The story of a soldier of the Armed Forces, whose car was hit by an anti-tank missile

The enemy fired an anti-tank missile at the evacuation car of 35-year-old Valentin Bondar from Poltava. After a serious injury, which led to the loss of both legs, the defender has been receiving treatment for six months.

Valentyn Bondar voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces at the beginning of November 2022. The man became the chief driver of the company as part of the 77th separate airmobile brigade. He received a serious injury half a year after starting his service. It happened in May in the direction of Bakhmut, the Nezlamna center said.

Valentyn took infantrymen out of positions actively attacked by the enemy. He was the first in a line of cars heading down the so-called “road of life”. The occupier hit his car with an anti-tank guided missile. The car caught fire.

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Despite severe injuries and burns, the defender was able to get out of the fire-covered trap. According to the man, he fell to the ground and rolled several meters. When he opened his eyes, he saw his crushed legs and tried to apply tourniquets on his own.

The occupier hit Valentyn’s car with an anti-tank guided missile. The car caught fire

“I was blinded and stunned. There was an orange color in the eyes, and hot metal crackled in the ears. I felt my body burning“, the fighter recalls.

The defender has been receiving treatment for half a year – doctors at several hospitals fought for a long time to save Valentin’s lower limbs, but in vain. The legs had to be amputated.

The defender’s legs had to be amputated

Currently, the man is completing rehabilitation in Lviv, where doctors healed the patient’s burns and formed stumps for prosthetics.

Prosthetists used a 3D printer to make modern and light stump receivers for Valentin. The patient has already received his first temporary prosthetic legs, on which he is learning to walk. He plans to get permanent artificial limbs in his native Poltava in order to service prostheses at his place of residence.

ALL PHOTOS: Nezlamni center

The defender says that he accepted his injury on the battlefield.

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“I went through hell. And I chose it for the sake of my girls. I have three of them: my wife Valentina and two daughters – Milana and Anastasia. So now I just want to be with my family,” – says the fighter.

Valentyn strives to continue working for the victory of Ukraine, but as a civilian.

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