Soldier, call sign IARIK

From 1992 to 2019, I served in the SBGS (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine). During this time, I changed 22 places of service in various capacities. In 2014-2015, I took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. And gained considerable military experience.

After retiring in 2019, I started working in my hometown as a lecturer on the Defence of Ukraine. This is probably the most unforgettable time of my life. I have never thought that working with children could bring so much pleasure. You invest your time in them and see them change for the better. It's not comparable to working with adults.

Somewhere deep inside, I felt that sooner or later I would have to take up arms again and defend my homeland. Therefore, in order to maintain my "military shape", back in 2019, I took part in the NATO MARKSMEN training, which had already become quite common in Ukraine by that time.

And so it happened on the 24th February 2022 - it was time to take up arms again. The enemy, with even greater strength and hatred towards us Ukrainians, attacked our land. On the 1st March 2022, I mobilised and stood up to defend our Ukraine, as I was in the first-line operational reserve. In 2022, as part of one of the SBGS of Ukraine units, we performed tasks to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine, first in the north of Ukraine, and then we were transferred to the Donetsk direction to the village of Tetianivka. Then Sviatohirsk location followed.

In 2023, we were back in the Donetsk region. There heavy battles for Bakhmut were already taking place. Of course, my unit was in the epicentre of the heaviest fighting. We suffered some of our first losses there. It was hard, but no one retreated.

After being replenished, our unit was transferred to Ozarianivka. This is where I got wounded. I could almost always hear mines exploding and flying, but I did not hear this mine. As a result of the shrapnel, I got injured in the spine in the area of L3, L4, L5 vertebrae. The fragments damaged my vertebrae and severed my nerve roots.

I was in charge of my own evacuation and explained to my comrades what they should do. To evacuate with such an injury, you need to have a proper stretcher. And in the field, there were none. I explained that I needed to be evacuated in the fetal position. I asked for an additional examination of the wounds because I felt blood loss. The external examination showed nothing, and I realised that it was internal blood loss, and the fetal position allowed me to partially stop it. 

During the evacuation, the enemy continued to fire at us, so my brothers-in-arms had to stop several times and lie down on the ground to avoid getting wounded. And since we were all taught in tactical medicine classes to talk to the wounded, my comrades also applied this rule to me. After their next attempt to do it, I asked them to calm down and let me pray.

During all this time, there was no irritability or anger. Somewhere on the subconscious level, I was prepared that I might be injured additionally, that I might lose my life. And most importantly, I was evacuated by my brothers-in-arms who had never been in combat before. They had recently come to us as a medical replacement and asked to go with me to the forefront, and honestly, I have never regretted taking them with me to that hell.

When they brought me to the evacuation vehicle, it became harder for me to keep myself conscious. The severity of my injury, exhaustion from pain and blood loss were showing. Somewhere on the way to the first stabilisation point, I lost consciousness for the first time. The second time I lost consciousness was when I was being evacuated to Dnipro. Two days seem to have been erased from my memory. I don't remember what happened to me during this time, I don't know. All I know is that at the end of the second day, I had my first surgery, which lasted more than 8 hours. The second operation lasted more than 4 hours. Then I was evacuated to Kyiv and had 7 more surgeries: 5 on the spine, two on the intestines.

I am currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, which requires finances. The doctors say that it will take about 9 months to recover.

I already achieved good results, but I still have to move around in a wheelchair. Now I need a rehabilitation course at the Agape rehabilitation complex.
 

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The fundraising has been completed! 

Thanks to your support, YARIK will be able to undergo a recovery course at the Agape center, which specializes in rehabilitation after severe spinal injuries.

We extend our special gratitude to the team at the Agape center for their dedication and professionalism. We are confident that Yaroslav will receive the best care and make significant progress in his recovery.

Thank you to everyone involved!

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 67,500

 

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ue to an untreated abscess in the affected area and five additional surgeries, Yaroslav developed a permanent neuropathic traumatic sensitivity. His current suffering is the result of complications following his injury. This is not just discomfort — it is excruciating pain, reaching 9–10 out of 10 on the pain scale, causing dangerous spikes in blood pressure up to 160/130 and even 170/130.

Medications help only partially and for a short time. Even morphine, which should provide relief, gave Yaroslav only a few hours of relative calm. Constant use of painkillers harms the body and does not solve the problem.

Today, Yaroslav is forced to spend 90% of his time lying down — the unbearable sensations prevent him from leading an active life and fully undergoing rehabilitation. Any physical activity provokes a new pain attack that can last for days. When the pain level exceeds 5 points, working with a rehabilitation specialist becomes impossible.

Before the war, Yaroslav worked as a schoolteacher. His big dream is to return to teaching and be among children again. But for now, this path is blocked by constant suffering.

To change the situation, Yaroslav urgently needs a neurostimulator — a special medical device that will help reduce the intensity of the pain, decrease the need for painkillers, and allow him to engage more actively in rehabilitation.

Yaroslav fully understands the risk that the neurostimulator may not eliminate the pain completely. But even partial relief would open the road back to movement, life, and the fulfillment of his dream.

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The fundraiser for a neurostimulator for Yaroslav Ivants has officially been closed!

This became possible thanks to the incredible support of all of you — those who donated, shared, believed, and stood by his side.

A special and heartfelt thank you to Paweł Woźniak, a citizen of Poland, who contributed €18,000 and covered the majority of the cost. This kind of support is not just an act of generosity, but a true ray of hope for YARIK and undeniable proof that kindness knows no borders. Humanity and solidarity can cross thousands of kilometers and offer a chance for a new life.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to Yurii Kozlovskyi, ambassador of our foundation, who, like Yaroslav, is a border guard. His support has been especially strong and meaningful. It is this brotherhood born in battle that inspires and leads the way. Thank you, Yurii, for always being there.

And one more piece of good news: the neurostimulator is already in Ukraine, so there will be no need to wait 1.5–2 months for delivery from abroad. Yaroslav is already preparing for the surgery, which will take place very soon.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for our defender and will keep you updated.

Our deepest thanks to everyone who made this victory possible.

STRENGTH IN THE UNITY OF MANY!
SIŁA W JEDNOŚCI WIELU LUDZI!

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 904,176

 

TOTAL COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 971,676