War leaves no one unchanged, least of all the soldiers who suffer life-altering injuries and return to fight once more. Andrii Rubliuk, a Ukrainian intelligence soldier, is one of many who defy the odds after surviving horrific wounds.
A Soldier’s Unthinkable Recovery
Rubliuk doesn’t know how long he was clinically dead after an explosion detonated beneath him. The experience is a blur of cold, darkness, and overwhelming fear. When he regained consciousness, his body was shattered, both arms and his left leg gone. Excruciating pain filled his senses as hallucinations clouded his thoughts.
“It’s an experience you wouldn’t wish on anyone,” says the now-38-year-old, who, two years after the blast, is back in military fatigues. His missing limbs are replaced by prosthetics, hooks where his fingers once were, and a firm artificial leg in place of his own.
But the journey hasn’t been easy. From the moment the explosion tore apart his body, Rubliuk knew his life had changed forever. However, his commitment to the battle never wavered. “Fighting with arms and legs is something anyone can do. Fighting without them, that’s a challenge,” he says. “But only those who take on challenges and fight through them are truly alive.”
Amputees in Combat: Defying the Odds
Rubliuk’s story isn’t unique. Across Ukraine, wounded soldiers, many of whom have lost limbs, have returned to the front lines. These men are part of a community of approximately 380,000 war casualties, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Of those, 46,000 soldiers have died, while tens of thousands more are either missing or in captivity. Despite the overwhelming odds, these men have found the strength to return to combat, driven by duty to their families and their country.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no sign of slowing down, and with little territorial change despite massive losses on both sides, the Ukrainian military faces not only a physical and strategic struggle but also a diplomatic one. As talks between the US and Russia progress, fears loom that Ukraine could be sidelined. Yet, for many soldiers, there’s no question of stopping now. Their commitment is stronger than ever.
Return to the Frontlines
Rubliuk, now a senior sergeant in the Artan intelligence unit, returned to his special forces role in the spring of 2024. His rehabilitation began in late 2022, but he views recovery as an ongoing process. “Every new day is part of my rehabilitation,” he explains. “My new body is a balance between self-acceptance and continuous recovery.”
A comrade who was with Rubliuk during the explosion recalls thinking he was dead. Rubliuk had suffered cardiac arrest after the blast, but thanks to the skill of military surgeons and months of rehabilitation in the US, he is back on the front lines, using his knowledge and experience as his greatest weapon.
“Returning Home” After Injury
Maksym Vysotskyi, 42, is another soldier who defied expectations. After stepping on a landmine during a drone mission in November 2023, Vysotskyi lost his left leg. Yet, by May 2024, he was back in uniform, commanding a team that operates explosive-laden drones.
“You need to come out of this not as someone broken by the war and written off, but as someone they tried to break, but couldn’t,” he says. Despite his injury, Vysotskyi has never regretted enlisting. For him, the war is not something to escape from but to endure and overcome. “Everyone must walk their own path, and there will be challenges along the way,” he says. “I never had regrets.”
Combat Medic Turned War Psychologist
Captain Oleksandr Puzikov, now 40, was a combat medic before his left arm was severed in battle. His wife, Iryna, recalls the moment when he called to tell her what had happened. “I will never forget that day,” she says. “His first words were, ‘You won’t leave me, right?’” After months of recovery, Puzikov retrained as a psychologist to help other soldiers cope with the mental toll of war.
Despite suffering from phantom limb pain, Puzikov remains determined to serve. “As long as the war continues, I won’t leave,” he says. His dedication to his comrades and his country never falters, even as he deals with the ongoing struggle of living without a prosthetic arm.
From Infantry to Navigator: Finding New Purpose
Oleksandr Zhalinskyi, 34, lost his right arm during an artillery strike in the fall of 2023. He was the only one from his unit to survive. Despite the agony, Zhalinskyi crawled to safety and, once recovered, returned to the military. He transitioned from infantry soldier to navigator-driver, choosing not to use a prosthetic.
“At first, I did not like this job,” he admits. “But over time, I accepted this new role.” His resilience and ability to adapt make him an invaluable asset to his unit. Once the war ends, he plans to pursue his pre-war dream of opening a pub in his hometown. However, the pub’s name will be different, he now plans to call it “Amputated Conscience.”
Life After War: The Journey Ahead
These soldiers represent the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian military, where even the most grievous injuries cannot stop the drive to protect their homeland. While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear, when these men are finally able to put down their weapons, they will have earned their rest, and their nation will owe them an unpayable debt.
