukrainian children were left without parental care, more than 1,500 became orphans, tens of thousands lost their homes or were forced to relocate. Children’s homes and orphanages in Ukraine are under great pressure today, their resources are exhausted, and access to quality medical care is limited.

As part of the “Little Hearts” project, FRIDA takes care of Children’s homes and orphanages in different parts of Ukraine. Teams consisting of volunteer doctors of different specializations travel to these institutions to examine children and determine if they need medicines, vaccinations, rehabilitation and surgical interventions.

Pediatricians will visit a children’s home in Kyiv region in April.

Media representatives are invited to cover the missions under this project.

• casualties
• children
• doctors
• Kyiv

12-year-old Yana Stepanenko, who lost both legs in a rocket attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk, will take part in the Boston Marathon. On April 13, the girl will run a 5-kilometer distance on prosthetics to show the whole world the indomitability of the Ukrainian people. Another of Yana’s goals in Boston is charity. She will be raising funds for a sports prosthesis for Andrii Kropyvnytskyi, seriously wounded defender and a patient of the Unbroken Center, who lost a limb in the war.

For the past two months, the girl has been training hard to participate in the Boston Marathon. Yana was invited to participate in it by the American foundation One World Strong, which helps veterans and civilians who suffered as a result of terrorist attacks and hostilities.

On April 4, Yana Stepanenko will hold an open training session for the media in Lviv.

The event in Lviv requires registration.

For reference: on April 8, 2022, as a result of a russian terrorist attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk, Yana Stepanenko lost both legs. The photo of her being carried by the surgeon of the St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital of Lviv’s First Medical Association went viral around the world. Yana received her first prostheses for walking and running in the USA. Last summer, after a year of recovery abroad, she returned to Ukraine. Yana continued her rehabilitation here and already managed to get new artificial limbs for walking from the Unbroken Center’s prosthetic workshops.

The Boston Marathon is one of the largest and most prestigious events in the world. About 30,000 people from all over the world take part in it every year.

• casualties
• children
• russian crimes
• Lviv

In a pioneering move, Ukraine has launched its first-ever mobile pharmacy, now serving the Kharkiv Oblast. Offering over 1,000 essential medications, this initiative addresses the healthcare needs of rural communities lacking access to brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

Under the state-sponsored “Affordable Medicines” program, residents can obtain select medications either free of charge or at a nominal fee. 

The mobile pharmacy’s scheduled arrival is coordinated with local authorities and primary care physicians, ensuring that patients are informed of its planned visits.

Operating with a community-centric approach, the pharmacy’s itinerary is strategically tailored to meet the specific requirements of the communities and the security conditions prevailing in the region. 

• casualties
• Kharkiv

The ‘Doctors for Heroes’ charity project is dedicated to assisting both military personnel and civilians who have suffered facial and head injuries, offering vital reconstruction services. To date, the project has aided 107 military individuals and one civilian.

Under this initiative, skilled surgeons and bioengineers generously provide their expertise pro bono, ensuring patients receive essential medical care. However, for the reconstruction of skull bones, specialized implants are required. Recognizing this need, the Eastern Star Charitable Foundation, the driving force behind the project, has committed to covering the costs of producing these implants for each participant. To fund this crucial aspect, the foundation relies on donations, carefully managing the allocation of resources to ensure targeted assistance. Moreover, it offers ongoing support to patients throughout their treatment journey.

Journalists seeking insights into this impactful endeavor can arrange interviews with project organizers, medical professionals, and beneficiaries in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

35-year-old Yuliia Hryhorieva, hailing from Chornobaivka village in the Kherson region, has endured a harrowing ordeal. Prior to the onset of all-out invasion, she diligently served as a junior nurse at a nearby hospital, while also tending to her garden during moments of respite. Miraculously, she emerged alive from the Russian occupation of her homeland.

Following the liberation of a portion of the Kherson Oblast from invaders, on November 23, 2023, Russian forces unleashed a barrage of artillery fire upon residential structures in Chornobaivka. The indiscriminate attack claimed the lives of three innocent civilians and left five others wounded, including Yuliia. 

Yuliia got shrapnel raining upon her legs as she traversed her yard when a nearby cluster bomb detonated. She mustered the strength to summon an ambulance, though her prospects seemed bleak as she awaited medical aid. Fortunately, passing Ukrainian soldiers intervened, swiftly evacuating her to Kherson hospital. 

Tragically, Yuliia endured the loss of her left leg above the knee due to the severity of her injuries. Additionally, she sustained an open fracture of the fibula in her right leg, necessitating further surgical intervention.

Yuliia accessed the Superhumans Center in Lviv by submitting an online application. Her primary goal is to regain mobility, master her prosthetic limb, and stride with confidence. Recently, she achieved a significant milestone by taking her first steps on the prosthetic device.

For reference: On November 11, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated Chornobaivka village in the Kherson region from occupation forces.

• casualties
• russian crimes
• women
• Lviv

Leading the charge at the St. Nicholas Clinic is Kostiantyn Mylytsia, a surgeon and co-founder of the Brave Step prosthetic center in Zaporizhia. Established in September 2023, this vital facility was made possible through funding from the Slovak Embassy and a local charity foundation. Prior to its inception, individuals in need of prosthetics within the region had to journey to western Ukraine or seek assistance abroad. Now, they have a lifeline closer to home – the nearest prosthetic center to the front line. Mylytsia stresses the urgency of prompt surgical intervention for wounded soldiers. 

At Brave Step, assistance is rendered free of charge to all who seek it. The center’s medical professionals have undergone rigorous training in the United States, Germany, and Austria.

• casualties
• Zaporizhzhia