Ihor learns how to care for his amputated arm

On January 15, 2024, Ihor was clearing snow outside his house in Ukraine when suddenly two explosions rang out, one after the other. Ihor was injured, and his neighbour was killed instantly before his eyes. 

Ihor waited approximately an hour to be evacuated before military paramedics were able to transport him across the fields to Kurakhove and then to Selydove, 60 km from his home. The explosion had shattered his arm, making amputation inevitable. He also suffered a severe abdominal injury. 

“My hometown is now a Russian controlled area. I live in a centre for internally displaced persons. After the amputation, there was no rehabilitation, and I had virtually no idea what to do next,” said Ihor.  

A cosmetic prosthetic 

Igor was given a prosthesis that merely imitated a limb but had no functional capabilities, meaning it did not allow him to perform basic actions. This is known as a "cosmetic prosthesis." 

He was also not given instructions on how to care for his stump: hygiene rules, prevention of irritation, and avoidance of infection. In Igor's case, this guidance was never provided, so due to the lack of functionality and proper support, he refused to use the prosthesis. The problem was twofold: the inappropriate type of prosthesis and the absence of instruction and support — both of which are critically important components of successful rehabilitation. 

With the help of social workers, he was connected with Tatiana Lahno, Humanity & Inclusion (HI)'s physiotherapist, who developed a training plan to support his recovery. 

Ihor’s rehabilitation; a new chapter in his life. 

Together, they started working on his shoulder muscle strength and coping with phantom pain. She also advised him to contact the Prosthesis and Orthosis centre ‘Superhumans’ to get high-quality prosthetics. 

Ihor says,  

“Tatiana put me on the right track to recovery. I get my training at the rehabilitation centre, and I can feel the progress.” He continues, “Thanks to the support I received, I realised that I could still do sports, build muscle, and gradually regain my strength. Tatiana showed me which exercises were safe, how to compensate for the strain, and how to manage phantom pain. This helped me regain control of my body.” 

Now, Ihor is using his exercise bike and losing weight, which gives him hope that, despite his injury, he will be able to live an active, independent life again:  

“I am grateful to everyone who supported me. Now, I have the chance to return to a life that is not just about survival, but rather a meaningful life with much dignity and strength.”  

Ihor currently does not use a cosmetic prosthesis and is awaiting functional prosthetics. 

The rehabilitation was carried out within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacities and resilience of conflict affected populations in Eastern, Northeastern and Southern Ukraine,” funded by CDCS. 
This multisectoral intervention aims to improve access to quality and inclusive physical and functional rehabilitation services, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and protection services for vulnerable groups and conflict affected populations. The project is implemented in the oblasts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv. 
HI relies on its technical expertise in rehabilitation, MHPSS, and disability inclusion to ensure that health services are accessible and adapted to the needs of vulnerable people, including people with disabilities. The project is implemented in partnership with the local NGO Angels of Salvation, which provides MHPSS services. HI strengthens the partner’s technical capacities, particularly on inclusion aspects, ensuring that services are inclusive and aligned with international protection standards. 
Thus, the rehabilitation provided to survivors is part of this comprehensive intervention, combining technical expertise and local partnerships to ensure continuity of care and dignified support.