From War Injuries to Mentorship

From War Injuries to Mentorship

Sergiy Kotsiuba, born on July 19, 1993, in Khmelnytsky, has always had a curious mind and a passion for electronics. This drive led him to the University of Intelligent Technologies and Communications, where he pursued his love for microcircuits and electronic engineering. Even before graduating, Sergiy was already working as an electronics engineer, and with a growing expertise, he soon launched his own business in access control and video surveillance systems.

Sergiy's ambitions and plans were abruptly halted on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With no military background or combat experience, Sergiy, at the age of 28, made a life-changing decision to volunteer for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, determined to defend his homeland from the occupiers. He joined the 81st Slobozhanska Air Assault Brigade, where he carried out dangerous combat missions primarily in northeastern Ukraine.

In late 2022, during fierce battles near Bilohorivka, Sergiy's brigade heroically resisted another enemy assault. In the chaos of the fight, a 120-mm enemy mortar shell exploded near him. Sergiy lost consciousness momentarily and awoke to the horrific sight of his leg severed from his body. Injured further by shrapnel that struck his shoulder and collarbone, he struggled to move or apply a tourniquet. “The evacuation was really difficult and dangerous, under enemy fire, but the guys pulled me out, and I am very grateful to them,” he recalls.

What followed was a long and challenging period of surgeries, prosthetics, and rehabilitation, spanning over a year in hospitals across Dnipro, Lutsk, Kyiv, and Odesa. During this time, Sergiy faced an uncertain future, grappling with questions about how to live and what his new life would be like. Initially, he received a conventional prosthesis in Odesa, but due to the high level of his amputation, it caused more discomfort than benefit. Then, he met Dr. Vasyl Rybak, who offered a groundbreaking solution: prosthetics using the osseointegration method, where a titanium pin is implanted into the bone, allowing the prosthetic to attach directly. "What used to take 40 minutes to wear now takes just 30 seconds," says Sergiy.

With his new prosthetic, Sergiy embarked on Dr. Rybak's rehabilitation program, which focused on adaptive sports like wheelchair basketball, golf, swimming, billiards, and table tennis. Through these activities, he found a path back to a full life, overcoming the many obstacles that stood in his way. His dedication led him to become the captain of the Odesa Basket wheelchair basketball team, and after completing his rehabilitation, Sergiy chose to stay at the center as a mentor. Inspired by Dr. Rybak's dedication, he now organizes training sessions in adaptive sports to assist other soldiers in their recovery.

Today, Sergiy serves as the chief specialist in the rehabilitation department of the Health Department in Odesa. In this role, he continues to support military personnel and civilians affected by the war, advocating for better rehabilitation, adaptation, and socialization programs.