Ukrainian Soldier Successfully Undergoes Complex Surgery in the U.S. After Severe Frontline Injury

After seven months of treatment and rehabilitation in the United States, Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Shkul successfully underwent an extremely complex surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. The soldier, who suffered a severe combat injury while carrying out a mission in Ukraine’s Sumy region, continues his recovery under the care of the charitable organization Revived Soldiers Ukraine.

This was reported by Revived Soldiers Ukraine .

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Volodymyr Shkul worked as a sales consultant for the Epicenter retail chain. After being mobilized, he completed military training in the United Kingdom and became commander of a mortar platoon in the “Pak” mechanized infantry battalion of Ukraine’s 156th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

On June 13, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission near Yunakivka in the Sumy region, he sustained a severe shrapnel wound during a mortar attack. The injury caused extensive abdominal trauma and numerous complications.

Following the injury, Volodymyr experienced clinical death twice, remained in a coma for an extended period, and underwent several complex surgeries in Ukraine. Due to his prolonged unconscious state, he developed severe contractures in both legs and his left arm.

In October 2025, the serviceman was evacuated from the Lviv Military Hospital to the United States aboard a specialized medical flight. At that time, Revived Soldiers Ukraine carried out one of its largest medical evacuation missions, transporting six severely wounded Ukrainian defenders to the United States aboard a private Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.

The organization expressed gratitude to the charitable foundation Operation Mordechai and its founder, Melanie Kelfer, for helping organize the flight and cover part of the transportation costs. They also acknowledged the support of the Medical Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which provided medical and administrative assistance for the evacuation.

Volodymyr’s treatment took place at the University of Illinois Medical Center under the supervision of Revived Soldiers Ukraine Medical Director Dr. Yevhen Pavelko. Throughout this period, he stayed at New Summit Rehabilitation and Healthcare, where he received around-the-clock medical care.

One of the key stages of treatment was surgery to restore intestinal function following a colostomy. Preparation for the procedure lasted seven months and included daily intravenous infusions, wound treatment, numerous examinations, blood tests, consultations with specialists, and ongoing rehabilitation.

The highly complex operation was performed by Professor Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, one of the world’s leading surgeons and a recognized expert in modern surgical techniques. According to representatives of Revived Soldiers Ukraine, it was a great honor for both the patient and the medical team to be under the care of such a distinguished specialist.

Despite the extraordinary complexity of the procedure, the operation was successful. Surgeons completed all planned interventions and achieved the intended medical objectives.

The event was made even more significant by the presence of Ukrainian military surgeons from the Main Military Clinical Hospital in Kyiv, who were undergoing training on the da Vinci robotic surgical system at the University of Illinois Hospital that same day.

Among them were Major General Kostiantyn Humeniuk, Chief Surgeon of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Lieutenant Colonel Artem Kobirnichenko, a military urologist. During the operation, they had the opportunity to observe Professor Giulianotti’s work and learn about every stage of the complex surgical procedure.

For Volodymyr himself, the presence of Ukrainian military doctors provided important moral support.