"In three months - 28 surgical operations"

Vasyl Kiselov

I was a victim of the war through no fault of my own. We went out into the field to sow some crops with a partner. Driving away a hundred meters, we saw an explosion. He was in front of me. I heard a noise. It was an explosion. Then we saw fire. I tried to get out, but I couldn't. My partner jumped up and pulled me out of the back window. We started putting out the feet and calling an ambulance, the director.

I didn't feel that pain. When I saw that there were no fingers on my hands, no pain, nothing, just shock. My ears were buzzing. I heard a slapping sound. I looked and saw a wheel lying there. It was burning. My shoe was half-burned. I managed to pull the leg out and began to extinguish it.

I had 28 operations for three months. It wasn't fun. I had his feet suspended. I became a cripple. I just want to live a normal life, being able to work. At least, around the house. Then it would be easier. It's not working yet. I hope I will be able to get up one day. Who knows when it will happen?

No one thought this would happen. We didn't even think there were mines. We were told that there is just a field there, nothing else. We were told that we had to reach the high-voltage poles, and sowing crops was safe. We sowed half the field. Then this mischief happened. I don't want to bring that up. I've only started to forget about it.

Wife Tetiana,

"In the morning he went to work as usual, in a good mood. I thought everything was fine. I just milked the cow and came out. His brother came and said that Vasia had been blown up by a land mine.

Then an ambulance arrived. I don't remember who took him to the ambulance, how I went in the ambulance, because I passed out. I was told that he was blown up. I immediately passed out. I don't remember. I remember arriving to the hospital. We stayed here for three days, and then we were sent to Kramatorsk. We stayed in Kramatorsk from April to August.

I was also in a state of shock. We felt uneasy because of the constant surgeries. You begin to wonder what would happen next. Whether he would be taken to a surgery or not. Whether he would be alive or not. And the doctor always said the odds were 50-50. Then, about two weeks later, the doctor said that he was beginning to recover a little, that there was a chance for his recovery, that he would live. So we thought that was all.

I cried all the time. Well, I was worried, I just wanted him to survive, at least. As soon as doctors took him for surgery, we went crazy. Whether you like it or not thinking, "That's it." I always tried to hold my ground.

And not cry. Grandmother cries every day, night and day,  worrying all the time. I'm trying to hold on. If we cry, we will have no strength, no work, no nothing.

Mother Anna Kiselova

I feel sorry for the son. So sorry. He lived a normal life. Mines were everywhere. Who would have thought? He would say, "Praise be to God that no one got hurt."   When I heard was hurt, I cried all the time. I sometimes think, "Please, God, just let him be alive. We will take care of him."