U.S. surgeons operate on Ukrainian soldier blinded by land mine
After a land‑mine blast left him blind in one eye, Mykola Kasiuk underwent surgery by a visiting U.S. team in Kyiv, which also taught Ukrainian doctors new techniques.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Mykola Kasiuk, a Ukrainian soldier whose left eye was destroyed by a land‑mine explosion, underwent complex eye surgery in Kyiv on Sept. 28, 2026, performed by a team of U.S. oculoplastic surgeons.
What happened
The blast occurred on the front lines during a clash with Russian forces, leaving Kasiuk with near‑total darkness in the affected eye. After two years of multiple operations and a prognosis that his remaining eye might need removal, he refused the recommendation and waited for the U.S. team’s arrival. The surgeons repaired the damaged eye socket and fitted an artificial eye, aiming to give him the chance to see his children again.
What the reports add
All three outlets – the Winnipeg Free Press, The Independent and the New Indian Express – reported the same core facts about the injury, the surgery and the involvement of U.S. doctors. The Winnipeg Free Press noted that the surgeons were also training Ukrainian doctors in oculoplastic techniques. The Independent emphasized that local doctors had advised removal of the remaining eye, which Kasiuk declined. The New Indian Express identified one of the U.S. surgeons as Stuart Seiff and included a photo of him speaking with Kasiuk after the operation.
What was said
Kasiuk prayed, “I want to be able to see my children again,” as reported by the Winnipeg Free Press. He told his wife, “No, I won’t let them,” when doctors suggested removing his remaining eye, according to The Independent. U.S. surgeon Stuart Seiff explained the procedure’s goals in the New Indian Express article.
How it came about
Before the 2022 invasion, many Ukrainian hospitals offered only basic ophthalmic care such as cataract surgery. The war has produced a surge in severe eye and facial injuries, creating a shortage of specialists. Visiting U.S. teams have been dispatched to treat complex cases and to train local clinicians, a development first covered by Felo News in its report on war‑related health challenges and the piece on Kyiv’s resilience. The September 2026 surgery is part of that ongoing medical cooperation.
Key facts
- Mykola Kasiuk lost an eye after a land‑mine explosion on the battlefield. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- U.S. oculoplastic surgeons performed complex eye surgery on him in Kyiv on Sept. 28, 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- The surgeons are also training Ukrainian doctors in advanced eye‑socket reconstruction and artificial‑eye fitting. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Kasiuk hopes the operation will let him see his children again. (newindianexpress.com)
