“If half a step back is only for dispersal”: the story of a prosthetic veteran who overcame the Black Mountain Range

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Yevhen Smaga is a war veteran who lost a limb during the battles for his native Chernihiv Oblast. After prosthetics, he returned to sports, participated in various competitions.

But he did not limit himself only to them – in August 2023, together with five veterans on prostheses, he set off on a hike along the Montenegrin ridge called “Not Tired”. All participants had an amputation above the knee, a backpack weighing more than 25 kg, of which 10 kg was sand. The goal of the hike was to raise money for their units, and the boys succeeded.

“UP.Zhyttia” spoke with Yevhen about his service, injuries, prosthetics and sports successes, as well as about his impressions of a mountain hike with prosthetics.

Next is his direct speech.

Instead of driving a bus – a tank brigade

From 2014 until the full-scale war, I was engaged in passenger transportation.

On February 24, he made a flight from Kyiv to Semenivka. In the North of Chernihiv Oblast at 12 o’clock in the afternoon, he encountered an enemy column. These were wheeled and tracked vehicles, fuel trucks and graders, as well as guns pulled by “Urals”.

That was the end of my flight – I returned to the nearest village, dropped off the passengers, explained that we could not go any further. They are all local, so I asked their relatives to take them. Maybe on some roads through the fields, because it was dangerous to drive on the highway.

I took the phone number of one boy and went home to Chernihiv. Two hours later, he called me back and informed me that all the passengers were fine and had reached home.

Eugene in civilian life before the invasion. Photo from the archive

From day to day shelling began. On February 27, the first tank battle took place on the outskirts of the city. Enemy vehicles entered Chernihiv.

After that, my neighbor and I walked around the area and looked at the damage. The first question that arose: is it ready to go? (to mobilize – ed.). Because after what I saw, I understood that I would not be able to sit at home.

A day later, they went to the Military Commissariat with a neighbor, mobilized and began serving on the outskirts of Chernihiv. I served in the first tank brigade in a mechanized unit.

We protected not only the city, but Ukraine in general. They held blows and repelled enemy attacks.

But I did not manage to serve for a long time: on March 14, I was wounded during the fighting near Novoselivka. Around three o’clock in the afternoon, I was evacuated from the battlefield by car.

I remember slamming the door, snoring, but I couldn’t see anything. In addition to the wounded limb, the face was badly cut – the eyes were covered with blood. I tried to flatten them, but in vain – there was darkness all around.

Read also: Only black humor saves. Weekdays of the combat medic “Mama Rita”

There were no places in the hospital where I was brought, so I had to be transported to one of the city hospitals.

My comrades provided me with first aid at the position: they applied tourniquets. And in the hospital – they saved lives.

Prosthetics as a new stage of life

I spent 3 weeks there: I was re-amputed. I didn’t even get out of bed for about 10 days. Then he began to walk little by little on crutches. But everything happened so slowly!

On March 3, I was transferred to the hospital, and then I was transferred to Kyiv. I was treated at 4 weeks. There were operations and recovery again. Then – Vinnytsia and Nemyriv.

I was preparing for prosthetics abroad. For some reason, I thought that they would do better there. Considered Germany, USA. But I stayed in Ukraine.

When prosthetics began, I realized that it is actually a fruitful work of a whole team – a prosthetist, a patient, a rehabilitation specialist. And it is very important that the whole process takes place as close to home as possible. I still go to Kyiv several times a month for an inspection.

Meeting of veterans

I started going at the end of summer. But it is difficult to call it the first steps – I trained on the bars, starting with 5 minutes. For several weeks, he increased the load, he left on his own only in October. He relied on crutches until he mastered the educational prosthesis.

About a month and a half later, I got a permanent one – it was constantly rubbing, squeezing, so I had to make a lot of corrections.

After prosthetics, he returned to Chernihiv: due to his health, he was demobilized from the Armed Forces.

Read also: “Carry my legs back.” How a 24-year-old military man with a triple amputee learns to live

While “rubbing in” with the new prosthesis, I asked the medical director about the sports prosthesis. I understood that it is expensive for me, but necessary, and there should definitely be opportunities to get it.

They gave me the phone number of the coach – he offered to join the team of veterans of the “Invincible Games”. In order to fulfill my dream, I have to attend all sporting events and competitions without exception.

So, since December 2022, sports have become not only a hobby, but also part of my schedule: training takes place 4 times a week. Sport for me is psychological and physical relief.

In addition to the selection for the “Invincible Games”, I participated in the competitions “Strong of Ukraine”, “Northern Outpost”, and in the Arnold Schwarzenegger festival.

At the “Strong of Ukraine” competition

Trekking through the Carpathians for help

In the summer of 2023, when I had already completed several competitions, Oleksandr Shetsov, a volunteer and ATO veteran, suggested a trip to Iceland. He had a clear requirement for the participants of this “tour” – amputated limbs above the knee, registered disability and a valid foreign passport.

We learned to walk in non-standard conditions – on gravel, climbed mountains, crossed the beach, snow, walked on ice. They walked 60 kilometers in a week.

I think that then Sanya saw our potential, because already in August he offered to go on a hike through the Carpathians along the Black Mountain Range to help our brigades.

To be honest, I have a very busy life schedule, but I couldn’t refuse. It was not a recreational trip, but to help fellow citizens. Sasha was sure that we would cope with this task 101%.

Trekking along the Chornohirsky ridge

In the Carpathians, we covered 40 kilometers in 6 days. But here it was more difficult than in Iceland, because we were constantly gaining altitude. In addition, according to Sasha’s idea, each of us, in addition to the equipment, carried 10 kg of sand, which was equivalent to each million of aid. In total, each of us has about 25 kg on our shoulders.

During the hike, we got to know the local residents who accompanied us. They volunteered to be guides, and also to carry water and help with places to spend the night.

On the last day, we made a “march-throw”: we covered in one day what we had in two. First, they walked 2.5 km, rested, and then climbed 730 meters of steep ascent to Hoverla. They rested for an hour and a half at the top, dropped the sand ballast and started the descent. About 3 hours later, we were already at the “Zaroslyak” camp.

Veterans on Hoverla

But as soon as they got into the car, Sanya says: “I have an idea!Everyone was tired, so they asked for at least a few days to rest before agreeing to another initiative.

For a few days after the hike, my good leg was very sore and throbbing because it was taking the load for two. But then it got easier.

Human physical and mental abilities are much greater than we use. Therefore, often in order to achieve a goal, it is necessary to adjust and go towards it. In life, I only go forward, and if I go back, then half a step to gain acceleration.

Victoria Andreeva, UP. Life

Read also: “Amputation is definitely not a sentence.” The story of a Ukrainian veteran who completed a marathon on a prosthesis

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