Soldier Oleksii, call sign D'ARTAGNAN

I am Oleksii, call sign D'ARTAGNAN.
Since childhood, I have been fond of sports and military occupation. I was actively practising kickboxing and horse riding.

In 2015, I enrolled into Odesa Military Academy, Faculty of Airborne Assault Forces and Marines. I wanted to become an officer and go to defend my country. After graduation, I chose to serve in the city of Mariupol in the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion.

In 2020, I went to the war front as a platoon commander. The positions held by my unit were in the village of Shumy near the Toretsk town. We immediately began to establish new positions, conduct reconnaissance activities and engaged with the enemy. In six months, we forced the enemy to rotate units three times due to low morale and heavy losses of personnel.

By October 2020, we had moved 500 metres closer to the enemy and the distance between us was 170 metres. Enemy snipers had been targeting us for the entire month, and we were suffering losses. We decided to go around the enemy's position from the rear and ambush them. Three of my subordinates and I went to perform a combat mission. Having crossed the contact line, we moved towards the enemy's positions. We managed to walk 3 kilometres through the territory controlled by the enemy. I managed to clear three MON-50 mines.

There were less than 70 metres left to the enemy's positions, but I stepped on a mine. When I looked at my leg, I saw that I had no foot anymore. The pain was terrible, but bearable. I applied a tourniquet, sent one of my comrades to inform the evacuation vehicle. The second comrade covered the retreat, the third pulled me out. They were all surprised that I did not even pay attention to my lost leg and continued to give instructions on what to do.

These three kilometres back to our positions were the longest in my life, but we made it.
Then I was transferred to Kyiv, and after the 9th operation I thought only one thing: "If this does not break me morally, then nothing in the world will."

Two months later, I started walking on a prosthesis. And another month later I started running, skating, cycling. I stopped paying attention to the fact that I had no leg and returned to service.

I was transferred to Odesa and now I am an instructor for the marine cadets personnel. With my own example, I show that no matter what challenges life has in store for you, you have to overcome them and move on, even without legs.

As before, I am actively involved in sports, preparing for a running marathon in London (2024 TCS London Marathon), which will take place in April 2024. During training, the liners, without which the prosthesis cannot be used, quickly wear out. I need to replace them urgently to keep up with my training schedule and get fit for the competition.

Also, due to heavy loads, the stump changed its shape, making it impossible to use the prosthesis.
I urgently need a replacement socket to get back to training and preparing for the marathon. 

TOTAL TRANSFERRED: UAH 47,629.40 

 

 

Oleksii is currently preparing to take part in the London Marathon 2024. He is running 42 km as a member of the UKRAINIAN MARINES TEAM.

Oleksii: “I am running 2024 London Marathon to support as many as possible seriously injured brothers-in-arms with amputations.

My goal is to share awareness and raise funds for seriously injured Ukrainian servicemen who have lost limbs. 

I ask all people, who care and understand what we are fighting for, to support in sharing and fundraising. 

I collect for prosthetics for a Ukrainian soldier Mykhailo Yurchuk, call sign STALKER”.

To donate:
https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/oleksii--rudenko