For four years, it's been all about heroism. Why Ukraine can't survive without a military rehabilitation program.
We need a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for soldiers.
Imagine boarding a train from Kramatorsk to Kyiv, where most of the passengers are military personnel.
They are departing directly from combat operations. Look into their eyes. You will instantly feel everything without needing explanations.
Rehabilitation is not just about physical injuries and teaching someone to use a prosthesis. This aspect is relatively clear, with specific technologies available.
Rehabilitation primarily involves the complete restoration of mental well-being. It's about piecing together your soul and inner state.
On that train, the conductor will surely call for a doctor. Because one of the soldiers will lose consciousness. The strain is overwhelming, pushing them to their last reserves of health.
The majority of injuries are concussions (acoustic trauma). A person may appear outwardly healthy, with arms and legs intact, but their brain has been shaken so violently that everything internally is disrupted. There's intense pressure on the blood vessels and gray matter, effectively "mixing up the files in their head."
And this may have happened multiple times.
Afterward, as a rule, nothing is restored. They are given three days, treated, and then sent back out, back under fire.
Often, soldiers initially do not recognize the extent and consequences of their injuries, especially when adrenaline is running high.
As a result, they may experience panic attacks, depression, and anger—leading either to suicide or inappropriate behavior.
If a person has not been mentally rehabilitated, then nothing has been done.
I know all this not from hearsay. In the army, no one talks about their weaknesses.
I know because I personally experienced a concussion. Just one—but it was enough for me to feel its effects for over a year.
What if someone has 5 or 10? I am aware of such cases. And if you are in the infantry, there is often no time to rest.
Frequently, guys casually complain that due to numerous concussions, for instance, they can't recall half of yesterday...
...we have been relying on heroism for four years now. Although the number of those who have been on the front lines since the very first days of the large-scale conflict is dwindling.
Four years—it’s not so terrifying.
What is frightening is the uncertainty of how many more years...
We are left to live on hope. Listening to beautiful speeches is becoming insufficient.
We need specific programs and their implementation. Yes, on the fly.
We must learn to do everything simultaneously. To fight, to heal.
To rest, and to defend our positions.
We should activate the best quality of Ukrainians—adaptability.
Therefore, it is imperative to develop and implement a broad rehabilitation program. I believe that nearly the entire world is extending a helping hand in this matter.
There are resources and willingness. We just need our attention and determination.
The same hotels in Bukovel can surely take in a portion of military personnel for free as part of their operations.
I am confident that governments from various countries, from Japan to the USA, are ready to take our soldiers for rehabilitation. I repeat, this is not only about the severely wounded, but in fact—a majority who fought on the front lines.
All of this should not be limited to a hotline or a government statement about "the importance of military health."
What is needed is a deep plan and real actions.
Every day I see how the guys around me change.
How their condition can deteriorate. Even for those in the unit flying drones. And for those who may sit in headquarters under KABs. Whoever they are, they certainly deserve at least the opportunity to recover their strength and health.
This is a direct obligation for both Ukraine and the entire world.
The author expresses a personal opinion that may not align with the editorial stance. The responsibility for the published data in the "Opinions" section lies with the author.