The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
After injury and demobilization, veterans can apply their experience in various social projects for their own benefit and that of society.
This was stated on Army FM by Oleksandr Batalov, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and director of the Unconquered Foundation, which supports veterans and their families and helps with rehabilitation and retraining.
Waited a year for a draft notice — but used it wisely
Oleksandr Batalov joined the Defense Forces on February 14, 2023. He came to the enlistment office at the beginning of the full-scale invasion but was told to wait. However, he did not waste that year.
“In fact, nearly a year passed before mobilization. During that time, I immediately started training, took tactical medicine courses, firearms training, and gradually bought all my equipment”, — the veteran recalls.
During assault operations near Klishchiivka in July of that year, Oleksandr sustained a mine-blast injury and lost a leg. Despite the severe injury and a six-hour evacuation, he did not lose motivation or his will to live.
“I waited six and a half hours for evacuation from the battlefield and understood that my main task was to hold on until evacuation. And when I heard the sound of the tracks coming to pick me up, it was the best sound I had ever heard in my life — and I still love it to this day”, — he says.
“When you sit at home, it’s like you’re getting covered in cobwebs”
Oleksandr emphasizes that a veteran returns home not to sit idle.
“Your task after all this is to get up, take steps, inspire if you can. And in the worst case — just get up yourself, take ordinary steps, do basic things: clean your home, go for walks, communicate with people, not just sit”, — he says.
After returning to civilian life, he led the Unconquered Foundation, which focuses on:
- retraining and reskilling veterans, including humanitarian demining;
- adaptive sports, including camps for veterans and their families;
- psychological support and creating environments for recovery.
All programs are free for participants. The foundation is actively seeking partners and donors to expand projects, including opening a glamping center for military personnel.
Batalov is also involved in humanitarian and educational initiatives, including:
- the “Changemakers” program for rural school students;
- the course “Recovery: Sexual Life”, developed with the Ministry of Health to break taboos around intimacy and relationships after injuries or PTSD.
