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[[Mikhail Nalivajko, a fighter with Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces, lost his right leg in an attack on his unit. His injuries defied treatment until a nonprofit brought him to the U.S. for medical care. Nina Vishneva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUKRAINE WOUNDED SOLDIER – Vishneva
HEAD: Wounded Ukrainian Soldier Gets Treatment in New York
TEASER: U.S. nonprofit called Revived Soldiers Ukraine brings wounded Ukrainian fighters to U.S. for treatment
BYLINE: Nina Vishneva
CONTRIBUTOR:
PUBLISHED: 07/17/2023 AT 8:45AM
DATELINE: New York
VIDEOGRAPHER: Vladimir Badikov, Natalia Latukhina
SCRIPT EDITORS: Enochs, Reifenrath
PRODUCER: Anna Rice
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO:))
[[Mikhail Nalivajko, a fighter with Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces, lost his right leg in an attack on his unit. His injuries defied treatment until a nonprofit brought him to the U.S. for medical care. Nina Vishneva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((NATS)) ((Nalivajko in hospital)) ((UKR))
“I was shell-shocked. Then I turn to the right – and see my leg…”
((NARRATOR))
In October, 2022, Mikhail Nalivajko's right leg was blown off in combat. The other became badly infected.
The fighter for Ukraine's Air Assault Forces' 79th Brigade spent months at a Kyiv hospital, where his leg injuries defied treatment.
Finally, a nonprofit called Revived Soldiers Ukraine brought him to the U.S. for further medical care.
((Mikhail Nalivajko, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces)) ((UKR))
“I had 23 surgeries – and no result. I was asking doctors to amputate the second leg; thought I’d manage two prostheses faster than waiting for my leg to get better.”
((NARRATOR))
Now doctors in New York are fighting to save his leg.
((NATS)) ((Kim Brown, Nurse, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital))
“No, you’re going to be here for a little bit. I’m sorry. One more medicine now…”
((NARRATOR))
Before the war, he lived in Mykolaiv and worked as a bartender. When President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced national
((Mandatory courtesy: Mikhail Nalivajko))
mobilization, he grabbed a backpack and headed to a military commissariat to sign up.
Now, American doctors have inserted a titanium shaft in the leg and hope for recovery.
((End courtesy))
((NATS)) ((Kim Brown, Nurse, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital))
“He makes me want to come to work. He’s such a sweet guy! Great manners, just a wonderful man. Great spirit! So, we hope he gets better and gets to go home, that’s the goal!”
((NARRATOR))
Ukrainian-born Iryna Vashchuk Discipio, the president of Revived Soldiers Ukraine, has been helping Ukrainian fighters since 2014.
((Iryna Vashchuk Discipio, Revived Soldiers Ukraine)) ((ENG)) ((Skype))
“Since 2015, we managed to bring to the U.S. over 70 soldiers. It’s hard to keep track of people because it’s a long process… This year, we brought 23 soldiers to the US, tovarious cities and hospitals.”
((NARRATOR))
The non-profit raises funds to help soldiers in Ukraine as well, One of their centers operates in Irpin, and another is being built in Lviv. In the U.S., they operate in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Orlando, Florida.
((Iryna Vashchuk Discipio, Revived Soldiers Ukraine )) ((ENG)) ((Skype))
“We found Mikhail at the Kyiv Army Hospital; he has a complicated case. // Amputation of one leg and saving the other leg from amputation…”
((NARRATOR))
From New York, Nalivajko will be transferred to a clinic in Orlando, where he will get his prosthesis. And after he gets back to normal, he’ll return to Ukraine and resume his work as a drone operator.
((For Nina Vishneva in New York, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
New York
Embargo DateJuly 17, 2023 16:47 EDT
Byline
Nina Vishneva VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English