Vadym Svyrydenko, a veteran who defended Ukraine since 2014, served as a paramedic on the front lines. He suffered severe injuries after stepping on landmines, enduring four days in freezing temperatures awaiting aid. Eventually, he was discovered by pro-Russian forces and taken captive.
“I waited for help for four nights at -25 °C. I was found by reconnaissance from the separatists and ended up in captivity. They didn’t keep me long, as I was returned to our side,” Svyrydenko recounted.
He was nearly unconscious during his exchange, and doctors in Dnipro fought to save his life. However, due to severe frostbite and sepsis, his hands and feet had to be amputated.
“The psychological state was terrible when they told me. I didn’t know what to think or do. A doctor spoke to me, and I still remember her words: I have to live, I have a family, and I have a future,” Svyrydenko stated.
With support from fellow veterans, he prepared for prosthetics. While rehabilitating in the United States, he learned daily living skills and how to walk, run, and swim. In the fall of 2015, he won first place in his category at the US Marine Corps Marathon’s 10-kilometer event.
Upon returning to Ukraine, he began helping other soldiers and veterans with their recovery. One of the initiatives he supported was pétanque, a game where participants aim to throw metal balls as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
Initially, veterans trained in various parks due to the lack of a permanent venue. Svyrydenko proposed creating a pétanque complex at the VDNH, providing a space for sports and camaraderie.
According to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, 8.6 million UAH has been allocated for the development of the accessible IRON WARRIORS PETANQUE ARENA. The foundation also provided Svyrydenko with a special vehicle for transporting veterans to training and competitions.
“This is very important for us. We are given a chance to create a professional venue, and not only that, but we also received a bus. We have become veterans that are cared for,” he emphasized.
Svyrydenko stressed that maintaining physical fitness requires ongoing effort, and through his example, he aims to inspire his comrades. He remarked, “The desire to live strengthens you. I just want to walk like everyone else, swim like everyone else. Yes, it requires recovery and continuous practice. Perhaps that’s the essence of resilience, when you go out, show that you can run 10 km on prosthetics, and you are – oh, resilient! But I say, ‘I am just like you. You run, and I run with you.'”
The “Voices of the Peaceful” museum houses over 145,000 stories about the war.
