**Ukraine’s War Heroes Get a Second Chance**
Serhiy Petchenko, a 42-year-old Ukrainian soldier, lost both hands while defending his country from Russian invaders in June 2023. Despite the amputation, he is now smiling and standing on the doorstep of a brand-new café in Lviv, which he is about to open with his wife.
**A Private Clinic for War Heroes**
The Superhumans Center, a private clinic, provided Serhiy with prosthetic hands and full rehabilitation. The center’s CEO, Olga Rudnieva, says that many amputations are the result of delays in evacuation from the battlefield. With over one million people on the front line, Ukraine is facing an unprecedented number of war-related injuries.
**A “Country of People with Disabilities”**
According to Olga Rudnieva, at least 50,000 Ukrainians have lost limbs in nearly three years of war. The Superhumans Center supplements Ukraine’s military hospitals and clinics, which are overloaded with wounded soldiers from the 3,200km long front line.
**Empowering Trauma**
Olga Rudnieva believes that trauma can either ruin or empower people. She says that her center helps people to rebuild their lives and find new purpose after war-related injuries. The Superhumans Center has received funding from around the world for high-quality prosthetics and reconstructive surgery.
**A Global Headquarters of Resilience**
Since its opening in April 2023, more than 1,000 patients have received treatment at the center. Almost 800 of them have received prosthetic limbs. Olga Rudnieva calls it a “global headquarters of resilience.”
**BBC 100 Women: Meet Olga Rudnieva**
Olga Rudnieva is on this year’s BBC 100 Women list for her work in creating the Superhumans Center. She has been recognized for her dedication to empowering people with disabilities and helping them rebuild their lives after war-related injuries.
Read More @ www.bbc.com