Being a staunch patriot, a man who wants to protect his family from a cruel enemy above all, Artem Komisarchuk began his fight against the russian occupiers in 2014. Artem started his service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine back in 2010. Then he turned to civilian life and worked abroad for a long time. But in 2014, when russia annexed the Crimea peninsula and began a cynical war against Ukraine, the man voluntarily joined the army again and became an artilleryman of the 51st separate mechanized brigade. At 26, the defender was already a cannon commander and went to defend the Luhansk region.
On August 23, Artem's unit was in positions near Ilovaisk when they were covered by "Hurricanes" shelling. The troops tried to escape from dense enemy fire, but only a few soldiers managed to get out, most were surrounded by the occupiers and some of them died.
"A combat vehicle and 6 crews in dark green uniforms with white armbands — I had never seen this one before. They quickly came closer and took me in sight, then I realized there was no sense to twitch. A soldier without insignia approached me, looking like a Kalmyk with narrow eyes. He ordered me to take off my armor, then cut my T-shirt with a knife and blindfolded my eyes. Then they hit my head several times with the butt of a rifle and began to interrogate me then," the soldier recalls.
At that time, the russian 76th Guards Airborne Assault Division, also known as the Pskov Airborne Division had already entered the Donetsk region. They captured Artem and took him to the rebels in the DPR — to a colony in Snizhne. The prisoned soldier was interrogated and brutally beaten for speaking Ukrainian. Artem recalls he was taken to the firing squad six times — this was one of the methods of psychological pressure to make the soldier cooperate with the russian militants.
Eventually, Artem agreed to confess on camera to the crimes committed by the russian army in the occupied territories. Later, this footage was broadcast on propaganda TV channels.
Artem Komisarchuk knew that exchanges between the Ukrainian and russian sides were taking place. But the occupiers did not want to exchange him, as well as everyone who was surrounded near Ilovaisk: artillerymen, tankers, snipers, and special forces.
Among the horrors Artem experienced in captivity, he remembered most how he and other prisoners were taken to the Donetsk airport to retrieve the bodies of the dead from under the rubble.
During more than a year of Artem’s captivity, there were 26 attempts to exchange him. Russia even sentenced him in absentia to 20 years in prison. The soldier was on the “not for exchange” list for a long time because he did not deviate from his moral principles and beliefs, and also did not agree to be exchanged for those who had blood on their hands.
“We lived in constant fear. I was just waiting for the moment when they kill us and the beatings finally end,” the man recalls.
In September 2015, a miracle happened — Artem and his comrades were exchanged for six russian prisoners.
Artem's life after captivity
After returning home, Artem started rehabilitation. According to the defender, everything hurt then — from the teeth to the tips of the fingers. The soldier was diagnosed with a contusion of the spine and a fracture of the ribs and was assigned to the 2nd disability group. These obstacles prevented Artem from entering the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny in Lviv and becoming an officer. Therefore, the veteran returned to Ternopil, where he met his beloved wife Tatiana, and later the couple had a daughter, Yana. But when russia began a full-scale invasion, Artem had no doubts and went to the military recruitment office.
“After all I experienced in Donetsk, I didn't want my child to see war. I didn't want my parents to hide in basements and be afraid that the russians would come and throw a grenade. Besides, having combat experience and sitting behind is, in my opinion, wrong.”
Then Artem chose a symbolic call sign for himself — Pilgrim — someone who overcomes his path to inspire others. As part of the 105th Separate Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the soldier participated in the battles for the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Donetsk regions.
On October 14, Artem Komisarchuk and his comrades set out on a combat mission to hold the territory the invaders were trying to capture. The nearest enemy position was 100 meters away.
“When we occupied the object, I saw a stretcher. I immediately signaled the group to stop and explore the area. But one of my fighters accidentally stepped on an anti-personnel mine and blew himself up. I rushed to put a tourniquet on him, but suddenly another explosion sounded. I thought for a while that this was the end, mentally said goodbye to my wife and daughter, and lost consciousness,” the soldier says.
Artem woke up in Kharkiv Hospital after spending a week in an induced coma. Meanwhile, his wife Tetiana could not find a place for herself in Ternopil, because her beloved had disappeared. “She texted me a lot. She saw the other comrades online but no one responded to her about what was happening. When I regained consciousness, the doctors told my wife that I was seriously injured but alive.", — Artem explains.
Treatment after injury and prosthetics process
A long treatment was approached. In one of the Lviv hospitals, doctors even talked about a possible amputation of the left leg to save the fighter's life.
“At one of the operations the British doctors were present, they said the leg could be saved abroad. In three days I was taken to Gdansk, where I spent the next 1.5 years, lying in an isolation ward. I was diagnosed with the New Delhi bacteria, resistant to all types of antibiotics. No treatment methods helped. To date, I have had 133 operations under general anesthesia,” recalls the defender.
The infection ate away bone fragments and spread to the pelvic bone. Ukrainian specialists gave disappointing forecasts for treatment and advised amputating the limb.
Artem consulted with his wife, and together they made the hardest decision — to amputate the left leg. After 2 weeks of intensive care, the man began to recover. Doctors prescribed antibiotic therapy and eventually, the infection was completely cured.
“I am the first patient in the First Lviv Medical Association who overcame osteomyelitis,” says Artem.
With time, Artem began to move in a wheelchair, then on crutches. After a year and a half of difficult treatment, the veteran saw the sky for the first time and could not hold back his tears.
Ukrainian experts reclaimed that prosthetics in the homeland would be difficult and very expensive. Therefore, the family opened a fundraiser to collect the necessary money. However, Artem was lucky to become a participant in the Prosthetics of Ukrainians program from the Future for Ukraine Foundation, in which the foundation covers all necessary expenses.
Currently, the defender has received a modern bionic prosthesis from the Medical Center of Orthotics & Prosthetics in America and is undergoing active physical therapy.
"I'm not having rosy dreams, it's not my leg but it gives me autonomy and the opportunity to live a full-fledged life. I will finally be able to take my daughter by the hand to kindergarten, and later to her first communion and graduation."
Artem and his wife Tetiana have been actively helping the army as volunteers since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, covering various needs at the front. The Komisarchuk family also dreams of organizing the Center for Psychophysical Support and Rehabilitation for Ukrainian veterans and their families in Ternopil. After receiving prosthetics, Artem plans to have a degree in psychology to mentor veterans.
“Often my fellow soldiers have nowhere to apply for psychological support at their place of residence. Therefore, they start boozing, then domestic violence against women and children begins. Because aggression and anger toward the whole world do not disappear by itself. It’s natural, because a person who has experienced a lot of terrible things — captivity, torture, fellow soldiers’ death — has the right to feel hatred, anger, and despair. Because our health, life, and safety have been taken away. It is important to show the veteran how to express anger correctly,” the veteran shares his thoughts.
Artem Komisarchuk's fighting spirit and endurance helped him survive the most difficult times despite all the injuries and hell he had gone through before. The hero will return to an active life and realize his planned dreams thanks to a modern prosthesis. To help other heroes get high-quality prosthetics and live a full-fledged life again, please contribute to the prosthetics and rehabilitation program for Ukrainian soldiers with your donation.
