"Ukrainian war amputees journey to Germany for tailor-made prosthetics"
"Two days of non-stop bombing from Russian artillery and drones changed my life forever. I was hit on December 5th, resulting in both legs being amputated," a 43-year-old bearded soldier spoke to CNN in Berlin. One leg is missing beneath the knee, and the other is gone above it.
Vitaliy Sayko-Kazakov, a 42-year-old soldier from Ukraine, also had a harsh reality. He fought in Chervonopopivka, which saw conflict between Ukrainian forces and the Russians. During one battle, he lost his left leg to an explosion. Miraculously, he managed to apply a tourniquet and remained conscious, possibly on adrenaline. His right leg required multiple surgeries and eventually resulted in the need for another amputation, this time above the knee. For three entire months, Vitaliy laid in a hospital bed before arriving in Berlin for assistance.
This tragic war between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in many lives lost, and multiple others injured so severely that they now require amputations. German officials projected anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 Ukrainian amputees due to the ongoing operation that began in February 2022.
Surviving Ukrainian soldiers now face the struggle of getting the proper care and prosthetic limbs needed to live as close to their previous lives as possible. This is where the German NGO, "Life Bridge Ukraine," comes in. Based in Berlin, the organization is currently helping the first of sixty extremely injured Ukrainian soldiers.
Marko Gänsl, an orthopedic technician with the German health care company Seeger, collaborates with other experts in Berlin to design unique prostheses for these men. When CNN first met the wounded soldiers in their accommodation center, Gänsl was conducting initial evaluations. He reassured Kushnirov that he would communicate any pain and put a tape on Kushnirov's leg stumps for measuring. Kushnirov's right leg will be easy to fit, but his left is harder due to its higher level of amputation.
Prostheses need to be applied swiftly to wounded soldiers to save their lives on the battlefield. Gänsl highlighted that the severity of the amputations and the alteration in stump dimensions make it complicated to create prosthetic limbs that will function properly for these Ukrainian soldiers.
Next up was Valerii Omelchenko, a 27-year-old soldier who entered the war three months after Russia fully seized Ukraine. "I survived a drone attack on November 23rd. I instinctively tucked my legs into my chest to shield myself," he recalled. The devastating consequences were visible with one leg missing and the other severely damaged. Despite the trauma, Omelchenko held onto hope, stating, "At least I'm still alive."
The external fixator used to keep his damaged left leg in place has been removed, and he will receive a new prosthetic for his other leg soon.
Janine von Wolfersdorff is the brains behind this remarkable initiative. A financial expert in Berlin, she started helping Ukrainians after Russia's full-scale assault upon their nation. She alleges, "It's a challenge to find the ideal patients in Ukraine. There are so many individuals with intricate conditions and inadequate aid resources available."
Life Bridge Ukraine, a successful endeavor thanks to cooperation between the German and Ukrainian capitals, brings warriors into Berlin for prosthetics, physical therapy, and hope for the future. Experts at Berlin's workshops will produce brand-new limbs and teach the picked beneficiaries how to walk and act independently again.
Von Wolfersdorff journeyed to Ukraine alongside a medical team to review the most horrifically injured soldiers. "It's problematic to identify the nominees who will undergo treatment there. We need to skim through a massive number of complex cases, but unfortunately, there are too few orthopedic technicians in Ukraine to care for all the casualties appropriately and promptly."
Thus, the "Life Bridge Ukraine" initiators' goal is to help Ukrainians live as normal a life as possible post-war. These brave souls got their second chance, and they're set to walk again.
"We strive to give injured Ukrainian soldiers a second chance in life - and during this endeavor, we'll train six Ukrainians in Berlin for three months, teaching them how to make high-quality prosthetics. Eventually, we hope to open a prosthetics center in Kyiv. While the trainees learn from the experts, they discover challenges like additional amputations, required surgeries, and other issues that arise during the complex process.
Volodymyr Havrylov is one of the trainees at Seeger's workshop. He mentioned the importance of a well-prepared stump: "The better the stump, the easier it is for us to create a stump receiver. Every patient needs different treatment... sometimes the limb is too short, too long, or there's not enough space for the fitting. Sometimes patients still have pain somewhere, or other medical conditions."
Havrylov's goal is to absorb as much knowledge as he can from the Germans and possibly surpass their skills, allowing him to establish a prosthetics center and help others in Kyiv. He said, "There will be more injured people in Ukraine. We need more centers to enhance their lives."
Life Bridge Ukraine gathered around $600,000 in donations for this initiative, supporting the soldiers' recuperation in Berlin. Von Wolfersdorff noted, "It's a long process of recovery. We follow a holistic treatment approach: not just physiotherapy, but also provide psychological help and nutritional advice. Our goal is to help them adapt to a near-normal life."
In Seeger's workshop, CNN observed Kushnirov and Sayko-Kazakov for their first fittings; Kushnirov's process was more challenging due to the artificial knee joint on one of his limbs. "Walking will be more difficult for him," Gänsl remarked. "It's a whole new way of learning to walk again."
Kushnirov recognizes his recovery will be a lengthy process but is committed to keep trying. "It's unfortunate that I'm losing so much time recuperating. But my life will definitely improve no matter what. However, it's hard to imagine my life after the fittings. I know it will be different."
In the coming weeks, both men and the others with new artificial limbs will receive extensive training on how to move again in Berlin. Before leaving for Ukraine, any final adjustments to the prosthetic fittings will be made.
Gänsl remarked, "It's fun collaborating with these motivated individuals and Ukrainian trainees, witnessing incredible progress." Yet, he warned of challenges ahead for the soldiers with their final prosthetic limbs. "Prosthetic fittings need to be adjusted frequently. It's an ongoing process."
Both Sayko-Kazakov and Kushnirov agree that they'll return to Ukraine soon, walking comfortably with their initial artificial limbs. They believe they can support their home units by assembling drones or performing maintenance tasks."
Vitaliy looked at his new artificial legs and grinned, "These are my two legs now... One and two. We're going to fit them today."
As Sayko-Kazakov and Kushnirov made their first steps in the workshop with the prosthetic limbs, Gänsl added, "Walking will be more difficult for him."
Kushnirov acknowledged his new realities. "I won't be able to walk like others do again, or fight at the front line anymore. But there are many ways I can help and contribute - like operating a drone or conducting repairs and maintenance tasks. No matter what, I'll keep fighting for Ukraine."
Sayko-Kazakov also considered his responsibilities once they return to Ukraine: "The war isn't over yet. Our work isn't finished. I often remember my comrades who lost their lives under my care. It's painful. But when we go back, we'll be able to help the home front in various ways, such as assembling drones."
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The German NGO, "Life Bridge Ukraine," is currently assisting sixty severely injured Ukrainian soldiers in Berlin, aiming to provide them with tailor-made prosthetics. Many of these soldiers, like Vitaliy Sayko-Kazakov and Pavlo Kushnirov, have lost limbs during the conflict in Ukraine.
In an effort to support injured Ukrainian soldiers, German officials project that up to 50,000 amputees will require assistance due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. This tragic situation has led to initiatives like "Life Bridge Ukraine," which aims to help these soldiers regain their mobility and continue living as close to their previous lives as possible.
