Ukraine's champion alpinist conquers Everest for the fifth time
Photo: facebook.com/u24.gov.ua
Ukrainian climber Valentyn Sypavin climbed the highest peak in the world, Everest, for the fifth time with the Ukrainian flag.
Rubryka reports, referring to the United24 fundraising platform, that the athlete dedicated his ascent to Ukrainians. The flag he brought to Everest will be raffled off among the donors of the United24 platform.
What is the problem?
Russian aggression brought tremendous destruction to Ukraine. United24 is a fundraising platform that gathers donations for reconstruction and defense. Anyone from any country can donate money and receive a report on how funds are used.
The money goes to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine linked to the ministries. You can donate to one of three areas: the army and demining, humanitarian and medical aid, or the reconstruction of Ukraine. The National Bank reports once a day, and the ministries report on the distribution and use of the money once a week.
Football player Andrii Shevchenko, tennis player Elina Svitolina, filmmaker Liev Schreiber, singer Barbra Streisand, Imagine Dragons, creative director of Balenciaga Demna Gvasalia, actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, and others have already become ambassadors of the platform.
What is the solution?
The flag, which Valentyn Sipavin unfurled at the top of Everest, will be raffled off among the donors of the UNITED24 platform.
"We dedicated this ascent to all Ukrainians and donors, partners, and ambassadors of United24. We once again want to show that nothing is impossible for those with a common goal and strength of spirit," the statement reads.
How does it work?
Sypavin said it was the most challenging ascent of Everest. Despite the abnormal cold and a large amount of snow, the Ukrainian flag flew at a height of 8848.86 meters.
Valentyn Sipavin conquered Everest four times before: in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Valentyn Sypavin is a multiple champion and prize-winner of the Ukrainian mountaineering championships. Since 2001, he has conquered Everest, Elbrus, Kazbek, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and other peaks.
In May 2021, Valentyn Sypavin conquered the planet's highest peak for the fourth time and set a record for Ukraine.
Valentyn is from Kharkiv, the war-torn city in Ukraine's east that has been under constant Russian attacks since Russian started its invasion in February 2022. The city has been devastated by destruction: Mayor Ihor Terekhov said more than 6,500 houses were damaged, and 500 multi-story residential buildings were so severely wrecked they cannot be restored.
Recently, United24 has new ambassadors: philosopher Fukuyama, actress Sahno, and three Nobel laureates. They support new fundraiser direction of education and science.
Rubryka also reported that American actor Mark Hamill is raffling off a Ukrainian national embroidered shirt to raise funds to reconstruct a Ukrainian school.
