LUkraine Gala Raises Funds to Support Amputee Rehabilitation

On Tuesday 6 May 2025, the LUkraine Charity Gala Dinner took place at Cercle Cité in Luxembourg-Ville, under the patronage of Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

The event aimed to raise essential funds for the TYTANOVI Project, a Ukrainian rehabilitation centre based in Kyiv that supports individuals who have undergone complex limb amputations due to the war.

Among the guests at the evening event were: former President of Ukraine (2005–2010), Viktor Yushchenko, accompanied by his wife Kateryna; Claude Wiseler, President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies (parliament); Anne Calteux, Head of the European Commission Representation in Luxembourg; and Natalia Anoshyna, Ambassador of Ukraine to Belgium and Luxembourg. Also in attendance were: Charles Delogne, Ambassador of Belgium; Pedro Sousa e Abreu, Ambassador of Portugal; Claire Lignières-Counathe, Ambassador of France; Iwona Wojtczak, First Deputy at the Embassy of Poland; and Joanne Olivier, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Luxembourg. The event was hosted by Lisa Burke.

LUkraine President, Nicolas Zharov, stated during the official opening: “Let us not forget that Ukraine is not only fighting for its own survival; it is defending the very foundation of international law, of European unity and of human rights. The people we honour tonight - the soldiers who lost arms and legs, but still stand taller than many of us ever will - are on the front line of that defence. But they are not statistics. They are fathers, sons, daughters, teachers, musicians, athletes - many of whom dreamed of a peaceful life, not of war. And yet, when the moment came, they stood up, they fought, and they continue to inspire us.” He added: “It is now our duty to stand up for them, to ensure they receive not only medical care, but also the tools and opportunities to live fully, to pursue careers, to raise families, to become mentors, innovators and leaders in post-war Ukraine. That is what tonight is about: restoring not just limbs, but lives.”

In an interview with Chronicle.lu, two representatives of the TYTANOVI Project – part of a four-member delegation visiting Luxembourg – shared their personal stories. Oleksandr Zozuliak, who lost his left arm, took part in combat operations in 2014–2015, during which he was injured by a tank incident. Following his rehabilitation, he worked for eight years with Ukraine’s national police and later, drawing on his background as a bioengineer, joined the TYTANOVI Project. “Since 2017, I have been involved in sports, specifically archery. In 2018, I won a medal in this discipline at the Invictus Games. I currently work as a bioengineer, assembling and upgrading prosthetics for our soldiers. Having built and adjusted my own prosthetic, I now produce them for others as well. I also support the rehabilitation of our veterans through sport,” he said.

24-year-old Oleksandr Tolochenko lost both lower limbs as a result of a mine-explosion injury in the spring of 2023. He served in the Aidar Battalion. “I have been undergoing rehabilitation for two years. Traditional prosthetics did not work for me, so I underwent osseointegration, which has allowed me to move more comfortably with prostheses. I plan to transition to full-time use of prosthetics in a few months. I want to support other servicemen because I understand the journey after an injury. Support from a fellow soldier who has also been wounded is very important. I know that I can be of help,” he said.

Two other servicemen, Anton Ivantsiv, who has undergone amputation of both legs and one arm and Vladyslav Beseda, who uses a prosthetic arm, expressed their gratitude to all those present at the Charity Gala Dinner during their speech.

During the evening, LUkraine Vice-President Inna Yaremenko presented a special award to Anne Calteux, Head of the European Commission Representation in Luxembourg, in recognition of her unwavering support, compassion and solidarity in the ongoing struggle for freedom.

One of the main performances was delivered by 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala, who performed several of her songs, including "1944". Her Crimean Tatar ancestors were forcibly resettled from Crimea in 1944, and her family returned to the region in 1989. During her performance, she donated her earrings from the stage as one of the lots for the charity auction.

LUkraine prepared more than 30 auction lots for the charity gala. The most valuable item is an oil painting titled “The Storks of Ukraine (Leleka)” by Keith Grant, listed at €20,000. Other items include artworks by various artists and football shirts signed by members of the Ukrainian national team and Italian club AS Roma’s Artem Dovbyk. All lots are available for viewing at: https://gala.lukraine.org/auc/.

According to the organisers, the fundraising campaign will remain open until the end of May. The total amount raised will be announced in early July 2025.