Themes by tag: casualties

In Mezhyhirya, Kyiv region, Anteus canine center has been training guide dogs as well as preparing dogs to work in combat zones for more than 10 years. Until 2014, the center had been an elite kennel club located on the grounds of the mansion belonging to fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych.

After the Revolution of Dignity, the Ukrainian military began to turn to the center’s canine experts, as the servicemen needed dogs who could work at the front. In particular, to help clear mines, as well as participate in search and rescue operations. Such requests kept on coming during the full-scale invasion as well. In addition to training four-legged friends to work in combat zones, specialists train guide dogs to care for civilians and soldiers who have lost their sight. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the canine center has raised 5 guide dogs, all of whom received the necessary certification abroad and went on to take care of their owners.

“Let’s See the Victory” charity foundation, which was founded by the veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladyslav Yeshchenko, pledged to support the canine center to enable training of more guide dogs. Employees of the center say that it is not easy to maintain such an organization, in particular, without state funding. After all, it takes more than UAH 200,000 to raise and train one dog that can work with the wounded.

• animals
• casualties
• Kyiv

Bakhmut resident Kateryna Arisoi is Head of Pluriton NGO: since the beginning of the full-scale war, the organization’s volunteers provided assistance in hot spots near the front. In particular, they were involved in the evacuation of people and animals.

While doing their work, part of the team was captured by the enemy in Lysychansk, Luhansk region. It was possible to return the volunteers home only after seven months. Kateryna met with the freed team members in Sumy oblast — at the only checkpoint on the border with russia. That’s when she saw that people after crossing the border have nowhere to rest or get help. A week later, the woman, together with other activists of the organization, returned to Sumy oblast with the necessary things and created an Assistance Center that could receive up to 20 people a day (March 2023). In addition, the NGO paid for a carrier who took refugees to Sumy or Kharkiv free of charge. The number of people grew, so the Center was repeatedly relocated to larger buildings. And recently, due to russian shelling near the border, the center was moved to Sumy.

In total, since the beginning of its work, the Atmosphere Assistance Center has received almost 19,000 people. Here the displaced people can eat and take a shower. There is a “mother and child” room. The center also helps people with limited mobility. In addition, all visitors can receive free psychological and legal assistance. People continue receiving support even after leaving the Center.

Journalists need to obtain a permit from the Sumy operational-tactical group in order to cover the activity of the Center.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Sumy

Viacheslav Levytskyi, a 40-year-old native of the Odesa region, led a quiet life as a delivery driver before he joined the country’s defense at the outbreak of a full-blown war.

In the Donetsk region near Avdiivka, Levytskyi sustained severe injuries as bullets tore through his legs and torso. Despite his wounds, he spent seven days navigating the treacherous gray zone. But his ordeal was far from over. Captured by Russian forces and their collaborators, Levytskyi endured three days without any medical assistance in the occupied areas of Donetsk. From there, he was whisked away by Chechen captors to Grozny, where the extent of his injuries became tragically apparent. Gangrene had ravaged his legs, while his hands bore the cruel scars of frostbite, necessitating their amputation.

For three and a half months, Levytskyi languished in captivity, his whereabouts unknown to his worried mother. But against all odds, he was eventually exchanged. He is now at the Superhumans center in Lviv, Levytskyi is undergoing intensive rehabilitation. With prosthetic legs affixed, he’s learning to walk anew, while preparations are underway for prosthetic arms.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• Lviv

Oleksandr Budko enlisted in the military at the outset of the full-blown war. After enduring the loss of both his legs during a combat mission, the soldier, Oleksandr, persevered and didn’t let the injury stop him from embracing civilian life. He mastered prosthetics, penned an autobiography, took up stand-up comedy, and recently became a central figure in a documentary highlighting the resilience of dancers who fled Ukraine post-Russian invasion to establish the United Ukrainian Ballet. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is set to produce the film. Now, on February 13, Oleksandr Budko presented the inaugural episode of “Leg Flew or All Inclusive,” an inclusive travel show he spearheaded. In this series, he traverses Ukraine alongside companions from the media realm, exploring cities for accessibility. Show participants, including the host and guests, maneuver wheelchairs as they visit renowned tourist spots, landmarks, and museums. Even as an entertaining show, yet it also sheds light on the challenges regarding the accessibility of public places.

• casualties
• military

Oleksandr Darmoros’ life took a drastic turn in March 2016. Serving as an intelligence officer in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone, during a combat mission, Darmoros hit an anti-personnel mine, leaving his entire body severely injured. Evacuated by his fellow soldiers in time, however, the blast took his eyesight and leg. Darmoros underwent numerous surgeries and years of rehabilitation, both in Ukraine and abroad. Despite the challenges, he persevered, learning to navigate life with prosthetics and take care of himself while living in darkness. In the US, Darmoros received running prosthetics and even participated in the Marine Corps Marathon. Alongside his physical recovery, he embarked on a new career path as a military psychologist. Now based in the Khmelnytskyi region, he provides crucial support to soldiers in need. Looking ahead, Darmoros aims to relaunch his YouTube channel, intending to share his experience and insights with a broader audience.

For reference: as February 24, 2024, marks the grim two-year anniversary of Russia’s criminal incursion into Ukraine. It stands as the apex of a decade-long war of aggression, which actually dates back to February 20, 2014, beginning with the annexation of Crimea. Russian forces invaded Ukrainian Crimea without any identifying markings and, after that, seized control of the peninsula back then. Subsequently, these events escalated into war in eastern Ukraine.

• casualties
• military
• psychological support
• Khmelnytskyi

On February 12, the Ukrainian Military League will hold a press conference featuring the UML representatives talking about scaling up the project of psychological and sports rehabilitation of the service members for 2024.

In particular, it is planned to initiate the start of 100 mental health, physical therapy, and sports rehabilitation services centers for the Armed Forces servicemen throughout the country. It is also expected to leverage sporting events, competitions, and championships to enhance military personnel seeking psychological support participation. In particular, these include military veterans, soldiers wounded in action, and those whose transition to civilian life is underway. 

For reference: According to the UML, 1.8 million active duty members and veterans will be looking for mental health assistance after the war ends.

• casualties
• military
• psychological support

Since February 24, 2022, the White Angels police team has managed to rescue and bring more than 9,000 people from the frontline areas to safety. Law enforcement crews go to the most remote corners that are out of reach for volunteer missions, evacuating those who are ready to leave for a safe zone, and delivering humanitarian aid to those who won’t flee the areas. White Angels employs 81 policemen, particularly in the Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions. The officers are truly selfless when it comes to saving people despite risking their own lives. Getting out civilians from Avdiivka in Donetsk region, a site of fierce fighting, is among the most recent operations of the White Angels. 

For reference: the White Angels crew in the Donetsk region is willing to give both online and offline interviews, by prior arrangement with the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast.

• casualties
• evacuation

On February 10, Lviv will host a charity sports event for lower limb amputees. The event aiming to test patients’ running specific prostheses feet is organized by the Superhumans Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center. The prosthetic feet functional testing will be run as a comparative evaluation involving not only patients but also specialists from various rehabilitation centers and media representatives. The competitors will play soccer, basketball, and volleyball together having their running prostheses on. 

In addition, Superhumans will attract several prosthetists (physical therapists) from other rehabilitation centers to engage in teaching patients using prosthetics how to fit and operate running prostheses.

• casualties
• doctors
• Lviv

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, 56-year-old Volodymyr Hudim worked as a paramilitary guard at the railroad. When the AFU retook his hometown of Kherson from occupying the Russian force in November 2022, Volodymyr and his comrades mobilized and joined the Defense Forces. In the summer of 2023, the soldier was defending positions near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, where he suffered his first injury as shrapnel hit his shoulder. The man underwent treatment and soon returned to duty.

In late October 2023, Volodymyr and his fellow soldiers took up combat positions a few kilometers from Klishchiivka near Bakhmut. They were to be replaced in a few days. However, the Russians launched an onslaught, and Volodymyr’s position turned out to be behind enemy lines. One of his comrades had been killed in action the day before, and the rest went in search of water and never returned. And Hudim was left alone without any communication with his comrades because at that time all the radios had already died. The man was hiding in enemy trenches, looking for supplies, collecting rainwater, and melting snow. The fighter also eliminated several Russians he encountered in their own rear.

Volodymyr kept a diary where he wrote down what was happening to him. During 46 days behind enemy lines, he lost a finger due to a wound, and later, in a hospital, his left foot was amputated due to frostbite. Volodymyr was found by Ukrainian soldiers who noticed a trident on his helmet. The man is currently in hospital undergoing rehabilitation.

Additionally: Volodymyr Hudim is ready to have both online and offline interviews, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military

29-year-old Yevhen Koptiaiev volunteered for mobilization in the Defense Forces since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The soldier fought in the Donetsk sector, where he got seriously injured during an assault. Yevhen was shot through his helmet by an enemy bullet causing an entry wound in his ear and exit in his eye. The bullet also hit the front bones shattering his skull and tearing out his under-eye muscles. With those injuries, Yevhen crawled more than two kilometers to reach Ukrainian counterparts’ positions. The military veteran says he realized how badly he was injured being already halfway to his comrades: trying to touch his nose, his three fingers passed right through the mutilated bones of his skull and jaw.

Yevhen was first treated in Vinnytsia, having reconstructive surgery to his skull: five titanium implants were used for his face reconstruction. After the treatment, Yevhen had to get another one, because one of the plates didn’t adapt to the body defect ultimately leading to the body rejecting the implant and provoking inflammation. So a team of foreign doctors from Face the future Ukraine took over Yevhen’s treatment. The surgeons removed the failed implant, restored the lacrimal glands, and transplanted the man’s skin under the eye. Three months have passed since Yevhen’s last surgery. The wounds on his face have almost healed. Now the veteran has returned to Kryvyi Rih, where his wife and two children live.

For reference: “Face the future Ukraine” is a mission of reconstructive surgeons from Canada and the US, a joint effort of world experts and their Ukrainian colleagues, to restore physical health and aesthetic beauty to those who were disfigured by enemy fire. They also work with soldiers who have suffered injuries to their face and neck at the front line.

• casualties
• doctors
• military