Vogue creates project featuring Ukrainians with amputations and prosthetics
Ukrainian Vogue’s new social project ‘Visible’ showcases people with amputations and prosthetics.
Photographer Stepan Lisovsky captured powerful black-and-white photographs of 11 Ukrainians. Their stories and reasons behind the prosthetic limbs are featured on Vogue’s website.
Oleksandr Chaika
33 years old, choreographer, soldier
Oleksander lost a leg in April 2002 in combat in Popasna, Luhansk Oblast. After getting a prosthesis, he took up surfing and opened two acrobatics studios. Oleksander continues to teach dance and now provides psychological support to people who, like him, have gone through amputations.
Daniil Melnyk
19 years old, commander of a mechanized unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, currently in rehabilitation
Despite his young age, Daniil is a brave and strong defender who lost part of his legs, his left hand, and fingers on his right hand in combat near Kyiv in Feb. 2022. Daniil now writes poetry and plans to offer psychological support to wounded individuals on the frontlines.
Oleksandra Pascal
7 years old, schoolgirl, gymnast
Oleksandra lost a leg in a Russian missile strike on the village of Zatoka, Odesa Oblast in May 2022. She is involved in artistic gymnastics, choreography, and swimming.
Anastasia Shestopal
20 years old, athlete, influencer
Anastasia lost a leg in a Russian missile strike on the Kramatorskrailway station in Donetsk Oblast in April 2022. She has started learning German and developed an interest in modeling. She also runs her own TikTok channel where she occasionally humorously addresses topics related to amputations and prosthetics.
Maksym Yermokhin
28 years old, soldier, athlete
Maksym lost a leg in 2018 during Russia’s initial war in Ukraine. In 2022, he won four medals at the Invictus Games in The Hague and at the Warrior Games in the United States. Maksym has a tattoo that reads, "Your will is always stronger than your body."
Andriy Golopapa
20 years old, student, soldier
Andriy lost a leg in combat near Horlivka, Donetsk region in October 2022. In June 2023, he cycled 100 km with his prosthetic left leg.
Karina Stashchak
32 years old, dancer
Karina lost a leg due to a spinal hernia in 2018. She performed a dance number at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
Marina Ponomaryova
7 years old, schoolgirl
Marina lost a leg due to a Russian rocket strike in May 2022. She aspires to become a Formula 1 driver.
Vadym Svyrydenko
50 years old, authorized representative of the President of Ukraine for the rehabilitation of combatants
Vadym lost both hands and both feet due to injuries sustained in battles in Debaltseve, Donetsk Oblast in 2015. Vadym completed a 10 km run and became a medalist at the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC in 2016. He earned a bronze medal in rowing competitions at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.
Artem Kuzmich
27 years old, Special Forces veteran, world champion in Para jiu-jitsu, Ukrainian jiu-jitsu champion
Artem lost a leg in combat in Luhansk Oblast in February 2019. After treatment, he founded the TMS HUB sports club for veterans with amputations and injuries.
Ruslana Danilkina
20 years old, veteran, model, ambassador of the Superhumans Center
Ruslana joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the age of 18. She lost her left leg during a rocket attack in Kherson Oblast on February 10, 2023. She now works at Lviv’s Superhumans Center, which focuses on prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and psychological support for war-affected individuals.
This project seeks to shed light on the strength and resilience of these individuals who have overcome amputations and inspire others.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
