Soldier Serhii Tatarchuk, call sign PORTUGAL

I am a Junior Sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a rifleman-grenadier assistant with the 119th Separate Brigade.

At the time of the full-scale invasion, I was abroad. But on February 24, 2022, without hesitation, I returned to Ukraine to defend my loved ones, my home, and my land.

I volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Together with my comrades, we defended our native Chernihiv and later the Chernihiv region. At the beginning of 2023, our unit was deployed to the hottest front — Bakhmut.

On January 9, 2023, while defending the “Fortress” position near the settlement of Chervona Hora, I was severely wounded during a mortar attack. The blast wave and shrapnel hit my spine, chest, lungs, and internal organs. I lay on the snow, drifting in and out of consciousness, until the guys from my platoon ran up. They applied a tourniquet, stopped the bleeding, and packed the wounds. They dragged me out until they happened to come across an APC evacuating the wounded from another unit.

I regained consciousness in a hospital in Dnipro.

What followed were months of pain, surgeries, and rehabilitation. I spent almost 4 months recovering in Ukraine, then was sent abroad for further treatment and rehab through the Ministry of Health. Upon return, I continued rehabilitation at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center, then in a hospital in Chernihiv.

But the worst part is the constant neuropathic pain that has lasted for nearly three years. I can’t train properly or live a normal life. Strong painkillers are my daily companions — but even they don’t always help.

There is a chance to get rid of the pain.

Doctors recommend a modern method — Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): the implantation of an electrode into the spinal canal to block pain signals. It’s a high-tech procedure that can reduce or completely eliminate the pain, restore control over my body, and give me a real chance at a full life.

It is officially confirmed: I was wounded during combat under enemy fire. Doctors have provided their conclusions, and a team of specialists is ready to perform the operation. But the cost of the implanted system is extremely high and not covered by the state. That’s why I’m forced to ask for help.

I want to live again not just survive.

________________________________________

 

The fundraiser for the implantation of a spinal cord electrode for severely wounded defender Serhii Tatarchuk has been successfully closed.

The bill has already been paid. The surgery will take place soon. Ahead lies a difficult, but hopeful journey — toward life without pain, recovery, and movement.

We sincerely thank everyone who stood by his side and helped with donations, reposts, and words of support. This is our shared victory — over pain, over indifference.

We believe in Serhii, in his strength and spirit.
And we believe in people who do not remain indifferent.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 112,050