Touching story of a young Ukrainian soldier who had both legs amputated after Russian captivity. 13.12.2023
"I had a chance to die - but I made my choice."
Daniil Melnyk is one of around 50,000 Ukrainians who lost limbs during the Russian invasion.
Torturously thin and weak, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange on April 21, 2022. Two days later, his leg was amputated below the knee.
For Melnyk, it was a long journey. The initial prosthetics were fitted for him in Kyiv. Initially, Daniel admits, he was in "constant discomfort." It took time to regain strength and balance, as well as to adjust to the prosthetics. Later, he was offered much better prosthetic care in the USA: American medical professionals were shocked at what Daniel was managing with.
When he was in the USA, the soldier was struck by seeing advertisements from popular supermarkets featuring disabled models. "This impressed me. I want this level of visibility for people with limited abilities in Ukraine." He has already begun sharing his successes on TikTok and Instagram: the first steps on prosthetics, then more and more - jumping, dancing, kickboxing, driving.
Even if the war were to end tomorrow, the number of amputations would continue to rise: 40% of Ukraine's territory is currently mined. It will take decades to clear the land. People will return to their homes and tread on mines for years. All this means that Ukraine must be prepared to work with people who have lost limbs for many years.
According to official data, the number of Ukrainians who have undergone amputations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion has reached 20,000, although experts on the ground suspect that the actual figure could be much higher, possibly as many as 50,000. These figures are approaching those of the First World War (according to estimates by historians, between 1914 and 1918, 67,000 Germans and 41,000 Britons underwent amputations). The scale of what is happening is evident on the streets of Ukrainian cities. Yet, this reality is not reflected in the Ukrainian media.
Therefore, in the fight to protect their country, Ukrainians are facing a second battle: to adapt their society to this new reality.
"Significant progress has already been made, but radical changes are necessary," - Daniil Melnyk.
