Rehabilitation after war is a long, painful process. For many soldiers who survive life-altering injuries, it’s also fraught with frustration, bureaucracy, and logistical challenges.
In Russia, the war in Ukraine has left thousands of soldiers with amputations, exposing gaps in the country’s healthcare and rehabilitation systems.
This week, President Vladimir Putin visited the Center for Innovative Orthopedic Technologies (CITO), a rehabilitation center in Moscow, according to Ziare.
The facility specializes in treating soldiers who have lost limbs in the conflict. During the visit, several veterans voiced their struggles, explaining that there are only 46 centers in Russia capable of handling complex prosthetics.
Soldiers often travel long distances to access care, even for minor repairs to their prostheses.
Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivileva acknowledged the challenges, noting that Russia faces a severe shortage of prosthetists.
While the country needs roughly 10 specialists per million people, there are only about 1,000 professionals nationwide.
She added that the demand for advanced prosthetics has risen sharply, with injuries from the war accounting for a 70% increase in prosthetic needs.
Most injuries involve amputations of lower limbs (77%), followed by upper limbs (17%), and multiple amputations (6%).
For these soldiers, prosthetics are vital, but repairs can take months. Bionic prosthetics, primarily sourced from Germany, must often be shipped abroad for maintenance due to sanctions.
Before the war, such repairs took about two months. Now, they can take up to six.
During his visit, Putin’s remarks angered many. After thanking the soldiers for their service, he asked if they had "adjusted to their new condition."
Ukrainian officials and critics saw this as callous, with one adviser calling him a "psychopath devoid of empathy."
For soldiers, the challenges go beyond insensitive comments. Many struggle to obtain prosthetics due to legal red tape, and warranties often fail to cover ongoing issues.
While Russian law mandates support for disabled veterans, the reality is far more complex.
