Sgt. Mykhailo Varvarych: A Ukrainian Soldier's Journey to Rehabilitation and Resilience
Sgt. Mykhailo "Misha" Varvarych, a commander in Ukraine's 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, traveled to Orlando, Florida, in January 2023 for rehabilitation and to receive state-of-the-art prosthetics. This initiative was supported by a nonprofit group assisting Ukrainian soldiers.
Varvarych, accompanied by his partner Iryna "Ira" Botvynska, faced the challenge of learning to walk again after losing both his legs during the Russian invasion.
A Lifeline from Revived Soldiers Ukraine
The nonprofit Revived Soldiers Ukraine, founded by Irina Vashchuk Discipio, has facilitated the treatment of over 100 Ukrainian soldiers in the U.S. since 2022. This crucial support addresses a shortage of specialists and the significant risk of hospital attacks in Ukraine.
Donations amounting to $76,065 covered Varvarych's prosthetics, which cost $25,000 per leg, along with travel, visas, food, and housing.
He spent four months receiving care at the Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates center in Orlando, focusing on his recovery and adaptation.
The Demanding Road to Recovery
Varvarych, 30, a former bodybuilder, expressed frustration with the slow and demanding process of learning to use his new limbs. His rehabilitation journey included approximately 11 new sockets and six laminates.
Despite this, staff, including certified prosthetist Joseph Krizinauskas, acknowledged his admirable progress and quick learning ability, especially given his high above-knee amputations. He demonstrated persistence, recovering from falls and eventually walking without assistance, a moment marked by dropping his canes. Varvarych stated he listens to recordings by fitness guru Greg Plitt, internalizing the message to confront obstacles and work through them.
Injury and a Stance for Victory
Varvarych sustained his injuries in May 2022 while on a combat patrol in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine's Donbas, when an antipersonnel mine exploded.
Regarding the ongoing conflict, he stated that negotiations were not an option and emphasized a commitment to "victory to the end" due to the sacrifices made.
Community Embrace and Shared Journeys
Volunteers from Florida's Ukrainian community provided significant support and friendship, taking the soldiers to local attractions such as wildlife refuges and Disney World. Yaryna Levytska and Tetyana Vyushkina were among the key volunteers assisting Varvarych and Botvynska.
Varvarych also connected with other amputees undergoing rehabilitation, fostering a sense of camaraderie:
- Andrii Nasada, who lost both legs and sustained hand and eye damage from a mine in Donetsk, received a prosthetic eye and legs, and facial plastic surgery.
- Ruslan Tyshchenko, a sapper from Kharkiv, lost a leg due to an infection following a shrapnel injury from a tank explosion.
- Oleksandr Budko, who left the center with three prosthetics, has written a book about the war, performed with a Ukrainian ballet company, competed in the Invictus Games, and appeared on a Ukrainian TV show.
- Denis Kiznetsov lost a leg and his dog during the invasion.
- Vladyslav Zhaivoronok, wounded in Mariupol while serving with the Azov Regiment, was taken prisoner and later released; he customized his prosthetic limb with colorful buttons.
A Vision for the Future: "Lakeshore Ukraine"
During a visit to the Lakeshore Foundation, a Paralympic training center in Birmingham, Alabama, Varvarych engaged in various adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball, pool kayak, pickleball, and climbing.
He expressed a goal to establish a similar "Lakeshore Ukraine" center to support other soldiers and address mental trauma.
Love, Loss, and Lasting Hope
Upon completing their U.S. journey, Varvarych's partner, Iryna Botvynska, reflected on his resilience, which she stated helped her remain strong.
She recalled tattoos on his legs with the inscription: "Face your Fear, Accept your War."
In April 2023, Varvarych proposed to Botvynska in Orlando, kneeling on his prosthetic leg. She accepted, and they shared a first dance. Varvarych expressed gratitude for American assistance and hoped for bionic legs to enable him to lift his future child.
Update
The couple welcomed a daughter, Marta, on December 16, 2024. Marta was diagnosed with congenital anomalies and underwent multiple surgeries. She passed away before her three-month birthday. Varvarych shared a social media post mourning her loss, stating she would "watch over us from heaven."