Solutions to win: gold-winning saber from Ukrainian Olympic champion Kharlan fetches almost $250,000 for armed forces support

During a charity auction, the saber used by Olha Kharlan, a two-time Olympic champion, was sold for 10 million hryvnias. This was the same saber she used to make the winning shot in the final of the team tournament during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation, which organized the "Shablia for ShaBlia" [in Ukrainian, there is a wordplay with "shablia" meaning "saber" and the phrase "sha, blia" meaning "shut up" in a rude manner, implying that it's about time for Russian occupiers to keep quiet – ed.] auction, reported this.

"Thank you, Olha, for such a valuable artifact. This saber has already brought one victory, and its price will soon bring victories on the battlefield," the foundation noted.

They added that all proceeds from the sale of Kharlan's saber will be used to purchase automated turrets for the infantry.

Earlier, Rubryka reported that two-time Olympic champion Olha Kharlan put up for charity auction the saber with which she delivered the winning shot in the final of the team tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

It's worth mentioning that the "ShaBlia" automatic turret, one of Ukraine's earliest robotic advancements, was used in the war against Russia.

"ShaBlia" is a one-of-a-kind creation from a group of Ukrainian engineers who are part of the Brave1 cluster. It is an automated, remote-controlled system designed to fight fires by being installed on stationary objects or specialized vehicles.

It is efficient when used in trenches, dugouts, and while being transported on a pickup truck. The fighter can control the firing from a distance of 100 m using a remote control, camera, and monitor. The turret itself is capable of precise aim up to a distance of 1,200 m.

As the Ministry of Defense reported, the combat module is used for:

• conducting reconnaissance,
• identifying targets on the battlefield,
• defeating the enemy's manpower,
• combating lightly armored vehicles,
• and capturing enemy firing positions.

^{Photo: Telegram / FEDOROV}

In January 2024, Ukraine contracted remote-controlled combat modules of domestic production at the state level for the first time. Defense forces are already using these robotic turrets on the frontline.

Currently, Ukrainian defenders are in great need of them.

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It is worth mentioning that Ukrainian saber athlete Olha Kharlan earned Ukraine's first medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris by winning the "bronze" match in the individual saber fencing tournament.

Olha Kharlan is a five-time champion of the overall World Cup, the European Games (2015), and the Universiade (2011 and 2013).

The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine has honored her four times as the best athlete of the year (in 2008, 2009, 2016, and 2017). Additionally, Kharlan holds the record for Ukrainian athletes with 13 accolades for best athlete of the month.

Furthermore, earlier on, Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan displayed her personal Mattel Barbie doll at a charity auction. This unique doll is the only one of its kind in the world. The proceeds from the auction were donated to a clinic in the Volyn region to aid in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian military personnel who were affected by the war.