The military sharply criticized and called cynical Zelensky’s statement about a fellow amputee who allegedly began to walk after his visit (video)
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, shared a story that, according to him, was supposed to inspire and give hope. On the broadcast of the “Yedini Novyny” marathon, the head of state talked about the case with a soldier of the Special Operations Forces, who, according to Zelenskyi, started walking after his visit to the Superhumans rehabilitation center. However, the statement drew a wave of criticism, especially from the military, who are directly familiar with the situation.
The President, answering a question about inspirational stories, spoke about a soldier who lost his limbs and was undergoing rehabilitation. According to Zelenskyi, the fighter was being treated in the United States, but only after returning to Ukraine and with the help of local doctors did he manage to take the first steps. The president added that the soldier sent him a message in which he joked: “I saw the president and left.” Zelensky called this case an example of self-belief and the strength of spirit of Ukrainian soldiers.
“I believe that this result did not depend on me. I am sure – on the doctors. But the moment is pleasant. The guy, I took a picture with him, he did not walk. He is working on it. He was in a hospital in the United States of America. And here he helped… I got a message before the interview. And what’s the thrill? – What he says is: the president was coming and I started walking.” – emphasized Zelensky.
The President noted that it speaks of people’s faith in themselves:
“People are heroic, different. People in different professions. And I want to wish everyone: believe in Ukraine and believe in yourself! Because we have such a very strong human energy. Believe in your brothers and sisters. Believe in your relatives and loved ones.”
https://youtu.be/m7lBsB88bt8
However, the president’s words provoked a strong reaction from his fellow soldiers. Oleg Simoroz, a well-known veteran, activist and lawyer, on his Facebook page criticized Zelensky’s statement, accusing him of trying to use prosthetics for political PR. Simoroz emphasized that the reality faced by military amputees is far from the optimistic stories presented by the president.
According to Simoroz, the prosthesis in question took place thanks to the efforts of the soldier himself, who managed to overcome pain and numerous complications after the operation. He noted that, like many other veterans, the fighter was forced to raise funds for prostheses on his own due to the inability of the state program to provide quality solutions. In addition, in Ukraine, doctors claimed that a soldier would never be able to walk due to a high amputation.
“I just don’t have words… how can you do PR on prosthetics like that. I personally know this military man that President Zelenskyy is talking about. He forgot to specify something. For example, the fact that he, like me, was forced to raise funds for normal prosthetics, because we have a difficult double high amputation and we did not receive functional prostheses under the state program program. And this soldier was also branded in Ukraine that he would never wear prosthetics because of a very high amputation, but he gritted his teeth and did everything to prove the opposite, and even when the wounds were opened in the States, he still did not give up, so that that he walks is his character” – wrote Simoroz.
The veteran also mentioned that in 2024 the Ministry of Social Policy did not use about a billion hryvnias allocated for rehabilitation and prosthetics. According to him, instead of stories about inspiring stories, the country’s leadership should answer for the failure of this program and draw personnel conclusions.
“Mr. President, we conveyed through your office our official position regarding the failure of the state prosthesis program and a request to make personnel decisions in the Ministry of Social Policy. One billion unused budget hryvnias for 2024 by Minister Zholnovich, while we were saving for prostheses. So on it’s better to answer!
To say that someone started walking because of your visit is just cynicism. Yes, it is cynicism! Because this course is the nature of the military, the work of surgeons, prosthetists and physical therapists. Because according to this logic, I probably also go because of the uninvited visit of the head of the party Mr. Zelensky to my ward in the military hospital…“, Simoroz emphasized.
Photo: facebook.com/oleh.symoroz
