Two Veterans With Prosthetic Legs Conquer 6,476-Meter Himalayan Peak in Tribute to Ukraine’s Defenders

Two Ukrainian veterans, Christopher John Park-Greenwood and Roman Havryliak, who both lost their lower legs while defending their country, successfully summited Mera Peak in Nepal. The 6,476-meter high-altitude climb, the highest peak in the Himalayan region of the Nepalese Himalayas, was dedicated to the Ukrainian service members fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion and those who have lost their lives in the war.

The expedition, organized by Second Wind, a Ukrainian community supporting service members and veterans with limb loss through adaptive mountain sports, kicked off on October 1, Ukraine’s Defenders Day. The climbers faced harsh high-altitude weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, deep snow, and potential avalanches.

Both veterans, who began their mountaineering journey after their combat injuries, spent over a year preparing for the expedition through rigorous training, climbing sessions, and increasingly challenging routes in Ukraine's Carpathian Mountains. Greenwood, originally from Yorkshire, England, served in the British Army and the French Foreign Legion, while Havryliak, known as “Hava,” served as a drone operator in the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade.

Second Wind, a charitable foundation and community, provided the necessary support for the expedition, which also included Gennady Gazin, Anna Vozna, and Oleksii Aleksieienko, its founders. Ukrainian veterans are increasingly undertaking mountain-climbing challenges as part of their rehabilitation after severe combat injuries, with many climbing using prosthetic limbs.

This trend is evident in recent expeditions, such as a group ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2025, the world's highest peak, and a climb to Everest Base Camp by veterans in May 2025. The resilience and determination of these veterans highlight the role of adaptive mountaineering in aiding veterans' return to physically demanding activities.