Soldier Dmytro, call sign JACK

My name is Dmytro, call sign JACK. I volunteered for the war on March 7, 2023, and served as the commander of a separate grenade launcher platoon in military unit 4723. We defended our land in Donetsk region, particularly in the villages of Ozerne, Pririchne, and Vyshneve.

I sustained my first injury on April 2, 2023, near the village of Dzherelne in the Luhansk region. We were moving in a vehicle to set up a firing position when we hit an anti-tank mine. I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and a concussion. After a long recovery, I was able to return to my unit on May 30, 2024, but my time there was brief.

On June 23, 2024, in the village of Andriivka, Svatove district, Luhansk region, I triggered an enemy PMN-2 mine trap while approaching an outpost. I immediately realized I had lost my legs, but I didn’t feel any pain. A comrade behind me was also injured but managed to stay calm and helped apply tourniquets to my legs, saving my life. The evacuation took 12 hours under constant drone attacks. I was taken to a first aid post in Kharkiv region and then to a hospital in Kharkiv city.

When I woke up in intensive care, doctors told me I had lost my left leg up to the hip and my right leg at one-third of the thigh. From Kharkiv, I was transferred by train to Kyiv, where I spent four months. I am currently in Lviv, undergoing rehabilitation.

Ahead of me lies a challenging prosthetic journey, and my most important task now is to complete a full specialized rehabilitation course at Zakhidnyi Rehabilitation and Sports Centre. There, I need to learn to use a wheelchair, improve my overall physical condition, and prepare for the next stage—fitting prosthetics.

I always knew that anything could happen in war, but I never imagined I would be in this situation. However, I have not broken and do not intend to give up. I need your support to get through this difficult and long path to recovery, which will give me a chance at an active, independent life.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000

 

Thanks to the support of our friends from the Netherlands, who organized a charity concert in the city of Middelburg and raised funds for the rehabilitation of wounded defenders, the Citizen Charity Foundation paid for Dmytro's 30-day rehabilitation course.

Considering the high amputation of both limbs, even after prosthetics, Dmytro will often have to use a wheelchair. Therefore to achieve maximum recovery, he needs to undergo a second rehabilitation course at the Zakhidnyi Rehabilitation and Sports Centre. This stage will focus on mastering the use of an active wheelchair, navigating stairs, and overcoming curbs of 10-15 cm in height.

The main goal is to achieve complete independence in daily life so that when Dmytro returns home, he can take care of himself and move freely.

In addition, Dmytro faces other challenges: preventing shoulder pain (which developed due to his injury), improving physical endurance, and strengthening his arm muscles.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000

 

Dmytro has successfully completed his second 30-day rehabilitation course at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of NCSIU.

The specialists set ambitious goals—to help Dmytro improve his independence in daily life and learn to move freely in an active wheelchair. And these goals have been achieved!

Here are the results Dmytro demonstrated after the course:
 1. Physical endurance:

  • Aerobic capacity (Wingate Test) increased from 120 W to 222 W.
  • Maximum power output increased from 156 W to 298 W.

 2. Wheelchair skills (Wheelchair Skills Test, WST 4.2):

  • Improved from 43 points to 62 points (out of a maximum of 64).

 3. Newly acquired skills:

  • Navigating soft surfaces and curbs of different heights.
  • Ascending and descending curbs.
  • Independently transferring from the floor to the wheelchair.
  • Balancing and maneuvering on rear wheels.
  • Climbing and descending stairs

The only remaining challenge is overcoming a 15 cm curb, but given his incredible progress, it’s only a matter of time!

Your support is DZEKA’s victory!

This achievement was made possible thanks to all of you—everyone who contributed to the fundraiser, donated, shared the information, or supported Dmytro with kind words.

A special thanks to the platforms shafa.ua and volonter.by.prom for their support and compassion. You have proven that together, we can create real miracles!

Thank you to everyone who helps our defenders return to a full life!

 

TOTAL COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 180,000