A team of Ukrainian war veterans, including combat amputees who lost limbs fighting against Russian forces, recently competed in the demanding HYROX fitness competition in Valencia, Spain. Participating in the event's disabled category, the former soldiers took on the grueling endurance challenge to support their physical and mental rehabilitation while raising global awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by wounded servicemen.
Among the participants was 30-year-old Dmytro Bykhovchenko, who lost both legs three years ago in a trench during the Battle of Avdiivka when a Russian drone dropped an explosive on his position. Prolonged heavy fighting in the area delayed his medical evacuation for several hours. Since his injuries, Bykhovchenko has adapted by becoming a meticulous planner who carefully maps out travel routes, vehicle access, ramps, and handrails ahead of time. In Valencia, he executed his most ambitious goal yet by navigating the course in his wheelchair and lowering himself to the floor for ground workouts.
“Sport just makes my days easier,” Bykhovchenko explained regarding how athletics supports his psychological health. “Mentally and morally, it really helps relieve my head, not to think about the bad things and generally look at life more positively.”
For Bykhovchenko and his teammates, some of whom have suffered multiple amputations, completing the competition marked a major milestone in their ongoing recovery. It also served as a symbol of resilience for Ukraine, where full-scale conflict has persisted for more than four and a half years. Team member and endurance athlete Oleh Tserkovnyy, who transitioned from active military duty to guiding veterans through serious injuries, actively shouted words of encouragement over Bykhovchenko throughout the physical circuits. “It means a lot to be here and show the world what a veteran of the Russia-Ukraine war is,” Tserkovnyy said. “We want our actions to inspire the world.”
The HYROX competition format pairs eight 1-kilometer runs with eight demanding functional workouts, including sandbag lunges, weighted carries, rowing, and sled pushes. Several team members were relatively new to athletic training and relied on volunteer trainers who spent hours preparing them for the physical demands of the event. Kyiv-based fitness trainer Yasia Shandrii worked with Bykhovchenko in the buildup to the competition. “The guys have quite a variety of amputations – double lower-limb amputations, single-leg amputations, high arm amputations, and below-the-knee amputations,” Shandrii noted.
Bykhovchenko's training partner, Oleksandr Dashko, who lost his left leg to a combat injury, emphasized that intensive athletic training offers a crucial respite from the relentless reality of war. “Every meeting with your friends is about the war. The news on Instagram is about the war. The war is everywhere,” Dashko said. “When I’m doing sports, when you work hard, not just during training but for several hours afterward, you forget about the war.”
For Bykhovchenko and his teammates, including veterans with multiple amputations, finishing the event marked a milestone in their recovery. It also carried a broader message about a country still fighting after more than 4 1/2 years of war.
