At a specialist rehabilitation centre in Ukraine, British military medical personnel are working alongside Ukrainian staff to support soldiers who have suffered life-changing injuries, including the loss of limbs. The facility, visited by The Guardian, provides a combination of advanced treatments and psychological support, where activities like group volleyball sessions help wounded veterans motivate each other during their long road to recovery.
Surviving the Drone Attack: Vladislav's Story
Among those receiving care is 31-year-old Vladislav, a former arbitration lawyer whose life was irrevocably altered on 21 August near Lyman in north-eastern Ukraine. He vividly recalls the moment a Russian fibre-optic drone targeted the buggy he was travelling in. "That's me," he says, showing a video of the attack he found on a Russian social media channel, which ends abruptly as the screen goes blank.
The explosion threw him to the ground, leaving his left leg catastrophically injured. His first instinct, he recounts with a grim smile, was to check his groin. Assured he was intact, he then applied a tourniquet to his leg, a act that saved his life. After rescue, he began to lose consciousness, seeing the proverbial "white tunnel," only to be jolted back by a comrade accidentally elbowing his wounded leg. Vladislav is one of dozens of new amputees arriving at the centre each month, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of Ukrainians have now lost limbs in the war.
British Expertise on the Ground: Project Renovator
Providing crucial assistance are a team of British military doctors, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists from the UK's defence medical services, operating under Project Renovator. Their presence, while minimally acknowledged by the British government beyond embassy staffing, involves sharing expertise on complex amputee rehabilitation and the use of temporary prosthetics.
"The numbers here are truly humbling," says Mike, a British rehabilitation consultant and army lieutenant colonel. Having served in Afghanistan, Mike notes that UK professionals can contribute significant experience to "help move their patients on to new legs quicker." He is keen to stress the exchange is two-way, highlighting that innovative Ukrainian techniques involving surgery and electrical stimulation are achieving remarkably fast nerve injury recovery.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey praised the team's work, stating, "I'm proud that the UK is stepping up to ensure wounded Ukrainian soldiers get the best possible treatment." He emphasised the goal of working alongside Ukrainian teams to deliver care, a mission that will continue long after the conflict ends.
The Long Road to Recovery: Psychology and Prosthetics
The centre's approach is holistic, combining physical rehabilitation with psychological care. Mike explains the importance of having "psychologically aware clinicians" who can identify when patients encounter mental health challenges. The group activities, such as the observed volleyball game, are a key component, fostering camaraderie and mutual motivation among the wounded.
For Vladislav, the journey has been arduous. He admits to crying extensively during solitary moments, describing the emotional toll as "like a divorce." He hid the severity of his injury from his pregnant wife for over a month, only telling her two weeks after the birth of their son, Adam. With his family's support and a positive mindset, he now hopes to receive his final prosthetic leg and be discharged early this year.
Another patient, Oleksandr, a 48-year-old former fitness teacher, lost both legs below the knee to an artillery shell on 18 October 2024. His recovery has involved multiple surgeries, a month in intensive care, and learning to use a wheelchair. "In the beginning it was hard for me just to sit in the wheelchair. I was sweating immediately," he says. Through persistent gym work with rehab experts, his strength returned, and a moment came when "I knew then I would get through." His future, however, remains uncertain as he waits to understand his capabilities with prosthetic legs, hoping one day to return to work as a fitness trainer.
The work at the centre underscores the devastating human cost of the war and the international collaboration required to help survivors rebuild their lives. The presence of British military medics represents a sustained, behind-the-scenes commitment to Ukraine's long-term recovery efforts.
