The Ukrainian amputees who want to fight again
Ukrainecast
BBC
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 3 February 2023
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Hundreds of Ukrainians are waiting for prosthetic limbs after being injured in the war, according to a medic working in the US, Dr Yakov Gradinar. He works with a charity that is giving prostheses to Ukrainians who need them. He tells the incredible story of a soldier who walked almost immediately after being fitted with a new leg.
The BBC’s Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, gives his take on the speech President Putin made at an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad.
And Gideon Rose, author of the book How Wars End, explains why he thinks it’s possible that Russia could retreat.
Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson, Khadra Salad and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editors were Louisa Lewis and Alison Gee. The editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:04.7 | Hello, it's 345 days since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. |
| 0:09.9 | And obviously on this podcast we have talked about losses on many occasions, loss of life, |
| 0:16.0 | loss of identity, loss of home, loss of homeland. |
| 0:21.9 | And we have been hearing from a Ukrainian soldier who's had to come to terms with losing |
| 0:27.3 | an limb in this conflict. |
| 0:29.4 | When they woke up after the explosion, I thought that Card was giving me another chance |
| 0:33.8 | if I was not dead yet. |
| 0:35.9 | I tried to put on a tourniquet, but it creeped off. |
| 0:39.1 | Then the second reaped as well. |
| 0:41.2 | That time I thought maybe it was my fate to die here. |
| 0:44.6 | The demand for treatment for amputees are the maimed and fighting, or by landmines is |
| 0:49.1 | growing in Ukraine. |
| 0:50.1 | But for those who've been given prosthetic limbs, there's a renewed purpose to return |
| 0:54.4 | to the field and go on. |
| 0:57.4 | I can tell you that I'm ready to come back to protect our country and the whole civilized |
| 1:02.1 | world. |
| 1:03.1 | We are going to bring you more about this story and the extraordinary words of this soldier |
| 1:07.9 | later on the podcast today. |
| 1:09.6 | Yes, and we'll also hear from Steve Rosenberg, the BBC's Russia editor. |
| 1:14.0 | This is Ukraine, Captain. |
| 1:15.5 | Ukraine costs from BBC news. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.