Soldier Oleksandr Boyko, call sign DED

I, soldier Boyko Oleksandr, call sign DED, born in 1966, a machine gunner of the 118th mechanized brigade. Before the full-scale invasion, I was a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and now a second group war invalid. I am originally from the city of Novovolynsk, Volyn region.

From the first days of the full-scale war, I did not hesitate to volunteer at the military commissariat, despite having a third-degree disability (occupational disease), because I believed that with my combat experience, I could be useful in the army.

On July 12, 2023, while performing a combat mission in the area of the settlement of Pyatykhatky, Vasylivsky district, Zaporizhzhia region, I sustained a mine-blast injury, a closed head injury, a gunshot shrapnel wound to my left shoulder and elbow joint with a gunshot fracture of the humerus as a result of mortar shelling from the enemy. Additionally, the left side of my chest, neck, and right shin were injured, among other injuries.

When you receive a severe wound and find yourself among the bodies of your comrades, the instinct of self-preservation kicks in, a surge of adrenaline that mobilizes all the body's resources to survive. I remember moving as a group to the designated location, and that day we were targeted by mortar fire. One of the shells hit between us, and we were thrown by the blast wave.

When I regained consciousness, I realized that there were no living people around, and I had to save myself. I had to dig out my arm, which was almost torn off by the blast wave, from under the ground. I was bleeding heavily, with no time to think. While I was moving, an enemy drone hovered over me. I thought to myself, "They want to finish me off," but their operator probably decided that I wouldn't survive anyway.

Later, their video of that battle would be leaked online.

Seeing the uniforms of my comrades, I lost consciousness and woke up several days later in an evacuation train.

I have already undergone dozens of extremely complex operations. The earthly guardian angels, our doctors, brought me back to life. They saved my arm, which was only fit for amputation, and gave me hope to live a full life. My biggest fear is that I won't be able to take care of myself.

However, I need one more surgery to install an individual elbow joint prosthesis with replacement of the forearm and distal (lower) part of the shoulder defect.

According to the doctors, osteosynthesis with plates or anything else is impossible in my case because everything is too damaged, and there is no bone for proper fusion and formation of the correct shape and length. Additionally, the joint itself is damaged and cannot be restored. The only option for an adequate quality of life is an individual prosthesis.

Therefore, I am seeking help from benefactors.

In 2022, I had two grandchildren born, whose births I missed while defending our homeland. My biggest dream is to hold them in my arms. Currently, this is impossible because my non-functional arm is fixed to my chest.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 292,100

 

Thanks to the support of caring individuals, we have successfully raised the funds.

For Oleksandr, a custom elbow endoprosthesis will be manufactured in the Czech Republic, which will also replace defects in the forearm and the distal part of the humerus. This complex structure offers him a chance to return to a full life.

Thank you for your faith, support, and compassion. 

We wish Oleksandr a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.