Soldier Vladyslav, call sign SAMURAI

I am 26 years old. I've been involved in sports for as long as I can remember, I have a rank of the Ukrainian Athletic Federation in athletics, in obstacle running. From November 2019 to May 2021, I served compulsory military service in the National Guard of Ukraine, the Honour Guard Battalion.
 
From the first day of the full-scale invasion, I was mobilised into the Armed Forces. I took part in the defence of the Homeland as part of the 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade, a security company.

 
On 05 April 2023, the enemy fired at the location of the 110th Brigade's security company in the territory of the Koksokhim plant in Avdiivka. It was there that I received a mine-blast injury to my cervical spine at the level of the C-6 and C-7 discs, a fracture-dislocation of the 6th cervical vertebra and a spinal cord injury.

I don't remember much about what exactly happened that day. Somehow, everything happened so fast that I didn't understand anything. After the explosion, I was covered by the rubble of the building. I was found by accident. My comrades were inspecting the aftermath and suddenly stepped on my head so that I screamed. That saved me, otherwise I would have remained there under a pile of concrete.
 
On the same day, I was immediately evacuated to Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, where I received professional medical care. I remember when I came to senses in the hospital, I was very scared because I could not feel my body at all - I could not move my arms or legs.
 
My comrades helped me a lot, especially the command of the security company. The deputy company commander was always there and helped me as much as he could. He was the one who called my parents, as my phone, clothes and documents were all left under the rubble. 
I ended up in the hospital almost naked.
 
After Pokrovsk, I was transported to Dnipro, to Mechnikov Hospital, where on the 11th April 2023 I underwent surgery and was fitted with a titanium cage implant and a monosegmental plate. After the operation, I started to feel my body a little bit.
 
From that moment on, my long rehabilitation journey began. I was taken to Vinnytsia. At Iushchenko Hospital, I learnt to take my first steps, but with help. Then I was taken to Lviv, where I underwent rehabilitation, my walking improved a little and gradually I began to adapt to my condition.
 
After that, I was sent to the Zakhidnyi Rehabilitation and Sports Centre. While I was here, I achieved very good results in walking and made progress in controlling my upper limbs, as before that the finger extensors on both hands did not work at all.
 
Now I am discharged for health reasons, with exclusion from military registration, I have the first B group of disability.

 
My family and girlfriend motivate me a lot. When I called her and told her what happened, she said a phrase I will never forget: "I will come to you and will be with you!"
 
After my injury, my family and girlfriend were constantly by my side and helped me with everything, as I could not do anything on my own.
 
Now my main goal is to start a family with my beloved. This thought motivates me every day. But first, I need to recover as much as possible so that I can live a full life and raise my children. I still have a lot of work to do with my body.
 
Currently, I need  to continue rehabilitation at the Zakhidnyi Rehabilitation and Sports Centre of the National Committee for Sports for the Disabled People of Ukraine.  The centre specialises in rehabilitation of injuries like mine. However, the state does not compensate me for my rehabilitation at this centre.
 

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000