Soldier Anatolii, call sign FORS

From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion I have been in the military. I first served in the Territorial Defense Forces, then joined one of the units of the Air Forces. But I dreamed of joining the Special Operations Forces. For this I completed and successfully finished a qualification course and joined one of the units, where I carried out combat missions in Kursk Oblast.

On February 14, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission, my life changed. While approaching the enemy, I stepped on a mine — a detonation occurred, as a result of which I sustained a traumatic amputation of the right leg at the level of the middle third of the thigh. After the detonation I did not lose my alertness and immediately applied a tourniquet to myself. I then followed the instructions of my fellow soldier: I crawled to him, leaned on my rifle, and was able to jump onto his back. He carried me approximately one hundred meters, after which I began to receive assistance. The evacuation lasted more than six hours.

After this, my path of treatment and recovery began.

I was always physically developed, so I tried to regain my independence as quickly as possible. After the re-amputation, already the next day I got onto crutches and began to walk. I descended from the fifth floor to the first, and then climbed back up to the ward. I understood that now many things would have to be learned anew, but for myself I had one goal — not to break.

I learned to walk on a prosthesis with a 3R85 knee joint and even climbed Mount Zhandarme on it. After lengthy treatment, rehabilitation, and prosthetics, I returned to the military and am now once again carrying out the tasks set before me. I currently use a Genium X4. In April 2026 I was provided with a high-functionality thigh prosthesis using the latest technologies with an electronically controlled knee joint.

However, for my service and level of activity I need an additional Challenger prosthetic foot. I am an active serviceman, and while carrying out service duties and missions I need to move a great deal, walk on uneven surfaces, move at varying speeds, and withstand varying degrees of load.

I have already tested the Challenger and felt the difference. It is soft and suited for active movement and walking. For me this is not simply a matter of comfort or a desire to have a better prosthesis. I need this foot in order to be more mobile while carrying out missions, to continue my service, and to remain useful. It is important to me to be able to move as actively as service requires.

Unfortunately, the funds provided by the state prosthetics program were not sufficient to cover this need. That is why I am compelled to ask for help.

My greatest wish is for the war to end as soon as possible. And while it continues, my personal goal remains the same: not to break, to continue my service, and to be useful.

 

COLLECTING: UAH 185,654