Prosthetic limb production increases in Russia due to Ukraine war injuries

MOSCOW: Russian officials report significant advancements in the production of prosthetic limbs, primarily driven by the needs of soldiers injured in the Ukraine conflict. Anna Tsyvilyova, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, stated on Thursday during an economic meeting in Vladivostok, “The soldiers who participated in operations in Ukraine have brought us to this level of progress.” She emphasized that Russia is now “likely the leading country” in the production of prosthetic limbs. Western media have noted that Tsyvilyova is related to Vladimir Putin, although Russian officials have not clarified this. She is currently under sanctions from the U.S., U.K., and the European Union due to her role in the Ukraine war. Official statistics indicate that prosthetic limb production in Russia increased by approximately 65% in 2024 compared to 2021, resulting in nearly 60,000 more prosthetic limbs being produced. Last year, Putin mentioned that around 700,000 Russian soldiers are involved in the Ukraine conflict. However, the exact number of injured and disabled soldiers has not been disclosed. At the same time, the BBC and some Russian media outlets abroad have reported that at least 125,000 Russian soldiers killed have been identified over the past three and a half years, but they believe the actual death toll is much higher.