At Kyiv Fashion Week, Ukrainian veterans and individuals with amputations took to the catwalk to model an inclusive collection designed specifically for people wearing prosthetic limbs. Since the Russian invasion began in 2022, NGOs estimate that between 50,000 and 100,000 soldiers have returned from the front as amputees.
Designer Igor Sidletskiy created roomy and practical garments to accommodate prosthetic limbs, aiming to ease the physical discomfort and awkwardness that amputees often face when wearing standard clothing. Among those walking the runway were Iaroslav Charkiï, a former special forces combat medic who lost a leg in the Donbas, and Mykola Kovalyov, a 22-year-old soldier who lost both legs in the Sumy region. For participants like Kovalyov, the fashion show represented a constructive outlet—a way to create rather than destroy, and to reclaim something of what the war has taken away.
The show opened with a minute of silence honoring those killed in the conflict, followed by an enthusiastic reception from the audience as the models confidently walked the runway, their prosthetic limbs visible beneath white and flesh-toned fabrics. Olga Dolga, a civilian who lost her leg during a Russian bombardment and was the sole civilian participant with a prosthesis, emphasized the critical need for greater societal inclusion given the high number of people who have lost limbs. Looking ahead, Iaroslav expressed a desire to establish his own stylish and comfortable clothing brand tailored specifically for amputees.
