Mountains are places of power. They are places that give you hope and a great goal to strive for, step by step, even when the path is made difficult by injuries and amputated limbs.
Friends, we have selected three films from 2025 that tell the stories of Ukrainian soldiers and veterans with amputations or severe injuries who did not lose heart but continued to move forward, explore the world and climb mountain peaks.
We would like to remind you that at the Kuluar Club, we organise free therapeutic hikes for our veterans. In 2025, we organised two such hikes: “The Power of Mountains” and “The Power of Water”.
Below are three films, listed in chronological order, and a brief description of each. Each of these films is worth watching. They are in different genres and styles, about different experiences and challenges, but all of them are about the incredible power of the human spirit.
The film "Limitless" tells the story of how veterans of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine of the Ministry of Defence, Oleksandr and Ivan, went on a trek to Everest base camp in May 2025. Everest, the highest peak in the world, naturally attracts everyone. The goal was to reach base camp and feel the vibe, the atmosphere that prevails among climbers ascending to the summit.
Ivan is a veteran of the ARTAN special forces, who did not give up after having his foot amputated, but found the strength to start a new chapter in his life. Oleksandr is a former scout in the KRAKEN unit and vice-world champion in para-jiu-jitsu, who also lost a limb but did not break down.
What makes this project unique is that Oleksandr has experience with high amputation. The prosthesis he uses is almost waist-high, without a knee. Moving around with such a prosthesis on the difficult terrain of the Himalayan trails is much more difficult. It took Oleksandr a lot of effort, both physical and mental.
The organisation and logistics of this project were handled by the Kuluar club team. The group was accompanied by:
The story, told without embellishment, shows the difficulties Ivan and Sasha encountered on their way to Everest. The story is told by Roman Bebekh in blog format.
This track was organised by a public organisation. Limitless Ukraine. The trek to Everest Base Camp is just one of their many charitable projects; there are other initiatives in which the organisers and veterans push the boundaries of what is possible..
The next film, ironically titled Where Are You Going, questions the adequacy of its characters. Stepan has undergone more than 30 operations, has had his arm amputated, and uses a bionic prosthesis. Having never been to the mountains, he accepts the challenge of climbing to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Stepan is accompanied by Tetiana Yalovchak, who, in cooperation with the 3rd Assault Brigade, became the inspiration behind this project. The participants climbed in difficult conditions, with rain and obstacles along the way. The altitude was not easy for Stepan, who suffered from altitude sickness.
Tetiana acted as both the host of this vlog and the main guide on the veteran's journey to the summit. Day after day, she introduces Stepan to the peculiarities of mountain climbing, while he shares his own stories from the war and rehabilitation.
What other surprises awaited the climbers along the way and how did the climb end? Watch the film on the Dvizh channel to find out.
This climb was also organised by the Kuluar Club together with local partners. So, if Stepan's story has inspired you and you dream of climbing Kilimanjaro, — please contact us.
The third project is Kilimanjaro again. And this is not surprising, because Kili is one of the most accessible and beautiful trekking peaks in the world. This time, it called upon four Ukrainian heroes and veterans who had undergone leg amputations, and Olga, a heroine and veteran who had been seriously wounded twice in combat.
Unlike the previous ones, this film is not a vlog, but a feature-length documentary by renowned director Maria Kondakova and a large creative team. However, the film focuses exclusively on the characters and their journey to the African summit..
The film tells the story of each person's injuries: what led to amputations, what obstacles and difficulties they faced, what they experienced and went through, and what a truly difficult ordeal this climb was for them.
Spoiler alert: the heroes themselves shared that climbing to the summit of Kilimanjaro was one of the most emotional and enjoyable events of their lives.
This film is currently unavailable online, but it will be released in cinemas on 9 October. More than half of the ticket price will be donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, so we recommend combining the enjoyment of beautiful cinematography and interesting stories with helping the Ukrainian army.
The film "Second Wind" was shot with the support of a charitable foundation. Second Wind, which was established during preparations for filming. The fund's main mission is to create a community of veterans, the Second Wind Club, which will bring them together through sport, hiking and other activities to inspire veterans and military personnel with prosthetic limbs or amputations to lead full and active lives.
