April 14th 2024.
Georgiy Roshka and Oleksiy Rudenko, two brave Ukrainian soldiers, have taken on the challenge of running the prestigious London Marathon. They are determined to show the world that Ukrainians are resilient and unbreakable, despite the hardships they have faced.
Georgiy, a 32-year-old active serviceman, lost his arm in 2017 during the siege of Azovstal. He was stationed at the steel plant in Mariupol when it was under attack, and he was forced to retreat to a bunker where his arm had to be amputated. His fellow soldier, 28-year-old Oleksiy, also had a life-changing experience while on duty in eastern Ukraine. He stepped on a mine during a combat mission and lost his leg. Both men now use prosthetics, which they will rely on during their very first marathon in London.
"We are very eager to start," says Oleksiy. "We're ready and we're not afraid. I want as many people as possible to see that Ukrainians can beat the marathon even without limbs. We are unbreakable and unstoppable."
Georgiy joined the Ukrainian army after Russia invaded and illegally occupied Crimea. He was stationed at Azovstal in May 2022 when the plant was under attack. Unfortunately, he stepped on a landmine and had to have his arm amputated. But this did not stop him from serving his country. He was later captured and held captive with his comrades in Donetsk for a month-and-a-half before being freed in a prisoner swap.
"I am still very emotional when I think about the atmosphere inside the steel plant," Georgiy shares. "People were in a very bad situation, and we were just waiting for the final moment of our lives. Some even considered taking their own lives because it was a desperate situation."
During his captivity, Georgiy and his fellow soldiers were humiliated both physically and mentally. They were hit and verbally abused, and the conditions were harsh. Georgiy's arm started to rot because he couldn't properly treat it. But despite all of this, he persevered and went through a hard path of recovery, prosthetics, and rehabilitation before returning to military service.
But Georgiy's journey was not the only one filled with challenges. Oleksiy also had a difficult time adapting to his new reality. After being injured, he was taken to Kyiv and underwent nine operations. He then had to face the difficult question of whether he would ever be able to run again. But with determination and a sports prosthetic, he was able to adapt and run with a new purpose – to support his fellow soldiers who were seriously wounded.
"After my amputation, it took me five months to fully adapt to my prosthetic leg," Oleksiy says. "I am running the 2024 London Marathon to support as many seriously injured fellow brothers with amputations as possible. My goal is to spread awareness and raise funds for those who have lost limbs."
Both Georgiy and Oleksiy are raising money for two injured Ukrainian soldiers through the Citizen Charity Foundation. They want to spread awareness and show the world that despite the challenges they have faced, Ukrainians are strong and unbreakable. And with their determination and perseverance, they will conquer the London Marathon and inspire others to never give up.
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