Ukrainian war veteran with double amputation takes gold in Race for Two marathon

On September 22, a heartwarming moment occurred in Kyiv at the inaugural barrier-free marathon organized by New Post. Andrii Solomin, a 34-year-old veteran from Lutsk who lost both legs in combat, claimed the gold in the Race for Two.

UNBROKEN Ukraine reported that on Facebook.

According to reports, this victory was symbolic because Andrii not only achieved it for himself but also in memory of his close friend and fallen comrade, Mykola Mialkovsky, also known by the callsign "Myka."

In 2014, a 34-year-old soldier from Lutsk experienced war for the first time. On the day that Russia's full-scale invasion began, he went to the military office and enlisted in the 100th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. He eventually rose through the ranks to become the commander of a company in the brigade.

Andrii was wounded in the Donetsk region in April this year.

"I felt that something was going to happen to me. I recorded a voice message to my mother and wife. It wasn't the first time I managed to record it; my voice was shaking. I said that everything was fine with me, and I won't be in touch for a few days," Solomin shares his memories.

An enemy drone dropped a munition right at his feet. That day, he said goodbye to life, waiting for death.

"The Russians were very close – on a nearby street. I told the guys to leave without me. I felt a big pool of blood under me. I already put my hands on the turnstiles, wanted to loosen them, and whispered: Myka, see you soon!" the soldier recalls.

But after 9 hours of intense struggle and experiencing clinical death, the man managed to survive. He only regained consciousness once he was in Dnipro, where he learned that he had indeed come close to losing his life.

"I woke up without legs. I learned from the doctors that if I had lost another 100 ml of blood, I would not have survived. And also that I was in a state of clinical death for six whole minutes. Somewhere, I think Myka was leading me on that path. He always cared about someone more than himself," Andrii says.

Following the injury, the veteran received rehabilitation treatment at UNBROKEN Center in Lviv, focusing on regaining balance and muscle strength.

According to Vsevolod Drebot, the physical therapist, the patient initially used an electric chair to move around. Still, after rehabilitation, he has gained muscle mass and can now use an active wheelchair.

"The patient could not keep his balance well, so he moved with the help of an electric wheelchair. We worked on improving the coordination of movements and strengthening the muscles. We learned to transfer to surfaces of different heights and move on the buttocks, including stairs. Now, Andrii has gained muscle mass and uses an active wheelchair. On it, the patient overcomes any distance," Drebot says.

In the Race for Two, Solomin covered 1 km distance in his wheelchair and finished first.

^{Photo: Facebook / UNBROKEN Ukraine}

"The first start with you, my friend, and immediately gold! I couldn't have done it without you. And we know it's definitely not the last," Andrii said after the victory.

A noteworthy event occurred this past weekend, as Ukrainian postal and delivery company Nova Poshta and New Run collaborated to host the first completely barrier-free marathon. Over 5,000 runners from 40 different countries participated in this event to promote inclusivity in running. A special "Race for Two" was also organized to support wounded soldiers.

"Today, I could cover the distance without asking others for help to carry the chair over the curb or go around potholes and look for a way to continue. It is very nice to cover the distance knowing that I can do it myself because it is available to all people," Andrii shared. "Noticeable changes that Nova Poshta has implemented on the territory of the Expocenter of Ukraine (VDNH). And it's great that this space will remain available after the marathon."