Yakutian military volunteer offered metal rod as prosthetic arm

Vadim Sharipov, 53, lost his left arm following an injury at war. Six months later, the Social Fund of Russia supplied him with a prosthetic limb shaped like a metal rod. This prosthetic was manufactured by Orthomed+, a company associated with Alexei Savvinov, an official in the republican administration. Sharipov's relatives claim that the prosthetic cost 5 million rubles.

One of Sharipov's relatives commented, saying, "When I laid eyes on it, tears of frustration welled up." 

The family decided to return the prosthetic, but they were not presented with an alternative. It is critical for Sharipov to secure a high-quality replacement within the next six months, as a further delay could lead to the atrophy of nerve endings.

Vadim Sharipov started his volunteer military service in September 2022 in the Yakut battalion known as "Bars-2." Following his combat-related injury, he was honored with the Medal of Courage by Aysen Nikolaev, the head of the republic. 

Military personnel have to wait for months for rehabilitation equipment. Russian companies need more imported parts to satisfy the increased demand for prosthetics. 

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