For over two years, our program “Prosthetics of Ukrainians” has been operating. Together with the Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics (MCOP), we have helped more than 100 Ukrainian defenders return to an active life after amputation.
And it all began with soldier Sasha Chaika and the determined aspiration of Olena Nikolaienko, who wanted to help him regain mobility after a severe injury. Forbes Ukraine covered the story of our cooperation with the American prosthetics center in a feature article dedicated to the opening of MCOP’s office in Kyiv — a good moment to look back on how it started.
When russia launched the full-scale invasion, Americans Bill Endicott and Michael Corcoran — united by their shared background in rowing — decided to help Ukrainians and founded the Operation Renew Prosthetics program.
Bill, a former assistant to President Clinton and coach of the U.S. Olympic kayaking team in the 1990s, suggested to Michael, the founder of MCOP, that they provide prosthetics for Ukrainian soldiers who had lost limbs. Michael’s response was immediate: “Yes. We have more experience with combat injuries than anyone else in the world.”
Bill and Michael began looking for partners in Ukraine to make the initiative possible. At the same time, Olena Nikolaienko, President of FFU in the USA, was searching for a clinic that could provide prosthetics for veteran Oleksandr Chaika with a complex case of leg amputation, because Ukrainian doctors had given no hope of walking again.
Olena Nikolaienko, President of Future for Ukraine USA:
“While in New York, I reached out to acquaintances who told me for the first time, ‘There is Michael from MCOP. Talk to him.’ Until then, Future for Ukraine had not worked with prosthetics — only medical aid and support programs for women and children. But after speaking with Michael, everything changed. He listened carefully and said, ‘Bring him. In two weeks, he will be walking.’ It felt like a miracle — two days later, the veteran was already trying on a prosthesis.”
This is how FFU became a key link in helping veterans — connecting MCOP’s expertise with the needs of Ukrainian servicemen.
The systematic approach and transparent reporting enabled Future for Ukraine to receive USD 1.5 million in grant support for the prosthetics program in 2023. Recently, the Government of Iceland and Embla Medical allocated USD 11.6 million for lower-limb prosthetics for 1,000 Ukrainians.
Olena Nikolaienko, President of Future for Ukraine USA:
“Charity is the business of delivering good. When you build a system with clear processes and transparency, people trust you — and that is what allows growth.”
In 2023–2025, with support of donors and partners the Foundation provided high-tech prosthetics and rehabilitation for more than 90 veterans, totaling over USD 2.2 million.
More than six months ago, Future for Ukraine, with MCOP Ukraine, launched a gait adaptation and optimization program (during and after prosthetic fitting) for people who have lost lower limbs. Read more about the program and its first participants here. Separate adaptation programs are available at the center for patients with upper-limb loss.
Farhad Ostovari, Clinical Director of MCOP:
“For veteran rehabilitation, we developed several specialized programs for adaptation and gait optimization and have already helped 35 patients in Ukraine.
Clear protocols and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) ensure the same quality and speed of prosthetics as in the USA — delivering prosthetic devices within 48 hours and tracking each case electronically.”
We continue our cooperation with American partners at MCOP to provide modern, high-tech prosthetics of any complexity for Ukrainians right here in Ukraine.
MCOP Ukraine is located at: Kyiv, 86D Kazymyra Malevycha St.
Prior appointments by phone: +380 44 334 33 13.
You can read the full Forbes feature article in the October–November 2025 edition at the link.
