Is there always a reward at the end of a journey? At Run for Ukraine’s 2025 edition on Sunday, 24 August – Ukrainian’s 34th Independence Day – there certainly was. Each participant of VATAHA’s memorial run received a medal designed by Ukrainian artist Maria Petrochko at the finish line.
The medal’s design and its evolution over the three consecutive years of VATAHA’s Run for Ukraine tradition are striking in comparison. For the past two years, the designs have been created by Maria, whose artistic vision bridges continuity and change. Both of her medals share the Ukrainian blue-and-yellow ribbon palette and feature verses by poet Lina Kostenko, engraved on the medals and ribbons themselves. “I see that people respond to the use of poetry,” Maria told us.
Last year’s medal emphasized bold minimalism and national symbolism with its U-shape in the colors of the flag. The message behind this year’s medal is quite different from last year’s, even though it is the second time that poetry lines are engraved on it. Last year’s poem read:
“And everything in life we must endure
For every finish line becomes a start,
The future’s path we cannot see or chart
And tears for days gone by should not restart”
This year’s edition, however, stands apart. Drawing inspiration from Kostenko’s poem Wings from 1958, Maria sought to capture the shifting realities Ukraine is facing today. Her poem embodies the beauty of emotions, how they inspire people to achieve more, and how far one can go when the right spirit is present.
Wings
Indeed, the winged don’t need the ground.
When earth is gone, the sky is found.
No field to run? Then freedom flows.
No soul to match? The sky bestows.
That seems the truth of birds in flight…
But what of humans? What’s their right?
They walk the earth, too bound to fly…
Yet wings are theirs to touch the sky!
Not feathers craft these wings of grace,
But truth, and trust, and virtue’s trace.
Some wings are shaped by love held fast.
Some by a dream too wide, too vast.
Some rise through honest, humble strife.
Some through the care they give in life.
Some take their flight through hope or song,
Or dreams where soul and verse belong.
They walk the earth, too bound to fly…
Yet wings are theirs to touch the sky!
Translated by: Dmytro Muratov
At the heart of the medal’s design, bird wings capture the freedom, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people. Wings represent not only the beauty of flight but also serve as a metaphor for inspiration and confidence in one’s own spirit. This symbol illustrates how, despite a multitude of challenges, people can continue to find strength, connect with one another and create. According to the designer, it also reflects how the Ukrainian people continue with their lives despite the circumstances.
“They walk the earth, too bound to fly…
Yet wings are theirs to touch the sky.”
The choice of this poem also highlights how beautiful and timeless modern Ukrainian poetry can be, both in different contexts and across nations. Lina Kostenko, a true icon of modern Ukrainian literature, continues to thrive well into her 90s.
Equally important is the origin of the medals. This time, they were manufactured in Zaporizhzhia: an area where peaceful daily life has been severely disrupted. Despite heavy attacks and frequent interruptions, the medals were successfully transported to the Netherlands and found their way to their owners: with each medal holding a tiny part of steel from Azovstal.
According to Maria, this adds yet another layer of meaning to the medal’s message: despite all challenges, it is always possible to remain true to one’s values and morality. The medal was created not only to coincide with Run for Ukraine but also to carry a deeper artistic and cultural significance.
For our little participants, the VATAHA team prepared a special treat: chocolate medals that could be enjoyed right after the run, adding an extra touch of fun and celebration to their achievement.
Run for Ukraine stands as a strong example of the power of uniting through a shared spirit and belief, regardless of origin or background. VATAHA hopes that every runner saw the medal not just as a personal reward, but as a symbol of resilience, solidarity and the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine, and that they felt as a part of the wider community on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
