War and its Consequences: The Path to Recovery for Veterans with UNIDO
War changes lives in an instant. With every day that passes, civilians and soldiers suffer severe injuries, leaving lasting scars.
Since the onset of the war, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have lost limbs, with amputation rates comparable to those seen in World War I. According to The Wall Street Journal, in the first 17 months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 50,000 people required prosthetics. The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine reports that since the invasion began, the number of people with disabilities has exceeded 300,000, among whom are those who have lost limbs.
One of the injured is 23-year-old Oleh Bruchkovskyi, who lost a limb while serving near Bakhmut. "We arrived at the positions at dawn; everything was as usual. We began building a bunker, carrying logs. Then shelling started. I sat down on the logs to rest, and at that moment, there was an explosion next to my leg. My comrades rushed to help, following first-aid protocol. Then, guys from another brigade, who were on the front line for the first time, joined us. I remember one of them started praying out of fear. The evacuation took about ten minutes. I was quickly taken to the nearest hospital, and from there to Dnipro," Oleh recalls.
Originally from Lviv, Oleh grew up like any other child, fascinated with computers and later training as an electrician. In early 2022, two months before the full-scale invasion, he signed a military contract. "I was just 20 years old," he recalls.
"A soldier’s dream is an amputation like mine," Oleh jokes. "A 'harmless' amputation – below the knee – because with such an amputation, you can still do a lot. I was lucky enough."
Oleh is one of the veterans who received a prosthesis at the Halychyna Rehabilitation Center as part of the project "Emergency Assistance for 3D-Printed Prosthetics and Job Creation in Ukraine", implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support of the Government of Japan.
Through this initiative, UNIDO is helping Ukrainian prosthetics producers manufacture high-quality, customized prosthetics using cutting-edge 3D-printing technology. This process significantly reduces costs, production time, and weight, making prosthetics more accessible and effective.
"Everything happened quickly for me—I received my prosthesis in just two to three months," Oleh notes. "Some guys wait six to eight months due to the manual work involved and the shortage of prosthetists”.
In collaboration with Instalimb, a Japanese startup specializing in 3D-printed prosthetics, UNIDO is introducing digital modeling and AI-driven design techniques. This innovation enhances precision, speeds up production, and reduces costs.
"We aim to create a world where everyone in need can get prosthetics," says Yutaka Tokushima, CEO of Instalimb. "Through our partnership with UNIDO in Ukraine, we met many skilled prosthetists and engineers, working together to make this vision a reality."
To date, as part of the project, ten Ukrainian prosthetists have completed a course on digital prosthetics printing and are now actively involved in providing prosthetics to veterans in Ukraine. In addition, 32 Ukrainian veterans have received 3D-printed prosthetics, restoring mobility and independence.
"When I returned from the hospital, I was walking with crutches, but now with the prosthesis, I sometimes forget that I lost half my leg," Oleh shares.
Recently, Oleh took a major step forward when he climbed 400 steps at Lviv City Hall to propose to his girlfriend. "I didn’t know the stairs there were so steep, but my mom was already waiting to record it all on camera and my comrade, who provided me first aid during the injury, brought 101 roses. She said 'yes! Then, we were congratulated from the City Hall loudspeakers."
"What are my future plans? I’m not entirely sure. Most of us spent two or three years at war. We never truly experienced life. But I still have a hunger for it. Thanks to this prosthesis and your work, I can move forward and live fully.”
The human cost of war is devastating, but stories like Oleh Bruchkovskyi's demonstrate not only suffering but also hope for recovery and a new life after injury. Support from international organizations and cooperation with partner countries is crucial for the rehabilitation and social integration of veterans.
The innovative solutions that Ukraine's partners at UNIDO offer can significantly improve the quality of life for those affected, opening new opportunities for their active participation in society.
Through technology-driven solutions and global collaboration, UNIDO’s innovative prosthetics program is helping restore not just mobility, but livelihoods and dignity. This initiative is part of UNIDO’s broader "Green Recovery and Post-Crisis Development of Ukraine" program, ensuring sustainable recovery efforts that empower those most affected by the war.
