Before the war, Ihor Dudkin was an electric welder and metal smelter. Then, once the full-scale war had begun, he worked as a security guard, as there was no other work available. Ihor recalls how the war sadly reshaped his town, saying,
“Since 2022, Kostiantynivka is the scene of fierce fighting, with Russian troops constantly attempting to break through the defence. By November 2025, only a few thousand residents remained in the town, surviving amidst the ruins and constant attacks.”
Constant shelling on his place
On 28 October 2025, Ihor returned from his working shift and sat down by the entrance of his house to smoke. Nearby, neighbours were preparing food for their dogs. Suddenly, an aerial bomb struck. His mother was killed instantly, right in front of him. Ihor was seriously injured, and two other neighbours were wounded. They lay in the entrance hall for two days because the evacuation vehicles couldn’t reach them due to the constant shelling. It was only on the third day that they were taken to the nearby hospital in Druzhkivka.
Ihor stayed there for a month and underwent two operations to set his broken bones. Then he was transferred to Pavlohrad and Ternivka, where he had to stay in the hospital again. In these hospitals, there were no rehabilitation services – just people helping him dress and doing minimal check-ups, with no explanation of what he could do to start recovering or how to manage his injuries.
Rehabilitation with HI
HI disseminates information about its rehabilitation services for victims of explosive weapons in the places where victims are taken after evacuation, such as displaced persons centers, hospitals, etc. This is how Ihor learned about HI and was put in contact with the organization.
Ihor is currently undergoing rehabilitation with HI's physical therapist Tetiana. The main objectives are to mobilize the foot and leg muscles, reduce pain, and address the effects of concussion and multiple shrapnel wounds.
"One of the objectives of rehabilitation, and perhaps the least known, is to reduce pain. We have many patients who are in daily and constant pain due to their injuries, and improving their strength, their range of motion, etc. allows us to reduce the pain. But in the case of Ihor, it is difficult as he still has shrapnel in the body," says HI’s physical therapist Tetyana Lahno.
Ihor still has shrapnel fragments in his arm, head, and back. He also has problems with his foot; the muscles aren't working, and further examination is needed. Ihor adds,
"But I'm motivated and want to keep going; I'm doing all the exercises. I'm already feeling an improvement – the pain is gradually easing, and I'm regaining strength in my muscles."
The rehabilitation was carried out within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacities and resilience of conflict affected populations in Eastern, Northeastern and Southern Ukraine,” funded by CDCS.
This multisectoral intervention aims to improve access to quality and inclusive physical and functional rehabilitation services, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and protection services for vulnerable groups and conflict affected populations. The project is implemented in the oblasts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv.
HI relies on its technical expertise in rehabilitation, MHPSS, and disability inclusion to ensure that health services are accessible and adapted to the needs of vulnerable people, including people with disabilities. The project is implemented in partnership with the local NGO Angels of Salvation, which provides MHPSS services. HI strengthens the partner’s technical capacities, particularly on inclusion aspects, ensuring that services are inclusive and aligned with international protection standards.
Thus, the rehabilitation provided to survivors is part of this comprehensive intervention, combining technical expertise and local partnerships to ensure continuity of care and dignified support.
