Ilya Bogdanov, a Donetsk airport cyborg, has been defending Ukraine since 2014. Bogdanov is a former member of the Federal Security Service of russia who sided with Ukraine to fight the putin regime. Since then, Bogdanov has found Ukrainian roots and obtained Ukrainian citizenship, defended the Donetsk airport as part of the Donbas Battalion and the Praviy Sector, and survived three assassination attempts.
Since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Bogdanov went to war again and got severely injured in Irpin.
For the first time in this war, Bogdanov met with the russians on the second day of the confrontation, when he took the bodies of his fellow brothers near Hostomel and Bucha. Their car slipped through enemy fire on the Irpin bridge, blown up later that day. Fortunately, they managed to complete the task.
Ilya Bogdanov was wounded when he took part in clearing Irpin from enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups. In the gray area, where Bogdanov's unit was operating drones and aimed artillery, a russian soldier suddenly stopped their car. The driver immediately passed back to the intersection, and Bogdanov saw a russian landing vehicle driving behind the house's fence. Bogdanov started firing from the back seat, and an enemy machine gunner opened fire on their unarmored civilian car in response.
Bogdanov started shouting at the driver to gas, but he froze, clutching the steering wheel. In a second, Ilya heard two shots and stopped feeling his hand. Only then did the driver regains consciousness, and they managed to leave.
Ilya Bogdanov received a severe hand injury. He wants now to relaunch his Korean restaurant, which turned into a barracks for comrades for two months. After recovering, Bogdanov seeks to return to the front.
The Future for Ukraine Foundation helped Ilya pay for the operation to install a system of metal osteosynthesis — the connection of bone fragments with titanium plates.
The story of Ilya Bogdanov is no exception. Many people who need osteosynthesis apply to the foundation. We have opened a fundraiser for patients with bone fractures, both civilians and the military, who are defending our country. Support Ukrainians in recovery on the CASES.
