With the support of the BGV Charity Fund, the Estonian government has extended its prosthetics program for Ukrainian soldiers. Estonian parliamentarians and government officials allocated €1,8 million in the 2024 budget for the initiative.
This means that throughout the year, Ukrainian defenders will be able to receive state-of-the-art electronic bionic prosthetics free of charge at one of Estonia’s leading hospitals.
“We are very grateful to Estonian society for finding the means and resources to continue the program for our soldiers who lost their lower limbs while defending their homeland. For us, Ukrainians, this is invaluable support,” said the fund’s director, Polina Aldoshyna.
The first three Ukrainians are already undergoing prosthetic treatment. They have received prostheses customized to individual needs that ensure complete symmetry and a natural gait. These prostheses have shock absorbers and several movable elements for increased physical activity. They also have a special mobile app that allows users to switch between walking and various sports modes. Each of these prostheses costs about €80,000.
The prosthetics program, funded by the Estonian government with the support of the BGV Charity Fund, began in the spring of 2023. Last year, 23 Ukrainians participated in the program and received 32 prostheses at Ida-Tallinna Keskhaigla (East Tallinn Central Hospital). The hospital is one of the largest in the country, comprising seven clinics and employing over 2,500 staff members.
Nine Ukrainians who received prosthetics from Estonian doctors shared their life stories and plans in a special project, “Faces of Strength,” launched by the BGV Charity Fund in collaboration with Rubryka Solutions Media. You can find more about the project here: “Faces of Strength” Special Project – BGV Charity Fund (bgvfund.org)

In October 2023, the fund’s director, Polina Aldoshyna, visited Estonia, where she met with government officials, including the Minister of Health, Riina Sikkut, economy and social policy ministers, and representatives of the National Defense and Finance Committees, as well as all factions of the Estonian Parliament. The purpose was to emphasize how important it is for Ukrainians that the 3-million-euro prosthetics program be extended into 2024.