Russia’s deputy defense minister, Anna Tsivileva, declared on Thursday that the country has reached a “flagship level” in prosthetics since the invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum on September 4, Tsivileva noted that veterans of Russia’s Ukraine invasion pushed authorities to ramp up development and introduce technologies previously underused, particularly for the country’s large disabled population. Previously, Russia’s prosthetics program consisted of distributing devices with little guidance — many recipients didn’t know how to operate them. Now, new standards ensure that training and support are provided, “aiming to restore lost functions as fully as possible,” Tsivileva explained.
Official statistics reveal significant growth in Russia’s prosthetics industry. In 2024, Russians received 53 percent more prosthetic limbs than in the previous year, according to data from the Labor Ministry. The distribution of prosthetic arms jumped 75 percent to 14,500, while prosthetic legs rose by 51 percent to 138,000. Tsivileva claimed Russian technologies now rival China’s, adding, “We may be leading.” She highlighted large government investments fueling the sector’s expansion.
Despite these advances, major gaps persist: Russian veterans returning from the front with amputations often wait months for their prosthetics, according to reporting by Verstka. The government only recently moved beyond a bare-bones approach, spurred by rising war-related disabilities. In her remarks on Thursday, Tsivileva acknowledged that Russia’s disabled population (estimated at 11.5 million people before February 2022) has historically lacked adequate social integration and rehabilitation resources.