Over 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been wounded since Russia’s invasion began, with dozens choosing to return to active duty after life-altering amputations. These amputee soldiers now serve as drone operators, tactical trainers, and evacuation specialists amid Russia’s relentless territorial gains. Their stories reveal a stark reality: Ukraine’s military faces severe shortages of personnel and weapons while relying on unyielding determination to defend its sovereignty.
Artem Rubliuk, a 38-year-old special forces sergeant, embodies this resilience. After losing both arms and partial vision in a 2022 explosion, he returned in 2024 to train troops and monitor enemy drones.
Fighting without limbs is a challenge,Rubliuk states. But only those who fight through adversity are truly alive.
Key roles filled by returning soldiers include:
- Drone warfare commanders
- Minefield navigation experts
- Combat engineering instructors
Serhii Vysotskyi, a former banking executive, now leads nighttime drone missions after losing his leg to a mine. You must prove they couldn’t break you,he emphasizes. The 59-year-old demining specialist Serhieiev echoes this sentiment: I’ll fight until Russia leaves our land.
Russia currently controls 20% of Ukraine’s territory and maintains artillery superiority. With U.S.-Russia talks excluding Ukrainian representatives, soldiers like drone lab supervisor Romanovskyi stress self-reliance: Our brigade kept demanding my return – we innovate because we must.
Veterans face dual battles – adapting to prosthetics while countering Russia’s 2024 spring offensive. Senior mechanic Lobchuk, who lost a leg in 2015, explains his comeback: My skills are needed. Staying home wasn’t an option.
As sniper commander Pozniak warns, This war won’t end soon.With frontline conditions worsening, these soldiers’ resilience becomes both tactical necessity and national symbol. Their ability to master new technologies like FPV drones demonstrates Ukraine’s evolving defense strategy against overwhelming odds.
