Soldier Mykola Dorokhov, call sign SNIPER

My name is Mykola Dorokhov, callsign SNIPER. At the beginning of the war in 2014, I was living in Crimea. However, after the occupation of the peninsula, I was forced to leave my home and move to Henichesk. There, I started a new life, but in 2022, the Russian army occupied that city as well, and I had to flee further into Ukraine, to Kaniv in the Cherkasy region. It was there that I joined the Territorial Defense Forces, and later, on May 18, 2022, I volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

My decision to fight for Ukraine was not just patriotic. In March 2022, during battles in Donetsk, I lost my brother. His death was a turning point for me—I realized I had to do everything I could to defend our country and reclaim our homes.

In 2023, during a combat mission, I sustained my first injury—a sniper’s bullet hit my leg. After treatment in Kremenchuk and rehabilitation, I returned to the front. However, on June 28, 2024, I was wounded again—this time, shrapnel hit my arm, rendering it nonfunctional.

That day, I had to rely on a comrade. I handed him my communications equipment to keep it from getting soaked in blood as we tried to escape the shelling. He told me he would go for help. But he didn’t return. I spent two days alone in a dugout without food or water. I tried to get up several times but collapsed each time, losing consciousness.

On the third day, I heard footsteps. Honestly, I didn’t believe anyone would come for me. In those moments, my whole life flashed before my eyes. But when I heard my name and callsign, I knew—they were ours! My comrades had come, lifted me, and carried me out. They gave me a second chance at life, for which I will be eternally grateful. I was evacuated, given first aid, and transported to Dnipro.

Currently, my arm is nonfunctional—my fingers don’t move. To restore its functionality, I need a long and challenging rehabilitation course at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center. There is a chance I can regain the use of my arm and return to service. The doctors can’t guarantee a full recovery, but I believe in my strength, in modern rehabilitation methods, and in your support.

My mission is to do everything possible to rejoin our defenders and continue fighting for Ukraine’s liberation.

I ask for your help to make this journey. Every contribution is a step toward my recovery, my return to the battlefield, and our shared victory over the enemy. Together, we are strong, together we will endure, and together we will reclaim every inch of our homeland.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000

 

Thanks to the support of caring individuals, we have also successfully completed the fundraiser for Mykola.
He completed an intensive 30-day recovery course at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of the NSCU, achieving impressive results.

During rehabilitation, Mykola worked on improving overall strength, endurance, functionality, and range of motion. Rehabilitation specialists report that all goals were achieved, as confirmed by the test results:

Increased range of motion in the left upper limb:

  • Shoulder flexion: improved from 112º to 149º.
  • Elbow flexion: improved from 120º to 150º.
  • Elbow extension: improved from -60º to -23º.
  • Supination: improved from 60º to 87º.
  • Shoulder abduction: improved from 75º to 134º.
  • Internal shoulder rotation: improved from 60º to 81º.
  • External shoulder rotation: improved from 60º to 67º.

Aerobic performance:

  • Wingate Test on AirBike Concept: improved from 222 Watts to 462 Watts.
  • Maximum Power: improved from 570 Watts to 612 Watts.

These results were made possible by a comprehensive rehabilitation approach, including physical therapy, specialized training, and personalized guidance from experts.

Mykola is not only regaining his strength but is also making great strides toward full recovery. His resilience, your support, and the professionalism of the rehabilitation team have made this success possible.