Oleksandr Vikhruk was wounded in March 2023 in the Donetsk region, Eastern Ukraine. Gravely injured, he applied tourniquets to his arms and leg. He then had to wait ten hours for medical help because the evacuation route was under attack by Russian forces. When he finally reached the hospital, doctors were forced to amputate his arms and leg. He then spent two and a half months in a medically induced coma. Later, he also suffered a cardiac arrest and a stroke – doctors called his survival a miracle.
Such stories underscore that equipping defenders with medical training and providing comprehensive mental health recovery to those experiencing war trauma are vital pillars of Ukrainian relief amidst the ongoing war.
In April 2024, Maksym was serving in the southern Kherson region, south of Ukraine. A Russian drone exploded near his face. It destroyed his right eye, blew off his left arm and several fingers. His legs were badly burned.
Maksym spent one and a half months in a medically induced coma. Doctors had to amputate the remains of his arm. When Maksym finally came to, he couldn’t see. Maksym with the support of US doctors, is doing everything he can to return to normal life.
Both defenders are scheduled to spend six months to a year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of a treatment plan paid for by the US Department of Defense. Both should receive bionic limbs, and doctors have also offered to transplant one of Maxym’s toes onto his right hand.
Thanks to your generosity, we can help wounded defenders and their families cover non-medical expenses during their treatment in the US. Together, we can make a difference and stay for the human rights of those who need this support now.
Read the full stories of these brave defenders and their families.
Standing with Ukraine as Missile and Drone Attacks Escalate
