Ukraine: Designing a future — an architect's path to recovery after a landmine blast

In a modest apartment in Kharkiv, Grigoriy* and his wife Maryna greet us with quiet warmth. Before the war, Grigoriy worked as an architect—someone who not only designs buildings but also supervises the construction process on-site.

After Russian forces withdrew from the village of Borshcheva in September 2022, Grigoriy made several trips to check on his dacha. On the fifth visit, just 30 minutes before returning to Kharkiv, he stepped outside to mow the grass. “I had been so careful on each visit,” he recalls. “But that day I let my guard down for just a moment. One step—and everything changed.”

Grigoriy had stepped on the anti-personal mine (PFM-1). His sister was nearby and applied a tourniquet; his father rushed him to a checkpoint, where a nurse helped stabilise him. “I remember everything up until they put the oxygen mask on me,” he says. His injuries were severe: one foot was amputated to form a stump, and the other leg was damaged by shrapnel.

A difficult road to recovery

The days in hospital were long and painful. His family was deeply affected.

“My wife stayed strong, my daughter was devastated, and my elderly father blamed himself,” Grigoriy says. “I struggled emotionally. But I kept telling myself—I was lucky. It could have been one of them.” During his stay, he shared a room with a 74-year-old man named Bohdan*, who had also been injured by a mine. Bohdan’s determination to walk again left a lasting impression.

“He kept searching for a running prosthesis and sent me videos of himself walking. His spirit helped me get through the hardest days.”

Getting back to work

Architecture remained a part of Grigoriy’s life, even from a hospital bed. He continued to sketch, trying to stay connected to his profession.

“I knew I had to keep going,” he says. “But my old laptop couldn’t run the programmes I need for my work.” On the advice of other patients, Grigoriy contacted the Danish Refugee Council. Through a victim assistance project implemented in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion and with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office, he received a new laptop and equipment.

“This laptop gives me access to everything I need,” he explains, showing us a foundation plan. “Every detail here was calculated carefully. And when construction started, everything fit perfectly.”

The risks remain

Grigoriy is not the only one affected by explosive ordnance in Borshcheva. In December 2022, a family’s car hit a mine while they were looking for a Christmas tree in the forest.
Although the village was officially declared cleared of mines in June 2023, incidents continue to be reported—often during agricultural work. The so-called “Petal” mine, which injured Grigoriy, is especially dangerous due to its size and colouring.

“Just recently, we were contacted by a man from Tsyrkuny,” says Yana, DRC Case Management and Victim Assistance Assistant. “He hit a mine while ploughing his garden. Now he has almost completely lost his sight. We not only support victims but also work to reduce risks through mine risk education.”

Hoping to return

Despite the trauma, Grigoriy remains hopeful that one day he’ll be able to return to Borshcheva. “I’m not afraid,” he says. “I believe the war will end, the land will be safe again, and we’ll go back there with the family.”

*Name changed for safety reasons.