Soldier Mykola Bulatov

My name is Mykola Bulatov, born in 1987. I started my military career in July 2015, when I voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since then, I have been on active duty, including the time of the full-scale invasion. In the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone, I was seconded to the 30th Prince Konstantyn Ostrogskyi Mechanised Brigade.

On 24 February 2022, I was stationed at my permanent place of service in Brody town.

In May 2023, I was discharged from military service for health reasons. The reason was endoprosthetics of my left knee. The operation was performed in Rivne in December 2022. I was written off on the basis of the medical report and the conclusion of the military qualification commission.

I injured my knee when I was hit by a shock wave during an artillery shelling of our positions on the outskirts of Starohnativka settlement in February 2017. Then I got a concussion, which still makes my hands shake. I was taking painkillers for a long time, but over time they stopped working, so in 2021 I had an arthroscopy. For a while, I felt better - the pain decreased, but the effect was not lasting, so the doctors decided to replace my left knee joint. The operation went according to plan.

But the story did not end there. After the operation, the load on my right leg increased significantly, which affected my right hip joint. Now the pain is so severe that I am limited in my movement, I can barely walk and only with crutches. 

The only thing that can relieve my pain is hip replacement. I have addressed state institutions many times with this issue, but they offer endoprostheses of dubious quality. Doctors say that they can be fitted, but only to people who are sedentary, and they are not suitable for active patients. They advised me to find an opportunity to purchase a high-quality artificial joint that is guaranteed to last for decades and that would allow me to move freely without annoying pain. That is why I am appealing to all those who care, for help.

I have many plans for the future. I need to raise and support my children, I have three of them - the youngest is 4 years old. I plan to open a car service station and devote myself to my favourite trade.

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 96,800