The Hidden Tragedy: Soldiers injured in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia hides the number of casualties in its invasion of Ukraine, but there are some clues that give us an idea of the magnitude of the tragedy. The Kremlin has maintained a policy of silence on the matter, and many Russians fear the possible repercussions of speaking publicly about the issue. According to the Pentagon, it is estimated that the number of Russian deaths amounts to around 60,000, while the wounded could be three or four times that figure, approximately 300,000, according to an anonymous US official. The New York Times has interviewed several injured Russian soldiers and their families in order to obtain more information about the situation of the wounded, who return home to receive unequal treatment and little attention to their situation. One of the interviewed soldiers has a prosthetic arm with a small microprocessor that allows him to move his fingers, but his mechanical elbow is very basic and can only hold objects, not lift them. This soldier mentions that his arm is more aesthetic than functional. Another soldier lost part of his brain and now depends on his wife for care. She has resorted to crowdfunding and has expressed her feelings as if she were assembling her loved one like a puzzle. A Russian who visited his brother-in-law in a hospital in Moscow noticed that most of the soldiers in the ward were still wearing their combat uniforms. He brought them new clothes, soap, toothbrushes, and a hot meal. Some wounded soldiers praise the available medical care, but others describe a system overwhelmed with shortages of medicines and other basic resources. Additionally, the wounded are often pressured to quickly return to the front. Although the wounded are not completely hidden, as President Vladimir Putin has visited some hospitals and state media often portray wounded veterans as heroes, there is a lack of public compassion towards them. Some medical workers have observed that Russian society is not prepared to see amputated individuals, and some of these soldiers have been seen begging on the streets. The situation of wounded soldiers in Russia is concerning, and there is still much to learn about their care and support.