How a double amputee became Ukraine’s most popular man

When a shell exploded near Oleksandr Budko, the 26-year-old found himself buried alive and suffering “terrible pain” from injuries that even resulted in the amputation of both legs.

The Ukrainian soldier was helping to defend the northeastern region of Kharkiv from an incursion by Russian forces in August 2022 when his unit came under attack.

Three years later, he became the star of a reality show in which multiple women battled for his affection.

A well-dressed Oleksandr stares thoughtfully at a flower in an ad for the Ukrainian version of the hit US series The Bachelor. In another photo, he answers questions in military uniform before performing a series of pull-ups in the gym.

The veteran-turned-celebrity spoke to me in Kiev’s rose garden, and although tired after a busy week, he was in good spirits.

Oleksandr said he hoped to find love on the show after splitting from his girlfriend last January, but thought it would be difficult to choose a partner while “millions of people are watching”.

His motivations are more than romantic. He also hopes to use his appearance on the show to raise awareness about the challenges faced by disabled people in Ukraine.

“This show is watched by millions of people and it provides a huge opportunity to positively influence their views,” he said.

He wanted to show that wounded veterans were not “outsiders but full members of society leading good lives.”

“As far as I’m concerned, my life is even better now than before the war, better than before I got injured.”

Oleksandr, always busy, told me he had shot a music video the night before.

His life wasn’t always like this. In the years before the full-scale Russian invasion, he worked as a barista in a Kiev restaurant while studying graphic design.

He says his dream is to “keep his feet on the ground”: to travel, discover the world and develop his career. He wants to start a family.

But two years ago, Alexander’s life changed dramatically when he became one of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men to join the army.

In August 2022, he was stationed near Izyum, an occupied city. Russia’s advancing front. It was invaded early in the war and used by Russia as an important military hub to supply its troops from the east.

Just a month after Alexander was seriously wounded while defending nearby Ukrainian positions, Kiev liberated the city.

“I felt the earth move against me. I felt a sharp pain in my legs and realized that this meant amputation of both my legs,” he said.

“I was screaming in terrible pain and yelling for people to hear me.”

He said he knew his comrade was still alive and that they dug him out of the ground and provided first aid. But it was then that he learned his leg had been seriously injured.

“Two or three seconds after I felt the pain, I knew I had lost both legs the moment I was injured.”

Alexander survived, but much of Izyum was in ruins. At the time, authorities said they found more than 400 bodies in graves near city.

Despite a challenging recovery process, Oleksandr was still walking with a prosthetic leg within six months.

“When I didn’t have prosthetics, I had to get around in a wheelchair. I discovered how inaccessible and unsuitable Kiev is for wheelchair users, even though it’s the capital,” he said.

“In the historic old town, you can’t go anywhere. You can’t cross the street by yourself or go inside any building because there are stairs everywhere.

War injuries mean Alexander’s experience is becoming increasingly common in Ukraine. While there are no official statistics on the number of people injured during the war, it is estimated that tens of thousands lost limbs.

From this, Oleksandr created an independent reality show called Legs Off, capturing the difficulties faced by people with disabilities moving around Ukrainian cities.

In addition to speaking, the veteran has written a book, won a medal at the Invincible Games, and performed with a ballet company in the U.S. — all while recovering from his injuries carried out in the process.

He’s so popular in Ukraine that The Bachelor’s application portal crashed shortly after it was announced that Oleksandr would be starring in the next season.

The producers of “The Bachelor” see the veteran as a symbol of hope.

“Although Oleksandr was an amputation, he still rode his bike, drove his car, and climbed mountains. He lived a full life.

“If television is about filming reality, who better to be the star of ‘The Bachelor’ right now? Who better to be in a country at war?