Soldier Ivan Kozubenko, call sign PROFESSOR

Before the war started, I worked in schools - I taught history, defence of the Homeland, and labour training. Before graduating from the Faculty of History, I was a construction foreman, and was building houses. 

I got mobilised on the 30th of April 2015 in the fifth wave.

I served in the 39th separate motorised infantry battalion ‘Dnipro-2’, which later became part of the 55th separate artillery brigade. I was a grenade launcher in a security company. The guys there gave me the call sign ‘Professor’ because I knew the answers to any questions and could solve any problem.

I took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

On the 18th of November 2015, while performing a combat mission in the Donetsk sector, I was seriously wounded. Together with my brothers in arms, I was defending the positions, and a dense artillery shelling by the russians began.

During the shelling, I was wounded and lost consciousness. I woke up in a hospital in Dnipro.

There I found out that I had gunshot blunt shrapnel wounds to the face, gunshot shrapnel penetrating blunt wound to the right chest with right-sided haemothorax. With left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. With a gunshot shrapnel penetrating blunt wound of the abdominal cavity with damage to the terminal small intestine and mesentery. With multiple gunshot blunt shrapnel wounds of both upper extremities with traumatic amputation of the right hand at the level of H/3 of the forearm, and left thumb. Multiple gunshot blunt shrapnel wounds to the anterior and lateral surface of the right thigh, the back of the right foot.

I looked to see all the things that had happened to me, but did not despair, because I was alive.

I was treated in hospitals in Dnipro, Lviv and Kharkiv. I saw guys who were losing their spirits. I kept telling them that life went on.

In a Lviv hospital, I learned that I could have a prosthetic arm fitted to make it easier to do everyday tasks. After that, a long process of rehabilitation and prosthetics began. The first measurements were taken by specialists from a local prosthetic company. Then the Kharkiv Institute of Prosthetics made an initial prosthesis, which was later replaced with an electronic one.

The device was adjusted in a matter of seconds. It was so interesting to understand how the mechanism works. The index finger is touch-sensitive, and it was convenient to use it with a smartphone. I could greet people by hand, work with a rake, pitchfork, broom, type on the keyboard, drive a car with manual controls, ride a bike, pick vegetables, etc.

The kids were joking that I was Freddy Krueger. I take this in a positive light. The main thing is that I do not feel disabled.

But this prosthesis is designed for 4.5 years, and 8 years have already passed, it is already out of order and does not work. Given my daily activities, I need an Ottobock electric prosthesis with myoelectric control, for which the money allocated by the state is not sufficient.

So I have to turn to a charity for help.

 

Thanks to the support of caring individuals, we were able to raise and transfer 195,572.26 UAH for an electronic upper limb prosthesis for our hero.

With the new prosthesis, Ivan will be able to continue leading an active lifestyle. He will be able to perform daily tasks without assistance, dress himself, write, work with tools, and use a computer independently! The modern prosthesis opens up new opportunities for the defender to fulfill his ambitious plans.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser! Your help is invaluable. Together, we are doing important work and supporting our heroes, who continue to fight for the freedom and future of Ukrainians.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 195,572.26