“The main race of the country took place in the capital of Ukraine”, — write: sport.ua
This time, the event brought together 10,200 participants from different parts of Ukraine and the world, of which 9,400 in Kyiv covered selected distances from 1.6 km to the marathon, and another 800 ran online. Also, veterans who are currently undergoing rehabilitation started the symbolic distance of 100 meters. And for the smallest participants, seven children’s races were organized at a distance of 300 meters to one kilometer.
“Once started as a sports holiday, now the Kyiv Marathon of Invincibility carries an important social mission: to unite Ukrainians, to support them even in the most difficult times. Our 2024 running season is held under the slogan “Together is strength”, because it is when we are together, when we are united, that we find in ourselves some incredible sources of strength to do the impossible, – said the director of marketing and communications of the Run Ukraine company Victoria Veremienko. – This year we are not just running. Our running, our kilometers are turned into donations that support the Armed Forces, purchase weapons and contribute to the rehabilitation of the wounded.”
Together with leading domestic and international companies, the Resistance Movement of Special Operations Forces took part in the Kyiv Marathon of Invincibility. The public knows little about one of the most mysterious components of the SSO, the main focus of which is resistance to the occupiers who seized Ukrainian lands, who hold our Ukrainians captive, resistance to those who do nothing and continue to destroy our cities. At one of the central locations of the event, a special pavilion was set up, where volunteers of the Resistance Movement communicated with the participants and spectators of the races, played special literature, and for children, applied the trademark of the Resistance Movement on their faces and organized drawing contests. Over the course of two days, the involved volunteers conducted interesting information and entertainment programs, which aroused considerable interest among the visitors.
The distance of the marathon passed along the picturesque Trukhan Island, the North Bridge, the Obolon embankment, etc. As for the results, Mykola Nyzhnyk finished first in the half marathon among men (time – 1:08:49), and Olga Nyzhnyk (1:18:20) among women. Mykola Davydenko (2:27:23) and Maria Radko (2:56:12) were unmatched in the prestigious marathon distance among men.
However, the main applause at the longest distance among the numerous attendees was earned by the military couple Oleksandr “Titan” – Dmytro Krasnovsky. While defending Ukraine, in the Kupyan direction, Dmytro was seriously injured, which led to the high amputation of both legs. Possessing indomitable willpower, the defender was about to overcome the symbolic 100 meters, when an offer came from his brother, a soldier of the Special Operations Forces Oleksandr, to overcome the marathon… together. Said – done! The friends covered all 42 kilometers as a couple, and at the end of the distance, Oleksandr took Dmytro off the cart and symbolically crossed the finish line together! A scene worthy of a script of a Hollywood blockbuster, a true victory of the spirit over physical disabilities! Thousands of people around, standing still, applauded our military!
“Dmytro is my brother, he is a warrior with a capital letter,” he said without hiding his emotions after the “Titan” finish. – Thanks to such people, you have the opportunity to run, communicate, enjoy life. I promised Dmitry that we would run a marathon together, and I fulfilled my promise. I myself have been involved in sports since childhood, now I am a physical training instructor at the SSO. I always try to be positive, to give people a good mood. Earlier, I set a Ukrainian record for burpees (this is a set of movements for coordination: plank, push-ups, squats and jumping out, – approx. author.)and in the future I want to set a world record for this exercise and dedicate it to the victory of our country over racism.”
Representatives of the Special Operations Forces and the Resistance Movement, who are currently not performing specified tasks, gladly joined the races. A lot of people signed up for the marathon and half-marathon, and the 10-kilometer “Heroes of the Nation” race was the most popular among the military. There was no place for winners or losers on it, it was a run of unity of brothers, each of whom went through the war and has his own history of defending Ukraine. Relatives or friends could run for those soldiers who died, wearing a t-shirt with the Hero’s photo.
For Viktor Shevchenko, one of the heads of the Unified Recruiting Center of the SSO of the ZSU, participation in runs is a long-standing tradition, and the total number of such starts, and in different countries, is approaching a hundred.
“Since 2016, I have been trying not to miss races of various distances – from one kilometer to a marathon. Mainly in Ukraine, but also competed in the USA, Scotland, Czech Republic, says the military man. – I would like to note the very creative and patriotic approach of the organizers of the current marathon. Before each race, five to seven meters were free between the starting line and the participants. This is a conditional place for military personnel who could run with us, but they gave their lives for Ukraine. And before the marathon itself, after the starting shot, the participants did not go anywhere. Everyone applauded the imaginary start of military marathoners who are no longer with us. I would like to note that 12 comrades died from our capital running club alone. Therefore, I personally dedicate all races, including the current one, to their memory. After every competition in which the Brothers would definitely participate, I take two additional medals, give them to the families and thus honor the memory of the Heroes.”
We would like to add that thanks to the participants and socially responsible Ukrainian businesses of the Kyiv Marathon of Invincibility, it was possible to collect almost 1,000,000 hryvnias for the army and charity initiatives. In particular, 50% of the registrations, i.e. 1516000 hryvnias, were transferred through the UNITED24 platform to the “Defense” direction, and 193000 hryvnias were directed to the superhumans rehabilitation center.
Movement of resistance of Special Operations Forces
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