Soldier Oleksandr Chybisov, callsign CHIP

My name is Oleksandr Chybisov, callsign CHIP. Before the war, I worked in Kyiv as a sports poker instructor teaching people to play beautifully, fairly, and with a cool head. I loved what I did. I loved life.

When the full-scale invasion began, I didn’t hesitate — I volunteered to join the 244th Battalion of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade. At first, we defended my home district of Obolon and trained in marksmanship. Then came training near Bila Tserkva, preparing for the frontlines. And by May 2022, our company was deployed to the front — to the border between Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

There, on June 15, between the villages of Hirske and Komyshuvakha, I suffered a gunshot wound. The bullet damaged the nerve plexus in my left arm. I didn’t lose consciousness. There was no panic. But I couldn’t feel my arm at all. Together with a comrade, we made it to the evacuation point on our own. From there — Druzhkivka, Dnipro, Kropyvnytskyi, then surgery in Riga and rehabilitation in Latvia.

It seemed like the function in my arm was starting to return. But life decided that one trial wasn’t enough.

At the end of 2023, a mole was removed. It turned out to be melanoma. Then another surgery. Then I broke a metatarsal bone. My mental health deteriorated, and I had to seek psychiatric help. 

Antidepressants made my body even weaker. I returned to Svitlovodsk to live with my elderly parents. Along with my cat Machete Dragon. Yes, that’s his actual name. He’s part of my story.

The rehabilitation here is minimal. Given the accompanying health conditions, my disability status was changed to group II. My arm still doesn’t function properly. Every movement of the fingers, hand, and bicep is a struggle. But I keep going. Because I still have hope.

I dream of returning to the life I used to have. And of helping my father and mother — they are already elderly. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be their support.

I learned about the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” at the NSCDU. They truly help there. They give people a chance. And I’m ready to work. I want to make progress.

But I can’t do it alone. That’s why I have to ask for help. I need to take this step toward recovery.

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The fundraiser for the rehabilitation course of defender Oleksandr Chybisov, callsign CHIP, is now closed!

Oleksandr has already begun his rehabilitation at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of the NSCDU. Ahead lies an important journey of recovery — a fight for mobility, strength, and the return to a full life.

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported this fundraiser. Shares, words of encouragement, donations — all of this warms the heart, restores faith, and reminds our defenders they are not left alone after battle.

We want to extend special gratitude to our friend from Poland — Pawel. His donation fully closed the fundraiser. This is not just financial aid.
It is an act of deep support, solidarity, and a big heart. It is help across borders, a bridge of friendship between countries, and faith in those who are still fighting.

Oleksandr’s dream to work again, to be useful, to support his parents — is now a little closer.

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Oleksandr Chybisov has completed a 30-day rehabilitation course at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of NCSIU.

It was a challenging period, but it brought visible results:

• Functional assessment: at the start of the course, Oleksandr couldn’t lift a 2-liter bottle over his head. By the end, he managed to perform the exercise 19 times per minute.
• Muscle strength: shoulder abduction dynamometry increased from 15.1 kg to 16.3 kg.
• Shoulder mobility: flexion improved from 154º to 176º, abduction — from 153º to 174º.
• Maximum power: increased from 550 W to 570 W.

Additional tests showed that although there are still areas requiring further work (hand strength and endurance), the overall progress is positive.

These results are the first step on the road to recovery. There is still much work ahead, but most importantly — hope has appeared, confirmed by real changes.

On behalf of the foundation, we sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the fundraiser!
A special thanks goes to our friend from Poland, Pawel, who closed the fundraiser with his generous support. It is thanks to people like him that our defenders get a chance for a new life.

Together we are doing something truly great.
Thank you for standing by our heroes!

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000

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After completing the first 30‑day rehabilitation course at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of the NCSIU, Oleksandr demonstrated tangible results, confirmed by the center’s specialists. It was an important milestone that gave him a sense of progress and hope for further recovery.

However, this path does not end here. Oleksandr has reached out to our foundation asking for help to undergo an additional rehabilitation course at the same center. The specialists at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center already know Oleksandr well, understand the specifics of his condition, and support the need to continue working with him. They provided their comments and rationale for recommending another course.

In terms of motor functions, the defender still has deficits — although the main limitations were partly compensated during the previous rehabilitation, there is still work to be done. His condition requires a comprehensive approach, because his medical history includes difficult issues: deterioration of psychological state after the injury, episodes that required psychiatric assistance, which arose after the trauma. The center’s specialists emphasize that this cannot be neglected, because recovery is not only about the body, but also about inner resilience and regaining control over one’s life.

Therefore, the main focus of the next course will be general physical conditioning, work on endurance and strength, gradual return to activity that will help stabilize both his physical and psychological condition. Building a stable, safe physical foundation will help Oleksandr strengthen himself and avoid sliding backward.

The foundation supports Oleksandr’s request and fully trusts the conclusions of the center’s specialists. They see promise, they see potential, they see what else can and must be done for his recovery. And we are committed to helping him complete this journey.

We are launching a new fundraiser for the additional rehabilitation course.

Required amount: 90,000 UAH

This is the full cost of the course, which Oleksandr cannot pay on his own. We appeal to all who care — please join this fundraiser.

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The fundraiser for the second rehabilitation course for the severely wounded defender Oleksandr Chybisov has been successfully closed. The rehabilitation has been paid for, and the course has been fully completed.

We sincerely thank everyone who contributed with donations, shares, kind words, and faith. Your support is not just help—it is the feeling that defenders are not left alone with the consequences of war.

Special thanks to the team of specialists at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of the NCSIU for their professionalism and humanity.
The rehabilitation goals and objectives aimed at restoring the functionality, mobility, and strength of the left upper limb, as well as improving overall physical conditioning, have been achieved.

A brief summary of the course results:

• Trunk flexion and extension: increased from 30 to 40 repetitions;
• Push‑ups from the floor: increased from 15 to 19 repetitions;
• 1 km run time improved from 7:51 to 7:00 minutes;
• 30‑second Wingate test on the Echobike concept: from 482 WAT down to 325 WAT;
• Maximum power test: from 633 WAT down to 549 WAT.

There remains a deficit in muscle strength in certain groups. Oleksandr has been advised to maintain a daily level of physical activity at his place of residence for social and everyday adaptation.

Oleksandr’s rehabilitation course was funded under the “CYBORGS REHABILITATION 2.0” program with the support of the Canada‑Ukraine Foundation and the National Congress of Ukrainian Canadians (UCC).

We thank our partners for their trust and for the opportunity to help our defenders.

 

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 90,000

TOTAL COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 180,000