On October 8, the FFU team visited the Pfizer representative office in Ukraine and presented the flag of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine signed by Kyrylo Budanov.
Kyrylo Budanov rarely agrees to sign autographs. In 2023, however, Lieutenant General Budanov personally signed the flag for Future for Ukraine, thus marking the fund's contribution to helping Ukrainian citizens affected by the war.
The Intelligence flag, which depicts a silver owl with a sword in its paws, pointing at russia’s territory, was set back in 2016. It became more symbolic meaning for the Ukrainian people after the start of a full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the flag has become a coveted trophy for every Ukrainian patriot.
USD 1,450,000 for prosthetics of Ukrainians from the Pfizer Foundation
Last fall, the FFU Foundation received a grant of $1,000,000 from the Pfizer Foundation to implement the Prosthetics of the Ukrainian veterans program.
In total, the Pfizer Foundation allocated USD 40 million as grants to 15 non-governmental organizations and volunteer associations that provide vital humanitarian aid to Ukrainians.
With grant funds, we were able to provide 16 bionic prostheses of upper and lower limbs, rehabilitation in the USA, and also cover the associated costs of flight and accommodation for 13 seriously injured Ukrainian defenders. Within the scope of the grant, we conducted training for Ukrainian rehabilitation specialists and prosthetists from the American specialists from the MCOP clinic, as well as the charity run in support of people with prostheses and veterans who lost limbs in the war and are preparing for prosthetics. The report on the funds’ usage has been published earlier.
After the successfully implemented grant assistance, the Pfizer Foundation allocated another $450,000 for the prosthetics of Ukrainian defenders to the FFU Foundation. Within this amount, three soldiers are now undergoing rehabilitation and prosthetics at the MCOP clinic in Silver Spring, Washington. Now many patients still stay in line dreaming of returning to an active life with high-tech prostheses.
Veteran Vladyslav Kurilov, who lost both legs in the war and received free bionic limb prosthetics in the USA in the framework of the grant funds, also came to the meeting.
You can read Vlad's story in our material. To watch how Vlad and other defenders make their first steps on the prostheses, follow our Instagram.
We thank the Pfizer team for a warm meeting, full of smiles and sincere tears of joy. United by the common goal of helping Ukrainians fight the consequences of war, we are invincible.
You can support the Ukrainian severely wounded soldiers who have survived amputation and are currently waiting for prosthetics on the case page.
