«I dream of looking people straight in the eye»: The Story of Liubomyr Vasiliuk

In 2023, Liubomyr Vasiliuk joined the military and became a soldier in the 12th Special Forces Brigade «Azov». During a combat mission, he was inside a dugout when a shell struck the shelter.

«The shelter was breached, and I was injured. I immediately suffered a traumatic amputation of one limb above the knee. My other leg sustained multiple open fractures, and as a result, it also had to be amputated,» Liubomyr recalls.

After leaving the hospital, a new stage began: rehabilitation. Liubomyr believes recovery should begin as early as possible, even during treatment, so that the body can gradually prepare for future physical demands while also restoring a sense of movement and activity in everyday life.

«You’re not constantly thinking about your injury; you’re busy doing something. It gives your mind a bit of a break,» Liubomyr says.

He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the U+ System prosthetics and rehabilitation center and preparing for prosthetic fitting. For now, Liubomyr uses a wheelchair. Prosthetic fitting will therefore be his next step. He is preparing to receive prostheses using Direct Socket technology. Full support — from rehabilitation to prosthetic fitting — is provided through the Vidrukh project, which U+ System is implementing together with the Shufani brothers.

Liubomyr immediately gives simple examples: a low curb, reaching for things on a shelf, and ordinary everyday situations in which he would like to be more independent.

«It’s all simply about making things easier and more comfortable. Prostheses will give me a little more confidence, but I don’t have unrealistic expectations. I understand that it will be very difficult. A bilateral above-knee amputation isn’t about becoming the way you were before. It’s about being able to do a little more than you can in a wheelchair,» Liubomyr says.

For Liubomyr, what matters now are concrete, everyday things. And when he is asked about his dream, he answers without lengthy explanations:

«I dream of looking people straight in the eye».

If you or your loved ones also need support, fill out the application on the U+ System website. We will contact you and explain the next steps.