Two amputee veterans who defended Ukraine climb Mera Peak in Nepal
For Christopher and Roman, Mera Peak became their next major mountaineering challenge after Mount Ararat. Symbolically, the ascent began on 1 October — Ukraine's Defenders Day. Christopher and Roman dedicated the climb to everyone who has stood in defense of Ukraine: those who continue to defend the country today and the memory of those who gave their lives for it.
The summit of Mera Peak was part of a multi-day expedition in Nepal. The route involved long climbing stages, gradual altitude gain, and acclimatization ahead of the final summit push. The team faced challenging mountain terrain, up to three meters of fresh snow, massive avalanches in close proximity, low temperatures, and significant physical strain at high altitude. Christopher and Roman completed the climb using leg prostheses.
Joining Christopher and Roman throughout the expedition were Hennadii Hazin, Anna Vozna, and Oleksii Aleksieienko — founders of Second Wind, a community that brings together service members and veterans who have lost a leg or use prostheses and develops adaptive mountain sports for them.
Christopher and Roman are active members of the Second Wind community and regularly take part in its training sessions and mountain programs.
Their Mera Peak climb was preceded by more than a year of intensive and systematic preparation, including climbing gym sessions and increasingly demanding mountain routes in the Carpathians.
In the summer of 2026, they climbed Mount Ararat at 5,137 meters.
At 6,476 meters, Mera Peak became the next and far more demanding high-altitude stage of their journey — proving that it is they, not their injuries, who determine who they are.
Background
For Second Wind, Mera Peak is about more than reaching a summit or setting a new record. It is a story about people who, after severe injuries, continue to set new goals, return to active lives, and keep moving forward.
Christopher and Roman dedicated their climb to the defenders of Ukraine — those who continue to defend the country today and the memory of those who gave their lives for it. It is thanks to people like them that Ukraine continues to stand and fight.
Second Wind Charitable Foundation is a Ukrainian foundation and community that brings together service members and veterans who have lost a leg or use prostheses. The foundation supports their return to active lives through adaptive mountain sports, regular training sessions, hiking, mountaineering, and the support of a strong community.
Second Wind grew out of the documentary project Second Wind, which tells the story of five Ukrainian service members who climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Today, the foundation runs regular adaptive mountain sports programs in Ukraine and organizes mountain expeditions for members of its community.
It is worth mentioning that 9-year-old Kyiv resident Evelina Sarkisian and her parents climbed all six peaks in the Ukrainian Carpathians, exceeding 2,000 meters in height. GPS tracks, photo, and video evidence confirmed the ascent.
Additionally, three veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war with lower limb amputations successfully climbed Mount Ararat in Türkiye, reaching an elevation of 5,137 meters.
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6 of October 2026
