Mykola Shot, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Novoyavorivsk, faced a new challenge after being wounded in February 2024 in the Bakhmut area. He lost his arms and legs during enemy shelling. After treatment in Kyiv, Mykola underwent rehabilitation at the Unbroken centre in Lviv, where he relearned how to move, maintain balance and perform daily tasks independently while sitting on prostheses. However, returning to driving, which he had done for two decades before the war, required a non-standard solution.
The path to adaptation
The veteran turned to prosthetist Oles Solodukha with a request to equip his car with aids for independent driving. A charity marathon was organised in Mykola’s hometown to raise funds for the equipment. In Lviv, mechanics and doctors from the Unbroken rehabilitation centre worked together to convert the car. Through their joint efforts, they created a control system that was fully adapted to the veteran’s prostheses.
Innovative solutions from the prosthetist
To ensure full functionality and independence, the prosthetist developed and installed two key elements. He made special stump sockets that attach to the steering wheel. In addition, auxiliary devices were created for the doors, allowing the veteran to open and close them independently. According to the prosthetist, these additions made it much easier for Mykola to drive and increased his independence, as he had previously been unable to open the doors himself. To create the stump sockets, the prosthetist specially cast and moulded the elements, taking measurements of the veteran’s arm.
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Transition to manual control
The main difficulty was that the veteran could not press two pedals with his foot at the same time. Manual control was developed for him. The project envisaged that Mykola would accelerate with his foot and brake with his hand. Mykola explained that his foot instinctively reaches for the brake pedal, so he had to get used to the new system.
Freedom and independence on the road
It took Mykola only a few days to get used to the new way of driving. He practised for a couple of hours two days in a row, and on the third day he was already driving confidently on the road. He noted that he quickly adapted to manual control. Now the veteran drives around the city on his own, navigating traffic lights and traffic jams, as well as high-speed roads.
The veteran also consciously chose a car to suit his needs, paying attention to comfort, keyless access, touch control of temperature and navigation. A spacious boot for a wheelchair was also important. Mykola emphasised that thanks to this adaptation, he can do everything himself: start the car, park it, lock it and go wherever he needs to. According to him, he felt freedom and independence without having to wait for public transport, emphasising that there is always a choice.
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