VATAHA’s annual Run for Ukraine invites its participants to share the stories of their loved ones, fallen heroes or hometowns under seige for whom they run. Below is a small selection of those heartfelt, moving stories from the 2024 edition.
Whether in many words or few, each story speaks volumes of the immeasurable loss russia’s full-scale invasion has had on Ukraine.
Join us again on Ukraine’s Independence Day, 24 August, 2025, to Run for Ukraine.
“I run for my hometown, Kharkiv, which is being tormented by daily Russian attacks, yet remains strong and resilient. I hope for the day when we can return and help rebuild the city for those who stayed and for future generations to love and call this beautiful place home.”
“Andriy was born in the small town of Myrnograd in the Donetsk region. From the beginning of the war, he went to serve under a contract. He died defending Ukraine at the age of 22, never having seen his son.”
“I miss my city, relatives, friends and coach.“
Photo by Nico Laan
“I am going to volunteer in honor of Iryna Tsybukh, a Ukrainian paramedic killed in the Kharkiv region on May 29, 2024, just a few days before her 26th birthday. I believe every defender should be honored for their bravery in the field, and volunteer paramedics equally deserve recognition for their efforts against the war and the sacrifices they make. The bravery of Iryna Tsybukh resonates with the strong spirit of young Ukrainian people, which I find both inspiring and touching.”
“I run for my brave girlfriend who migrated from Ukraine to The Netherlands.”
“Ukrainian wine photographer Arsen Fedosenko, who volunteered to defend his country and died as a hero. In 2021, Arsen and I were planning our collaboration for 2022, with the goal of supporting his project to promote Ukrainian wine production culture, but the full-scale invasion changed our plans. I would like to call him my friend, but as a friend, I should have supported him more.”
People of Culture Taken Away by the War by Christian van der Kooy
“My father was an honorable man who tragically lost his life in the war. He showed incredible bravery, saving the life of a fellow soldier before making the ultimate sacrifice. As his family, we will always remember him with love and pride, cherishing the memory of his courage and kindness forever.“
“A military man, speleologist, teacher, and local historian who died near the Olhivka settlement in the Zaporizhzhia region on June 30, 2023.“
“Senior Lieutenant Mykyta Sytnyk, a graduate of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, died while performing his military duty in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Mykyta was my dear friend and fellow student, as well as the kindest and the most generous person I knew.“
“I am running for the city of Lviv. Rockets fly over my grandparents’ house almost every day. This is the city where I spent my vacations, the city of my relatives and friends. It hurts me to see it being destroyed.” – Danylo, 12 years old
“This is my older brother. He’s a true hero to me in many ways. We lost contact with him about two and a half years ago, but despite this, there’s still hope that we haven’t lost him.“
Photos by Iryna Leonenko-Wels
“I met the war in Kherson. I saw all types of enemy equipment and lived under occupation, constantly encountering Russian soldiers, but I couldn’t do anything against them. Until one time, when I sent a classmate, who is now serving in Ukraine, the coordinates of their weapons and equipment warehouses. After that, our troops launched a successful strike on that ammunition depot. As a result, a shell landed near my grandparents’ home, but fortunately, it didn’t detonate. In the occupied territory, the occupiers commit terrible acts, such as intimidation, killing for fun, beating, and kidnapping.“
“Hola Prystan is a city on the left bank of the Dnipro, where my grandmother lived and where I spent all my summer vacations. Now this city is occupied, destroyed and flooded after the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam.“
