Oleksandr Golganov, Oleh Kushko, and Volodymyr Vakhniak traveled to Silver Spring, USA, for a free rehabilitation and prosthetics program at the Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics (MCOP). The program is implemented with the help of a grant from the Pfizer Foundation, which also covers the costs of military accommodation and logistics.
The defenders fought in different brigades, but they shared similar stories. All three were wounded on the front line and, due to intense shelling, had to wait for evacuation for more than 10 hours. This eventually led to a forced amputation. Prosthetics in such cases can cost up to $140,000.
Oleh, Volodymyr, and Oleksandr were determined to get prosthetics in the USA. After all, everyone wants to return to a normal life, move independently, do their favorite things, work, and actively spend time with their relatives.
Soldiers shared their stories of life and injury to show other soldiers who have also experienced amputation by example that the most important thing is not to give up! With the help of high-quality prostheses, you can return to a full-fledged life!
Oleksandr Holhanov
Oleksandr before the injury (photo from personal archive)
Before the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, Oleksandr lived in Kryvyi Rih (Dnipro region) with his wife and three children. For more than 11 years, he worked at the mine, and later with his wife ran a private business — organizing parties, a flower shop, and a coffee shop. In December 2022, Oleksandr Holhanov was mobilized to serve in the 3rd mechanized battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On September 18, 2023, the soldier was on a combat mission near the village of Andriivka in the Donetsk region, where he suffered a serious mine-explosive injury, as a result of which he lost his right leg. "In the morning, the russians started covering us with artillery, drones, everything in a row. At 8:10 a drone dropped explosives behind me, and its fragments injured my right side. Then I had to wait 10 hours for the evacuation with the tourniquet on, so the leg could not be saved due to irreversible ischemia," Oleksandr recalls the day he received his injury.
Above all, Oleksandr dreams of walking on his feet again. His wife and children currently live in Poland, but they support his brave father by phone every day. The serviceman is convinced that if he gains a chance to live, he needs to use it.
Kushko Oleh
Oleh before the injury and now (photo from personal archive)
Oleh comes from the Lviv region. Before the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, he worked in construction and at a forge. When the full-scale invasion began, Oleh joined the territorial defense unit in his native village of Suhovolia. Soon, Oleh found out about the serious wounding of his older brother at the front and, without hesitation, bought tickets to Lviv to join the service of the newly formed 33rd separate rifle battalion.
Then the soldier transferred to the 10th separate mountain assault brigade in Donetsk region, where he received his first shrapnel wound but quickly returned to service after treatment. On June 28, 2023, Oleh was covering his combat group during an assault mission near Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region and stepped on an anti-personnel mine. "The toes on my right foot were blown off. I put a tourniquet on myself, then realized that the injury was not heavy, I began to crawl slowly. Another explosion has happened. I raised my head and saw my left leg lying several meters away from me. My comrade quickly put tourniquets on both my legs, bandaged me, and took me to the evacuation team," Oleh recalls the day he was wounded. The soldier underwent more than 30 operations, but the second leg could not be saved.
After prosthetics, Oleh dreams of buying a house on the edge of his village, equipping it to suit his needs, and starting a family. He also hopes for more understanding and support from society for veterans with amputations.
Vakhniak Volodymyr
Volodymyr before the injury and now (photo from personal archive)
Volodymyr comes from the Lviv region. Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, he was engaged in pharmaceuticals. In September 2023, the man was mobilized to serve in the 95th separate brigade of airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He planned to be a combat medic but had to fight and defend his homeland with arms in his hands.
On December 22, Volodymyr received a shrapnel wound from an enemy grenade explosion while keeping the defense in the Kupiansk direction. "We held our position four days in a row, it was tough, heavy battles were fought under constant fire. When the grenade fragments damaged a bone and an artery in my left leg, I did not lose my heart and put on a tourniquet to stop bleeding. I got to the evacuation vehicle after 5 hours. And 11 hours later, I was already on the operating room table in Kharkiv, where my leg was amputated," tells the soldier about his injury.
About six months have passed since Volodymyr was wounded. During this time, the man married his beloved and plans to make a big family. Volodymyr hopes that the prosthesis will help him return to a full-fledged life, allow him to work, and walk freely on two legs.
We are grateful to everyone who supports our foundation’s program Prosthetic of Ukrainians, particularly to patron Vadym Stolar for comprehensive assistance in the program implementation.
