Soldier Serhii, call sign MOLDOVAN
I'm originally from Odesa region. Before the full-scale invasion, I had a small business, I was engaged in haulage across Ukraine. The war caught me when I was returning home from another shipment. I saw a stream of cars coming from Odesa towards me. Panic was everywhere.
I arrived home on the 24th of February and was already one hundred per cent sure that I would go to the military enlistment office the next day.
I have four minor children, so I had absolutely legitimate reasons not to go to war. However, I made a very different decision.
I had served in the anti-aircraft missile troops, so as a person with military experience, I understood that my place was there. And hiding behind children is not about me, who should protect them if not their father? I informed my family that I had been to the military enlistment office, and they understood me. I gathered my documents and on the evening of the 25th of February I was already in the service.
During the first months, I served with other guys in a security company, where we had our own tasks. However, many of us were not satisfied with this, and we asked the commander to transfer us to a combat unit.
We understood that we were in the rears and, in fact, not as useful as we could be. The guys on the front line needed our help, and here we seemed to be helpless. We found out that they were recruiting for the 35th Marine Brigade. When we arrived, the battalion had already been manned, and we were transferred to the reserve. At the same time, the 36th Marine Brigade was also recruiting fighters, and we were immediately transferred there.
Before I got to the front, I was sent along with other soldiers for training.
At first, we trained at the training ranges in Ukraine, and then we were trained in the UK and Poland according to the NATO standards.
The knowledge we gained there is certainly necessary and useful. But to be honest, the real experience is gained in combat, with each time we go to the positions and in the trenches. In October 2022, my brigade and I were deployed near the Donetsk airport, to Avdiivka, Vodiane, and Opytne.
We stayed in the Donetsk sector until mid-February, after that the brigade was redeployed to the Zaporizhzhia sector. I celebrated my birthday there just the day before, and a few days later I was seriously wounded in an enemy shelling.
It happened during the storming of the village of Levadne, I was the commander of a unit of the 1st battalion. We drove the russians out of their positions, and then they started shelling us. The shelling lasted for about an hour. At that time, I had already repeatedly called for vehicles to evacuate the wounded. And after the fourth evacuation, when the last vehicle arrived, I got wounded. As I was explained later, had they been called a little later, I would not have been able to make it. It would have taken 15 minutes, and that would have been it for me...
As a result of the shelling, I received a mine-blast wound. A metal fragment measuring one and a half by three centimetres hit me under the shoulder blade, injuring my spine, lungs and ribs.
After receiving first aid, I was hospitalised at Zaporizhzhia Regional Hospital. They operated on me and removed the fragment. Then I had two more complicated operations in Dnipro and Lviv.
After treatment, I began a difficult path of rehabilitation. I still move around in a wheelchair, but I am making progress.
Every day I work with rehabilitation therapists, do various exercises for my back, lift weights and dumbbells. During the first month, I learnt to dress myself, sit in a wheelchair, and go out without help. As for the chances of walking, the doctors do not promise anything, but they say that I need quality rehabilitation and time.
I believe that time will pass and I will walk. I am doing everything to make it happen.
Now I need the next course of rehabilitation at the Agape rehabilitation complex.
COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 67,500
After the first course of rehabilitation at the Agape rehabilitation complex, Serhii managed to use a wheelchair, balance, and overcome barriers.
To improve his independence in everyday life and increase his mobility, he needs to continue rehabilitation at Agape.
_____________________________________________
Sergii successfully completed a 39-day rehabilitation course at the Agape Centre.
As a result of his rehabilitation, he has seen positive dynamics in his functional independence, muscle strength and endurance.
COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 44,800
__________________________________
I underwent rehabilitation at various hospitals and rehabilitation centers for a long time. However, the best results were achieved after a rehabilitation course at the “AGAPE” center in the spring of 2024, which was paid for by the Citizen Сharity Foundation. After that course, I truly felt an improvement in my condition.
Unfortunately, six months after returning home, my health began to deteriorate again. The muscle spasms increased, and this has significantly affected my physical activity and ability to perform daily tasks. Additionally, I realized that my skills in using a wheelchair are insufficient for me to be independent in everyday life.
I am reaching out to you with a request to be granted the opportunity to undergo an additional rehabilitation course at the “AGAPE” center. I believe that with their help, I can significantly improve my physical condition, learn to better manage the wheelchair, and regain a sense of independence and activity.
COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 33,600
__________________________________
The fundraising for the rehabilitation of the Serhii has been completed!
Thanks to your support and care, we collected the necessary amount so that Serhii could undergo an additional rehabilitation course at the specialized center "Agape". This is another important step in his recovery from a complex spinal injury.
We are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed to this cause. Your help is proof that together we can overcome any difficulties.
TOTAL COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 145,900
