The Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander ran in Vilnius along with Ukrainian veterans

Freedom Defenders lost their limbs

Seven Ukrainian defenders overcame the symbolic 300 -meter track in the Vilnius Half Marathon. Oleksandras Sakura was injured near the robotyn when climbed on the anti -tank mine. Although he is now walking with a prosthesis, the 24-year-old is playing sports, climbing the mountains and skiing.

Olexander Bielov’s life was saved by friends of the weapon in the Zaporia region. The 33-year-old man lost his leg due to injuries.

Former successful businessman Ihoris Krupnov lost both legs when his car drove on anti -tank mines. A 58-year-old says he had overcome the 300m track for the first time in his run when he was a child. And now it was a challenge to overcome it: « I asked the guys to go a little slower because I don’t have both legs anymore. But I can boast – after rehabilitation my bike record – 27 kilometers. I dream of covering 100 kilometers. »

You are the siblings of our nation. You are Ambassadors of Ukraine. And our voice all over the world.

33-year-old Volodymyr Rudkovsky lost his leg when he rescued a wounded battle friend in the Zaporie area. The Ukrainian veteran, who came to Vilnius with his two -year -old daughter, and his wife, thanked Lithuania for his support, emphasized: « You are brothers and sisters of our nation. You are Ambassadors of Ukraine. And our voice all over the world. »

The 40-year-old Oleksy Gushchyn’s limb lost due to an enemy drone attack. Oleksius claims that the biggest motivation not to break was soon, after a large -scale invasion, his son born. « We were really surprised when we saw so many Ukrainian flags in Lithuania. We sincerely thank you for such great support. When you are in the trenches, the idea that there are people who support you are helping. »

Romas Chernenko, 33, crossed the Vilnius Half Marathon not only the symbolic 300 meters, but also the 5 km track. He is convinced that everything is possible: « I’m not afraid to war. It is scary to be occupied and enslaved. »

Photo by the authors of the presentation

Oleksandras Tešchenko, who lives in Vilnius with veterans from Ukraine from Ukraine, participated in the run. The former video operator was seriously injured in 2014 during the Donetsk Airport Clover. At that time, the man lost his right hand, the left hand and was severely injured by his eyes.

Many Lithuanians supported

Not only half -marathon participants, but also Sigitas Mitkus, Vice -Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Lithuanian Ambassador to Special Orders Darius Skusevičius, MEP Paulius Saudargas, cadets of the Lithuanian Military Academy and other Lithuanian people who are unmistakable by Ukrainian soldiers.

After the run, a closed event hosted by a publicist and shooter Gabrielius Liaudanskas-Svaras in the courtyard of the Palace of the Palace, and S. Mitkus, who welcomed Ukraine veterans, said: We see many opportunities to learn from Ukraine and create long -term partnerships based on mutual knowledge and general innovation.

When the Vice -Minister and the Ukrainians appealing to the weapon brothers, the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces noted: « Your examples of how to take care of injured soldiers will be one of my customers as the main tasks of the term of office. »

Over 390 thousand were injured. persons

This symbolic run was organized for the Central Project Management Agency in the implementation of a rehabilitation program that helps Ukrainian medical facilities in the country to deal with unprecedented soldiers and civilians. According to Artūras Akušovskis, CPVA CREATE Future of Ukraine, over 390,000 people have been injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion of the invasion. Soldiers: « This is a truly enormous number. Therefore, other countries have to help Ukraine in the field of rehabilitation. Because Ukrainian troops defend the whole free world. »

During the implementation of the CPVA program, it is planned to renovate the Dnipro back injury rehabilitation center, to reconstruct the Unbroken Rehabilitation Center unit in Briukhovici settlement near LVVO, to renovate the Žytomiro Rehabilitation Center and strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration authorities and organizations. The value of the program was implemented a year ago – 15 million. euros. It is funded by the Lithuanian Development Cooperation and Humanities Foundation.

Photo by the authors of the presentation

Be together

The participants of the event thanked the Labading and Support Fund Brothers Kite, who support the injured troops and contributed to the organization of this run and the event. The funds raised during the campaign will be spent in September a ten -day rehabilitation camp planned to regain physical and spiritual forces from Ukraine.

After a symbolic run, the guests could not only communicate with Ukrainian veterans, taste the Risotto, a chef Gian Luca Demarco, but also to hear Robert Petrauskas’ thoughts about the overall history of Lithuania and Ukraine. « You need to know that the only way to stay in this war is to be together and to support your sisters and brothers. The most direct path to destruction is to think only of ourselves. The Great Ukrainian lesson for us is to refuse to consider ourselves a victim, » emphasized R. Petrauskas.