stories
‘As long as the war continues, I won’t leave’ Photos of Ukrainian soldiers who returned to the front lines even after losing limbs
Source: Associated Press
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, nearly 380,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Some of these soldiers have returned to the front even after sustaining severe injuries — including limb amputations. Journalists from the Associated Press recently spoke to several of these fighters, and Ukrainian photographer Evgeniy Maloletka took photos of them. Meduza shares a selection of his images.
Senior Sergeant Andriy Rubliuk, a reconnaissance officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), lost both hands, part of his forearm, and a leg in combat in 2022. Despite his injuries, he returned to the battlefield and now trains other soldiers. “Fighting with arms and legs is something anyone can do. Fighting without them — that’s a challenge,” he told the AP. “But only those who take on challenges and fight through them are truly alive.” Kyiv region, February 14, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Andriy Sergeyev from the AFU’s 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, who lost a leg in combat, lays mines alongside another soldier in the Donetsk region. February 13, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today.
Maksym Vysotskyi lost his leg in 2023 after hitting a landmine. He returned to the front in the Kharkiv region and now commands a drone unit in the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade. February 2, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
“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. You came back, proved you could still do something, and you’ll step away only when you decide to,” says Vysotskyi. Kharkiv region, February 2, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Serhii Tumanovskyi, a soldier with the 114th Territorial Defense Brigade, prepares a munition for a drone. Kharkiv region, February 10, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Oleksandr Zhalinskyi is a member of the Azov brigade. In the fall of 2023, he came under a shelling attack and lost his right arm. Zhalynskyi returned to the front as a driver, helping evacuate people. He chooses not to use a prosthetic. “It’s only good for fishing,” he told the AP. Zhalynskyi’s apartment in the Donetsk region. January 31, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Captain Oleksandr Puzikov lost his arm in combat in 2022. According to his wife, Iryna, the first words he said to her in the ICU were, “You won’t leave me, right?” Before his injury, Puzikov was a military medic. Now, he’s a military psychologist, helping his fellow soldiers recover. “As long as the war continues, I won’t leave — I’ll help in any way I can,” he says. The Puzikov family’s home in Kharkiv. February 3, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Serhii Pozniak, a sniper with the Ukrainian National Guard’s 27th Brigade, lost his leg after hitting a landmine. Now, he helps train other soldiers. Kyiv region, February 17, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Leonid Lobchuk lost his leg in 2015 while fighting in eastern Ukraine. He continues to serve in combat with the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade. Kharkiv region, February 10, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA