Restoring Faces in Lviv: Inside Ukraine’s Center for Small Prosthetics for Wounded Soldiers.

Supporting Soldiers in Lviv

According to UATV: In Lviv, medical professionals are going beyond restoring physical function—they are also rebuilding appearances by crafting prosthetic eyes and facial overlays for Ukrainian soldiers. The Unbroken Center for Small Prosthetics specializes in creating these devices for military personnel injured since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

One patient, a soldier with the call sign 'Fara' named Taras, was wounded in the Kharkiv region while evacuating his comrades. After undergoing more than a dozen surgeries, he now requires custom prosthetics to restore his appearance. As Taisiia Yarovaia recalls, 'When I was wounded, it was psychologically hard to accept.'

How the Prosthetics Are Made

The center’s process for crafting ocular prosthetics involves collaboration with surgeons and takes several days, while a facial overlay requires about two weeks to complete. 'There are double prosthetics: an internal and an external one,' Yarovaia explains, highlighting the importance of using high-quality materials during production.

She adds, 'I fill this cavity with a painted prosthesis made of medical silicone,' reflecting the personalized approach for each patient. 'We color it, we add life to it,' Yarovaia says of the process to restore the soldiers’ appearances.

This work not only restores physical abilities but also helps individuals adapt to life after trauma. The medical team at the Unbroken Center continues its vital mission of supporting those who defend the country, helping them rediscover their sense of self.

The Unbroken Center for Small Prosthetics plays a key role in supporting Ukrainian soldiers who have sustained severe injuries in combat. Restoring both appearance and function is critical for the psychological adjustment of veterans returning from war. The prosthetics produced here not only rebuild faces but also improve quality of life, enabling soldiers to feel like full members of society once again.