Ukraine’s Wounded Return: Rehabilitation and Hope in Lviv

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For Private Eugene Sharp, words rarely come easily. His gaze shifts, and there are moments when he almost speaks to him. A low, monosyllabic cadence fills every sentence, as if economy of language makes it easier to face a new reality. He was on duty last December near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine when a blast tore through him. An epidemic of injuries severed his foot and right leg. Since then, he has been in a public hospital in Lviv, coming in from western Ukraine.”

Eugene, who hails from Zhytomyr, shares a fate similar to Igor Bolney. Both were broken by war, though Igor originally came from Dnipro and had worked as a miner before Russia’s invasion. He enlisted and was sent south to fight. A land mine marked the before and after in his case. He recalls the moment vividly: “We were moving through occupied territory near Kherson, close to the Dnieper River, and it was 11 in the morning on October 31.” The city was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in mid-November, and this memory remains one of his biggest regrets, as he waits for rehabilitation to stretch for at least three more months.

Eugene and Igor share a stark snapshot of a broader phenomenon: a growing wave of soldiers, wounded and returning from the front lines in Ukraine. The conflict has left a landscape of amputations shaped by fire and mines, with Ukraine’s fields bearing the unseen toll of war. Millions of people—men and women alike—bear scars that will accompany them for life, though men are often at the center of this story.

Eugene Sharp, a severely wounded Ukrainian soldier, begins rehabilitation at a hospital in Lviv.

In the Lviv institution, the prosthetics program is a steady focus. Technician Nazar Bahnyuk oversees work that aims to restore mobility for Eugene and Igor, and others in similar situations. The number of patients continues to rise, and many have serious amputations. Bahnyuk notes that the challenge isn’t simply making a prosthesis; it’s ensuring the device works in daily life and long-term reliability.

“A major issue,” Bahnyuk explains, “is that soldiers receive rapid first aid on the battlefield. Tourniquets are applied, but evacuation can delay by as much as two days. Such delays complicate recovery and can limit the opportunity for full restoration of function.” The gaps in the chain of care can leave lasting impacts on recovery outcomes, he adds, highlighting the need for timely, continuous treatment after injury.

Another hurdle is cost. Many patients require durable, high-function prosthetic components, but these pieces come with price tags as high as thirty thousand euros per unit. The exact totals aren’t fully disclosed, as official data on amputees is treated as sensitive information by the state. Bahnyuk suggests that data handling may be restricted to avoid public distress, though the true scope remains unclear. The sentiment underscores a broader resource gap: Ukraine, facing economic and political strain, cannot fully cover every need for every wounded veteran.

Igor Bolney, once scarred by combat, receives ongoing care at a state hospital in Lviv.

Despite the scale of the challenge, a visible wave of rehabilitation persists. The center serves hundreds of amputees, each undergoing a sequence of assessments and therapies before prosthetic fittings and implants are considered. The process is lengthy, requiring patience and coordinated care across multiple disciplines.

Prosthesis costs and access

Within the Saint Panteleimon public hospital complex in Lviv, the prosthetics program operates with a dedicated team. Bahnyuk and colleagues manage intake, evaluation, and ongoing adjustments for those who have lost limbs. The caseload has grown, and patients frequently present with complex injuries that demand personalized solutions.

Fast, life-saving care on the battlefield saves lives, yet the subsequent rehabilitation path is long. Delays in evacuation and gaps in post-acute care complicate recovery. The need for functional, durable devices remains urgent, and families often face difficult financial choices. The humanitarian response, including contributions from European donors, supports part of the treatment and prosthesis costs. Yet a sizable portion of care depends on limited state funding, forcing many to navigate a challenging landscape alone.

A patient-friendly rehabilitation wing at the Lviv hospital demonstrates modern prosthetic fitting methods.

Rehabilitation is not only about physical recovery. It encompasses substantial mental health work, too. A skilled physiotherapist, Ruksana Smila, 24, sees more than a dozen patients daily, helping them adapt to their new bodies and regain independence. The emotional toll of war lingers after every session, and the center’s posters often list donors and humanitarian organizations from across Europe who support amputee care. Germany, Malta, and other partners contribute to the relief effort, though much of the care remains financially challenging for the country. The ongoing struggle to provide comprehensive services highlights the resilience of Ukrainian veterans as they navigate a fresh normal after injury, with personal and societal implications that stretch far beyond the hospital walls.

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