50,000 Ukrainians Have Lost Arms or Legs Due to War

During the 17 months of the full-scale war, about 50,000 Ukrainians have lost their arms or legs, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing estimates by the world’s largest prosthetic manufacturer, the German company Ottobock, and its medical partners.

The WSJ article states that the actual number of amputees may be higher, as prosthetics take time to be made, and some victims wait weeks or even months after being injured for amputation.

In addition, prosthetics can cost up to €50,000, and the Ukrainian government pays up to €20,000 to each injured soldier. Civilians often cannot afford treatment and are forced to turn to charitable organizations.

According to RFE-RL, one of these organizations, the Kyiv-based Houp Foundation, estimates that the number of Ukrainians who have suffered serious injuries in the war reaches 200,000. Approximately 20,000 of them have injuries that require amputation.

The Ukrainian authorities, as well as the Russian authorities, do not publish data on the losses of their military.

See also

• He lost his legs in the war in Ukraine, but not will to live. Before the full-scale invasion, Calcide was an engineer repairing refrigeration equipment at industrial facilities. In March, he joined the Kharkiv Territorial Defense Forces. At 4 a.m. on July 29, a Russian missile hit the battalion’s location, and Calсide was in the building.
• Most Ukrainians have relatives who were injured or killed due to the Russian invasion  — poll. Among those who have such close relatives or friends, the average (median value was used) was 7. On average, such respondents have seven close relatives or friends who were injured or killed.