42 kilometers with over 22 kilograms of gear: Poltava rescuer sets Ukrainian record
To complete the distance, Andrii Hrechanyi wore:
The total weight of all equipment during official weighing reached 22.7 kg.
The rescuer completed the marathon distance in 6 hours and 41 minutes. The run started at dawn to allow the participant to avoid the heat as long as possible, though he had to finish the final stretch under high temperatures.
The extreme level of physical strain was further reflected in the athlete's body weight, with Andrii Hrechanyi losing over four kilograms during the marathon.
The Poltava rescuer dedicated his record to fallen colleagues Viktor Kuzmenko and Dmytro Skryl.
Both men died on May 5, 2026, while extinguishing a fire following a double-tap Russian missile strike on the location where emergency personnel had arrived to render aid.
Reports indicated they came under a second strike by Russian forces while helping others, unable to escape themselves.
Background
Rubryka previously reported that rescuer Andrii Hrechanyi planned to attempt a new Ukrainian record on September 19–20 by completing a marathon distance in full gear. With this run, he also aimed to draw attention to fundraising for military rehabilitation.
Reports noted that Hrechanyi prepared for the marathon run during off-duty hours.
This is not the first Ukrainian record involving extreme physical endurance distances. Previously, a Ukrainian athlete swam 100 km in over 38 hours to set a national record.
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26 of September 2026
