Yuri's Recovery from Russian Captivity

My name is Yevangelina Tkalenko; I moved from Ukraine to West Palm Beach, Florida, in July 2022 due to the full-scale invasion.

Today (09/26/2024), I received the news that my friend and former middle school and high school classmate Yury Gulchuk was released from Russian captivity on September 14th, where he spent almost two and a half years. Immediately after the prisoner exchange, he was taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit of one of the Kyiv hospitals. He could not eat or speak on his own and did not respond to anything. (Featured in Hromadske - Interview with Yura). He was daily tortured and beaten by one of the russian bodyguards. He recognized his mum only on the third day.

Yura is 23 years old; he is going through resuscitation in the neurological department first and then has to undergo the entire rehabilitation process.

Yura has been studying at Kyiv National Linguistic University, speaking four foreign languages fluently. He is a brilliant and talented Ukrainian hero who has a right to a bright, honorable future.

My goal is to raise $5000 to cover Yuri's rehabilitation process. The money will be delivered to Yuri's mum - Milana's Bank Account, and will be spent on his medical needs.

Yura and his mom, Milana - 1st meeting after 2.5 years of captivity.

Wounds on the legs due to forced daily standing through 2,5 years in Russian captivity.

He was part of the 36th Marines Corps and served in Mariupol battles at the Ilyich factory.

High School photo from 2016. Yura is the first from the right side.