Serhii Malechko: "Some people have the latest Tesla, and I have the latest prosthesis”

"No one expected such active offensive"

Before the war, Malechko balanced his time between work, raising two children, and enjoying hobbies like fishing and attending hunting season openings. On February 24, 2022, while working as a security guard for a chain of elite liquor stores in Kyiv, he quickly packed his belongings and returned to his hometown of Bakhmach in the Chernihiv region.

"I came home to my wife and children, reassured them a bit, and decided I had to defend our country. From the very first day, there were battles on the outskirts of my city, with Russian troops advancing rapidly. I went to the military commissariat, but it was closed. So, local men, both experienced and inexperienced, began forming groups, and I joined the 119th brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces, specifically the 163rd battalion," Malechko recounts.

Serhii Malechko. Photo: BGV Charity Fund

As the chief sergeant of the 2nd platoon in the mortar battery, Malechko carried out combat missions in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. His previous term and contract service in the Armed Forces and State Border Guard Service helped him navigate new areas effectively, a skill he found invaluable.

"My previous experience didn't quite prepare me for what happened in 2022. No one expected such active offensive actions and the use of various weapons. I took on various tasks, including setting up positions, guarding infrastructure, training for assault operations, and demining territories," Malechko recalls.

"The bodies of my comrades shielded me"

In December 2022, Malechko was transferred to the Donetsk region to help hold the lines at Soledar and Bakhmut. On December 20, during a shelling, he heard that his comrade was wounded and was calling for help. Despite his own injuries, Malechko rushed to save him.

"When I reached my comrades, I realized that my right arm and leg were no longer functioning. For 40 minutes, the Russians targeted us with mortars, and each time, my comrades took the brunt of the fire. The bodies of my fellow soldiers shielded me. I lost my left arm and leg, and a fragment went through my lungs, just two centimeters from my heart," the serviceman recounts.

Serhii Malechko. Photo: BGV Charity Fund

He waited about an hour for evacuation, remaining conscious throughout. His first stop was a hospital in Dnipro, where he was admitted to intensive care and underwent multiple surgeries. Later, he was transferred to Kyiv for further treatment and then to the Halychyna rehabilitation center.

"I was incredibly fortunate with the doctors throughout. Without their timely interventions, I could have developed a blood infection and died. They treated me with great care. I followed all their instructions and worked hard to get prostheses as soon as possible and return to a normal life," Malechko says.

White nights and modern prosthetics

A year after his injury, while in the rehabilitation center, Malechko received his first mechanical prosthesis. He then learned about a program from the BGV charity foundation, in partnership with the Republic of Estonia, that provides modern electric prostheses to wounded soldiers. He applied for the program and traveled to Tallinn in the spring of 2024, where he received a "new leg."

"I have about 12 centimeters of my leg and 20 centimeters of my arm left, which are quite challenging cases for prosthetics. My first prosthetic leg was mechanical, and I quickly felt discomfort and fatigue with it. The electric prosthesis, however, feels much smoother and offers a lot of functionality, which has greatly improved my mobility," the servicemember explains.

Serhii Malechko's prosthesis. Photo: BGV Charity Fund

In Estonia, Malechko stayed for only two weeks instead of the planned three because he wanted the other soldiers to receive their modern prostheses as soon as possible. He had only positive experiences with the program. Besides the advanced prosthetics and rehabilitation, he also enjoyed seeing the white nights for the first time: "It's a good thing we don't have them in Ukraine, or I'd have to help my wife and mother-in-law with household chores around the clock," he jokes.

"Some people have the latest Tesla, and I have the latest prosthesis. It comes with a special application and advanced mechanisms. Of course, like any high-tech device, it requires maintenance, so I still need to visit specialists to ensure everything is in good working order," Malechko notes.

What's next?

​​Currently, Malechko is awaiting a hand prosthesis, having decided to address his leg issue first. Alongside these challenges, he has also been busy with parental responsibilities, as he recently welcomed his third child. Additionally, he is participating in a state program that provides funds for purchasing new housing in the Chernihiv region. As he continues to recover and navigate parenthood, he is also focused on setting up his new home.

"You should never give up or despair. It's important to set new goals and work towards them. For example, I've decided to start my own volunteer organization to support veterans and military families," Malechko shares about his future plans.

Serhii Malechko's prosthesis. Photo: BGV Charity Fund