20-year-old Ukrainian veteran who lost all his limbs on his hopes for the future

Описание: (23 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv , Ukraine - 21 February 2026
1. Wide of Independence square in Kyiv covered by snow
2. Close-up Independence monument and Sculpture Archangel Michael on the Independence Square
3. Wide of people walking on the Kyiv Main Street
4. Mid of feet people walking on the Kyiv Main Street
5. Close-up of Ukrainian flag

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv , Ukraine - 20 February 2026
6. Various STILL photos of Ukrainian veteran Ruslan Knysh during the war
7. Mid of Ruslan Knysh whose arms and legs were amputated sitting in wheelchair
8. Close-up of face of Ruslan Knysh
9. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Ruslan Knysh, Ukrainian war veteran:
"(Referring to date of Russian invasion) At that moment, I didn’t know what to do at all. My first feeling was helplessness. I was crying, no matter who might see me as some kind of super warrior or an inspirational man. I cried on February 24 (2022, date of invasion), feeling defenseless and powerless, realizing that I was sixteen and, essentially, there was nothing I could do."
10. Various of Knysh, whose arms and legs were amputated, sitting in wheelchair
11. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Ruslan Knysh, Ukrainian war veteran:
"On my first mission, we were retrieving the bodies of fallen soldiers. By then, the bodies had been there for about six months. The smell was overwhelming. I agreed to carry them all the way to the evacuation point so they could be taken from there. I’m honestly proud of myself for that — because I didn’t back down. Not just in words, but through my actions, through what I can call courage, I paid my respects to them and to what they had done."
12. Mid of the Azov emblem and oath and emblem of the third assault Brigade (Brigade was formed from Azov veterans)
13. Mid of Knysh
14. Close-up of Ruslan's wheelchair wheels
15. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Ruslan Knysh, Ukrainian war veteran:
"I remember we were already lying down. The blast threw me into the field. I was lying there — grass, weeds. Luckily, we had just passed a nearby position, and the men there heard the explosion right away. They looked out carefully and saw what had happened around us. Luka, our comrade, was already shouting, “We have wounded! We need help!” They pulled themselves together. As I said, they dropped to the level of their training. Tourniquets, first-aid kits — immediately."
16. Mid of flags of flags of third assault Brigade
17. Wide of Knysh
18. Close-up of flag
19. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Ruslan Knysh, Ukrainian war veteran:
"No matter what anyone says, I’m not strong. I just can’t allow myself to fall apart, because the guys and girls who gave their lives — I have no right to betray their struggle. But in spirit, I’m very weak. No matter what anyone says. There are moments when it really overwhelms you, when you start thinking about ending your life and asking yourself, “Why not me?” And then I realize that maybe fate has its own plans."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 21 February 2026
20. Wide of memorial to fallen Ukrainian soldier in Independence Square
21. Close-up of Independence monument
22. Mid of people looking at the memorial of fallen soldiers
23. Close-up of woman crossing and paying respects to fallen soldiers
24. Wide of people walking on the Kyiv Main Street and one man with prosthetic leg
25. Close-up of man with prosthetic leg
STORYLINE:
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ruslan Knysh was 16 and still in school. Now 20, he is a veteran of the war in Ukraine.










AP Video by Srdjan Nedeljkovic
Production Kamila Hrabchuk


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