Ukrainian soldiers at Dreilützow Castle: hope and pain united

Ukrainian soldiers at Dreilützow Castle: hope and pain united

At Dreilützow Castle in West Mecklenburg, a quiet retreat, Ukrainian soldiers and their families spend a weekend of hope and solidarity. Among them are Ivan, 40, who has lost both legs, and his wife Katharina, who struggles with dark circles under her eyes. The couple traveled with their daughters Maria (13) and Anastassija (19) to briefly leave the horrors of life in Ukraine behind them. The Ostsee Zeitung reports that the emotional encounters with other soldiers in similar situations are of great importance. The injured often feel alone in German clinics.

“We are fighting against the darkness that war brings with it,” explains Andrej Bondarchuk, a member of the Nordhaus UA association from Schwerin, which organizes aid transport to Ukraine. Support for Ukrainian soldiers is essential in Germany; Ivan, for example, suffered serious injuries in battles for Bakhmut, Mariupol, Donzek and Kherson and was treated in the USA for over a year. He is now being cared for in Hamburg and is worried about his future as a road construction engineer in the Ukraine, where big projects that he has been working towards for a long time await him.

Life cannot be suppressed so easily

Despite the crisis, Katharina and her family are thinking about returning to Ukraine. “We want to go back, but the daily drone attacks don’t allow this,” admits Katharina as she mourns her husband, who gave so much for his country. While the daughters go to school here in Hamburg, Katharina is training to become a financial accountant. A path that requires courage and shows that the will to live is strong.

The stories of other soldiers like Yevgeni, a 48-year-old who has been in the Bundeswehr hospital in Hamburg for months, show how dramatic the situation is. He lost 15 centimeters of his pubic bone when a mortar shell landed next to him. Yevgeny volunteered to defend his country and is now receiving treatment with the help of Germany. He is not alone: ​​Last year, more than 600 injured soldiers from Ukraine were brought to Germany to receive medical help. The daily news reports that some patients arrive in Germany via special medical flights, while Ukrainian hospitals can also request support.

A strong network of support

The challenges are great, but the initiative to support the wounded remains strong. “Our responsibility to help the injured soldiers remains,” emphasizes Federal Minister Prof. Karl Lauterbach, who sees the medical care of these people as Germany’s moral obligation. The Federal Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that Ukrainian guests have the same access to medical care as those with statutory health insurance.

The city of Grevesmühlen is also planning a partnership with the municipality of Ichnja, which is also affected by the war. Such efforts can provide hope and create connections that transcend the horrific experiences. Catherine feels grateful that Ivan is alive, and the desire for peace permeates her every statement. “We just want the war to end,” she says, looking hopefully to the future.