Soldier Mykola, callsign KUM

My name is Mykola, callsign KUM, and I am 24 years old. Before the war, I lived like most guys my age—I played sports, dreamed about the future, and worked. Floorball and running were my life, and I never thought that one day I would have to start all over again.

When the mobilization began, I didn’t hesitate—I joined the 81st Brigade. The war didn’t give me a choice; I simply went to defend my homeland.

October 18, 2024 – the day that changed everything.
We were on a combat mission in Bilohorivka, Luhansk region. An enemy drone dropped an explosive on our position. It all happened in an instant—a powerful impact, pain, blood.

For the first two hours, I was conscious—I saw my legs, saw how my comrades tried to save me. They did everything they could: applied tourniquets, kept me stable, didn’t let me lose consciousness. But then... darkness.

When I woke up in the hospital, my legs were gone. Both. High amputation.

It was hard to process. But do you know what was the scariest part? Not the fact that I would never run again. The worst part was the feeling of helplessness.

Now, I am at the stage where I can be fitted with prosthetics, but first, I need rehabilitation. I have to learn how to live again, to be independent, to not rely on others for everything.

I want to walk, to be part of this world. And most importantly—to start a family. The war took a lot from me, but it didn’t break my will to live.

To make this a reality, I need to go through rehabilitation at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of the National Committee for Sports of the Disabled of Ukraine (NCSIU). This is the place where I can adapt to my new reality, regain my independence, and prepare for prosthetics.

Two months of rehabilitation will give me the chance to take my first steps again.
I survived. And I want to keep living life to the fullest.

Thank you to everyone who stands by my side!

 

 

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On January 29, Mykola Vasenko began rehabilitation at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of the NKSIU.
Despite all the challenges, he achieved significant progress during the first month:

• Improved weight-bearing function – a crucial milestone, especially since one of his arms has a severe contracture following fractures and an elbow joint injury.
• Mastered independent transfer skills – he can now move from any surface to his wheelchair without assistance.
• Learned essential skills for effectively using an active wheelchair – bringing him closer to maximum independence.

The rehabilitation will continue until March 29, with much work still ahead to prepare for prosthetics and regain full autonomy.
 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 180,000