Vyacheslav is a Ukrainian soldier who was wounded and captured by pro-Russian forces, then traded in a prisoner exchange. He's now learning to walk again despite severe challenges.

Kyiv

Ukrainian soldier Vyacheslav, who suffered severe wounds and was captured by pro-Russian forces, is on a challenging journey to regain his mobility. He lost both his hands and legs after being severely wounded on the battlefield and subsequently neglected in Russian captivity. Vyacheslav, who previously worked as a mechanic and a driver, had volunteered for the army in March 2022. He was active in combat operations in Kherson and near Avdivka for nearly a year until a life-threatening incident in a Russian assault.

During an attempt to retreat, Vyacheslav was shot, which resulted in significant injuries including a shattered bone and loss of muscle tissue. After surviving seven days crawling with severely injured legs, he was captured by militants from the Russia-backed Donetsk People's Republic. During his three months of captivity in Chechnya, he endured both mental and physical abuse, including threats of torture and beatings that left him with severe bruises. His injuries, compounded by frostbite, led to the amputation of his frostbitten hands and injured legs after gangrene set in.

Following a prisoner exchange on June 11th, 2023, Vyacheslav began his rehabilitation journey. He has been fitted with prostheses and is making progress in learning how to walk again, using a treadmill, engaging in activities such as puzzles, and relearning to swim. Despite the fear and challenges that come with each step, he is determined to regain his independence, expressing both fear of walking with crutches and a preference for the stability provided by a walker.

Before his service and the subsequent life-altering injuries, Vyacheslav aspired to open his own garage and repair motorcycles. While he now faces a long and difficult road to recovery, he is contemplating his future and the next steps in his life, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.



Ukraine veteran strives for every step to independence

Every step is a fight for Ivyshyslav. But he's proud he can stand up by himself now. A small triumph that seemed a far-off dream until recently. I can walk without my hands, but my knee won't work. He lost both his hands and legs, after being severely wounded on the battlefield and neglected in Russian captivity. Before the war, Ivyshyslav worked as a mechanic and a driver. He volunteered for the army in March 2022. He fought for almost a year in Kherson and near Avdivka, until he almost lost his life in January last year in a Russian assault. I tried to retreat. I thought I'd make it. There were shots. I was hit. I screamed and passed out. They thought they'd finished me off. When I came to, I no longer had my gun. I got shot through here, and one leg was shot. I got hit here, too, where the laces are, along the hem like this, until it shattered a bone. Here, I lost the muscles. For seven days, Ivyshyslav crawled on what was left of his legs, trying to get out of the conflict zone, but was then captured by militants from the Russia-backed Donetsk People's Republic. Ivyshyslav says he was mentally and physically abused in captivity. At first, they put a poker into an oven to heat it up. They wanted to torture me. They dragged me on this chair to a door, and there they beat me. I got bruises everywhere, and my nose swelled up. I couldn't stand it, and just gave in. After that, he said, he's done, put him in the grave. Ivyshyslav spent three months in captivity in Chechnya. His frostbitten hands and injured legs had to be amputated after a gangrene set in. He was exchanged on June 11th, 2023. Currently, Ivyshyslav is undergoing rehabilitation. He's been fitted for prostheses, he can walk on a treadmill, does puzzles, and is relearning to swim. I'm afraid of every step when I walk, because crutches are not reliable, but with the walker it's better. Today, I had trouble when I managed to hold on. It's always a bit scary on crutches. Before, Ivyshyslav dreamed of opening his own garage and repairing motorcycles. Now, he says, he's thinking of what his next steps will be.

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