Mac Hughes recalls the scent of diesel and the intense agony in his legs as he found himself trapped beneath a burning vehicle following a drone strike in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Canada Day. The 23-year-old, who enlisted with the Ukrainian military eighteen months ago, was conscious when he was rescued with severe third-degree burns.
After enduring almost two months in a hospital bed, Hughes is now endeavoring to combat exhaustion as he embarks on his initial steps in a rehabilitation program in Kyiv. “It is draining. It’s a lengthy, challenging process,” he expressed. “It’s a relief to be upright after 53 days.”
Originally journeying to Ukraine in 2022 to engage in humanitarian endeavors with his father through the NGO H.U.G.S. (Helping Ukraine Grassroots Support), Hughes decided to join the military after a fellow soldier and friend tragically perished. Currently recovering from injuries sustained in a Russian drone attack, he spoke to CBC News from a wheelchair following a brief period on crutches.
Witnessing other young men, many adjusting to prosthetics after losing limbs, at the rehabilitation facility, Hughes acknowledged the life-altering impact of such injuries. “For some of these individuals, their lives are forever transformed. I consider myself extremely fortunate,” he remarked.
Paul Hughes, Mac’s father, has been steadfastly by his son’s side since the incident, accompanying him to hospitals in Kyiv and Lviv where Mac underwent skin graft surgery utilizing skin from his upper thighs. Living in a donated RV during this period, Paul, a former Canadian military member, initially ventured to Ukraine to combat Russia but later shifted focus to humanitarian efforts.
Receiving mental health assistance and physical therapy in the hospital, Mac continues his recovery, with a fundraiser recently held to aid the Hughes family. Reflecting on his time in Ukraine and the enduring bond with the country, he pointed to a tattoo on his arm depicting a merging of the Canadian maple leaf and the Ukrainian trident, symbolizing his deep connection to the nation.
Despite the challenges and the traumatic drone attack, Mac finds solace in the resilience embodied by his tattoo, declaring, “Ukraine always survives.”