Trapped by War: Mykhailo’s Life After the Petal Mine

A Home Unfit for Healing

Mykhailo's household income consists of his pension and disability benefits. The family lives in their own house, which was partially damaged by the explosions and is not adapted to their needs. The front door, although partially repaired, remains damaged, leaving gaps through which cold air and ice can enter in winter. There is no accessible threshold or ramp for wheelchair access to the street. The bathroom is also not adapted and requires either installing handrails or replacing the bathtub with a shower.

His wife supports him with daily care, but her age-related physical challenges make some caregiving tasks difficult.

This is how the couple describes the day Mykhailo Illich stepped on the “petal” anti-personnel mine, and the events leading up to it.

War’s Remnants Turned Their Home into a Manfield 

During the hostilities in August 2022, a rocket with cluster munitions landed near their house.

Mykhailo Illich was driving to his neighbor’s house when he heard an explosion from a cluster munition. By that time, they had already learned to distinguish explosions from different types of weapons by ear. And he shouted to everyone to hide - to lie down! That day, everyone remained unharmed. After that explosion, together with their neighbors, they found more than 70 “petals” of this cluster munition in their yards and were forced to collect them by their own hands to protect themselves somehow.

Later in September 2022, when he and his wife were gathering firewood to heat their house (since there was no gas or electricity in the village at that time - everything was destroyed), he stepped on a petal, which was lost in a branch from an apricot tree that the explosion had knocked down. 

Mykhailo says, “My foot was torn off. The ambulance took a long time to arrive because the bridges to the village had been blown up. Local girls provided me with first aid, applied a tourniquet, and gave me painkillers. Then they provided me with help in the district center and amputated part of my leg, but gangrene began, and later they had to amputate my leg above the knee to save my life.”

Holding on Through Pain and Exhaustion 

Nadiia, Mykhailo’s wife, says, “All this happened before my eyes. It was a terrible sight! We all suffer from the consequences of war... mentally, it isn't easy. My son, against the background of constant stress from explosions and shelling, developed diabetes.”

She continues, “I try to save myself by working with my plants in the garden and doing creative work. When my hands are busy, my head is also lighter. However, I no longer have the strength for all this; I feel very exhausted.”

HI Helps Rebuild Lives Left Behind by the System

HI provides the couple with comprehensive support, referring them to partner organizations to meet housing repair needs, providing financial assistance to meet priority needs, and providing transportation to medical service providers. In general, the couple expresses gratitude for the work of public organizations, as many urgent needs remain unmet.

Public Transport Gaps Leave Patients Stranded

In most cases, on-site healthcare services are absent, and family doctor visits are irregular. To receive qualified healthcare, residents are forced to turn to district or regional centers, a process complicated by the lack of accessible public transportation. In such conditions, the only alternative is to arrange a commute provided by public organizations.

The Missing Link: Access to Rehabilitation

The lack of access to rehabilitation services creates additional barriers for people with disabilities and conflict victims.

In many war-affected communities, rehabilitation remains an unmet need rather than a guaranteed right. People who have lost limbs, sustained severe injuries, or live with chronic pain struggle to access even the most basic rehabilitation support. Few specialized facilities exist outside regional centers, and the long distances, poor infrastructure, and lack of transportation make regular treatment nearly impossible.

As a result, many survivors are left to recover at home without professional assistance, relying on family members for care and support. This not only delays physical recovery but also deepens isolation, dependency, and emotional distress. For older caregivers or families with limited resources, the absence of rehabilitation services adds yet another layer of hardship to lives already marked by loss and displacement.

Mykhailo & Nadiia: Courage in the Face of War

Despite the pain and losses the war has brought, Mykhailo and Nadiia continue to find strength in small moments of normalcy — tending to their garden, supporting one another, and staying connected to their neighbors. With the support of HI and partner organizations, they are slowly rebuilding their lives, piece by piece. The road ahead remains difficult, but Mykhailo’s determination endures.

“I lost my leg, but not my will to live,” Mykhailo says quietly. “Every day I wake up, I thank God that I’m still here — that I can see my wife, feel the sun, and hope for peace. That hope keeps me going.”