The young men heal their post-treatment complications, which, according to a surgeon from the Microsurgery Center, aren't the result of unqualified personnel, but rather are indicative of the overall condition of the healthcare resources available in the current situation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldier Yuri Bubes is 32 years old. He's from Lvov, which he thinks is the most beautiful city in the world. Even though Latvian Radio met him after his leg was operated on, he seemed to be in a cheerful mood.
Before the war, Yuri was a painter.
Last year he volunteered in the army, as he didn't want the situation in Eastern Ukraine to spread to Northern Ukraine where his family - his wife and two-year-old daughter live.
He was wounded a year ago, when the military base he was stationed in came under mortar fire. He received several wounds, and told Latvian Radio that he remembers lying in a pool of his own blood, clutching a grenade in his hands, as he understood that he could not surrender with wounds like this.
He was lucky as reinforcements came quickly. Yuri underwent treatment with heavy wounds at a number of hospitals. But he didn't hide that he's very glad about getting to Latvia, as medical assistance and help in recovery was quite bad in his homeland.
Ervīns Lavrinovičs, a surgeon at the Microsurgery Center, said that the complications that arise for Ukrainian soldiers aren't the result of unqualified personnel, but rather are indicative of the overall condition of the healthcare resources available in the current situation in Ukraine.
According to Lavrinovičs, during war the resources for medical assistance are depleted very quickly, as money runs out even during times of peace the quotas for treatment run out when there's no more money.
In total, there were 20 Ukrainian soldiers being treated in Latvia from state funds, but funds run out in spring already.
However, donations have allowed to help nine more soldiers.
"The donation activities have decreased, and I don't know what's the cause of it. Perhaps it's because of insufficient advertising, or perhaps because of the fact there's less information about Ukraine as opposed to other information. On the ziedot.lv portal there have been donations of €27,000 in total, and some have been donated to our fund account. In total there were about €28,000 donated, which serves as a witness of our desire to help," told Jana Streleca, the head of the Fund for Supporting Victims of the Conflict in Ukraine.
Yuri has every intention on returning to the ranks when he's well. He said, evaluation the situation in his homeland, that he wants the war to stop, but as of now doesn't believe it will.
