In brief
As the conflict in Ukraine lingers, thousands of returning Russian veterans grapple with severe injuries and psychological scars. Many face stigma and a lengthy rehabilitation process, as wartime experiences profoundly affect both their lives and those of their families.
Aleksandr, a 38-year-old veteran, lost his leg during the conflict after just two weeks of training before deployment to the front lines in the summer of 2023. Now, as he sits in a sanitarium outside Moscow, undergoing adjustments to his prosthetic leg, he reflects on the painful adjustment to his new reality. "There was a lot of pain at the beginning," he shares, “but eventually, your brain just rewires itself and you get used to it.” Aleksandr's story is emblematic of the struggles faced by a large number of soldiers returning from the ongoing conflict. The societal impact is profound, as families must adapt to the challenges of caring for severely injured veterans who may also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Estimates from independent media have indicated at least 300,000 severely injured veterans, a figure that remains controversial due to government classification of many statistics.As families navigate this new dynamic, they face the dual challenge of dealing with the trauma experienced while their loved ones were in combat, combined with the often painful reality of life after war. Soldiers like Dima, who suffered paralysis from shrapnel, also find respite in facilities such as the Rus Sanitarium, highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive support systems to help veterans transition to civilian life while battling both visible and invisible injuries.As the conflict continues, the realities on the ground for Russian veterans underscore a growing need for adequate healthcare and social support—an emotional and logistical hurdle that families and communities must confront together.
