Prosthetics 1/3/2023 Read 4 min

Anatolіy Uzlov: “With the help of a bionic hand, I can already cut bread, and I am learning to use a laptop”

The war found Anatoliy Uzlov, a steelmaker at Zaporizhstal, and his family at a ski resort in western Ukraine. On his return to Zaporizhzhia, Anatoly immediately joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  

Anatolіy Uzlov

The war found Anatoliy Uzlov, a steelmaker at Zaporizhstal, and his family at a ski resort in western Ukraine. On his return to Zaporizhzhia, Anatoly immediately joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 


After missile attacks on the Yavorivsky training ground, where the man was trained, he was sent to the Donetsk direction. Subsequently, as part of the anti-diversionary unit, Anatoliy went on a combat mission to Pisky near Donetsk - there were fierce battles going at that moment. During another shelling by an enemy tank, the military man received a shrapnel wound to his hand and underwent surgery to amputate his left hand. 


Anatoliy got into the joint charitable prosthetics programme from the Saving Lives humanitarian project and the Prosthetics Support Project in Ukraine thanks to his sister, who also works at Zaporizhstal. 


Two months later, the military man received a Norwegian bionic prosthesis. Now Anatoliy is going through the fitting and rehabilitation phase, getting used to the prosthesis and learning how to use it. Also, as part of the project, the man is waiting for a separate rehabilitation programme in the west of Ukraine.


“The prosthesis makes life much easier: I've learned to hold objects, cut bread, and I am trying to master a laptop with the help of a bionic hand,”  says Anatoliy.


The man considers the prosthetics programme a very important initiative for all the defenders of Ukraine who underwent amputation, because it is an opportunity to live a full life without limitations.