Soldier Oleksandr Pustovid, call sign HRUSHA

My name is Oleksandr, and I am the father of Ukrainian defender Pustovid Oleksandr Oleksandrovych, call sign HRUSHA. Today I am addressing you not only as a father, but as a person who every day sees the terrible price at which our freedom is won.

My son was born on December 12, 1989, in Kharkiv. He attended school No. 73 and later graduated from the Kharkiv National Technical University of Agriculture. After his studies, Oleksandr worked in our family footwear manufacturing business, helped develop the enterprise, and made plans for the future.

He was always a person who does not walk past another’s misfortune.

That is why Oleksandr voluntarily joined the ranks of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and signed a contract. He said that he could not stand aside when the country needed protection.

But the war changed everything very quickly.

During his military service, my son developed health problems that led to an acute cerebrovascular accident. According to the conclusions of the military medical commission, in October 2024 Oleksandr suffered an ischemic stroke as a result of thrombosis of the right internal carotid artery.

The doctors fought for his life every minute.

He underwent thrombectomy, decompressive craniectomy, prolonged treatment, and numerous surgeries. A titanium plate was subsequently installed. Long months of hospitals, pain, uncertainty, and exhausting struggle for every movement lay ahead. Today Oleksandr has already done what seemed impossible just recently: thanks to the doctors and his own willpower, he has begun to walk again.

But the consequences of the injury remain very severe.

The left arm still does not function. Oleksandr has problems with coordination and balance. His speech remains sluggish and requires constant work with specialists. The left eye does not function. Every new movement, every word, every small step forward is the result of enormous effort.

Despite everything he has been through, my son has not lost the most important thing — faith in the future.

He dreams of starting a happy family. He dreams of returning to our family business. He dreams of a large, cozy home filled with the sound of children’s laughter. And I believe these dreams can come true.

Right now Oleksandr is in vital need of specialized rehabilitation at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of the NCSPI. It is there that he will be able to receive comprehensive assistance: physical rehabilitation, restoration of motor functions, work on speech, and the support of specialists who help people after severe brain injuries return to a full life. Unfortunately, our family is unable to cover all the costs on its own.

That is why we are compelled to ask for help. Help Oleksandr return to a life in which he can once again speak, work, embrace his loved ones, and build his future.

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We have an important update regarding the fundraiser for Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Pustovid.

Thanks to your support, Oleksandr is already undergoing a rehabilitation course at the “Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center” of the NCSPI, and the specialists are already noting positive dynamics across all key walking indicators.

The rehabilitation specialist team reports that Oleksandr has good potential for further recovery. Despite the fact that he still moves slowly, tires quickly, and requires his father’s assistance for safety, progress is already visible. The main goal of the next stage of rehabilitation is to increase the distance of independent walking, improve its quality and endurance, and fully reduce dependence on outside assistance.

After a detailed assessment of Oleksandr’s condition, the center’s lead physical therapist recommended continuing the rehabilitation course, as it is precisely now, when the body is responding positively to the load, that all the prerequisites for further recovery are in place.

We, as a charity foundation, carefully reviewed the conclusions of the specialists, spoke with Oleksandr’s father, and supported the recommendation.

That is why the foundation made the decision to extend the defender’s rehabilitation and increase the fundraiser amount.

We see what matters most — a real chance for Oleksandr to regain even greater independence. To stop now, when results are already visible and specialists are forecasting further progress, would mean losing an extraordinarily important window of time.

That is why we are asking all caring people to support this fundraiser.

Every hryvnia today is an investment in the recovery of a person who voluntarily stood up to defend Ukraine, and who now every day wages another difficult fight — for the ability to walk independently, to live, and to return to a full life.

We thank everyone who has already become part of this story. Together we can help Oleksandr take his next, even more confident steps forward.

 

COLLECTING: UAH 240,000