Ukrainian Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Player Expresses Concern for His Team in 'Hell' During Games in Paris
In an heart-wrenching tale, Ukraine's Paralympic Games contender Dmytro Melnyk parted ways with his platoon of 35 soldiers on the battlefront, a grueling fight against Russia in the ongoing war, ten days before the Paralympics. The 45-year-old infantry officer and volleyball player is now in Paris, hoping his men are still amongst the living.
Melnyk endured a difficult choice between the battlefield and the Paralympics, managing to convince the military authorities through relentless persuasion and some intricate maneuvers. The pain of leaving his soldiers behind is unimaginable for Melnyk, who speaks of his comrades as his second family.
Melnyk's translator broke down in tears during a press conference as he described the number of soldiers under his command, highlighting the raw agony etched deep in the hearts and minds of those trying to survive this devastating war.
Melnyk, a Paralympic veteran, suffered an accident that left him with an injured left leg when he was 18. Now, he stands with a two-inch height difference between his legs, his left foot always on tip-toes while his right rests flat on the ground. Melnyk represented Ukraine at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, finishing fifth.
The Ukrainian delegation, comprised of 141 athletes, has found it difficult to focus on their athletic pursuits amid the backdrop of the ongoing conflict. For some, competing in the Paralympics is a way of rallying support for their ailing nation, shining a light on the struggle they face at home.
Melnyk's teammate Yevhenii Korinets, who lost his left leg due to a mine explosion while serving in the war, spoke of his admiration for Melnyk's unwavering determination in joining this year's Paralympic games. Korinets courageously returned to the battlefield after suffering his injuries, even declaring that he'd do it again if given the chance.
Ukraine faced a tough opening fixture against Iran, losing the match in straight sets. Yet, the Ukrainian delegation's presence in Paris symbolizes their unbroken spirit in the face of adversity, as Melnyk delivered an impassioned message to the world: "Don't be afraid, never be afraid of anyone, especially of terrorists and murderers. The more we are afraid, the more people will die. And unfortunately, not only in Ukraine."
- Dmytro Melnyk, the Ukrainian Paralympics contender, made a tough decision to leave his platoon on the battlefront, despite the ongoing war with Russia, to participate in the Paralympics in Paris.
- The sports community, including Melnyk's teammate Yevhenii Korinets, who lost his left leg in the war, admires Melnyk's sheer determination to join this year's Paralympics despite his challenging circumstances.
- Despite the backdrop of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegation, consisting of 141 athletes, is striving to focus on their athletic pursuits, using the Paralympics as a platform to rally support for their ailing nation.
- Melnyk, a veteran Paralympian, is a symbol of perseverance and resilience, having suffered an accident at 18 that left him with a two-inch height difference between his legs and led him to represent Ukraine in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
- The Ukrainian delegation's participation in the Paralympics is not just about sports; it is also a statement of the general-news, crime-and-justice, and political challenges that the Ukrainians face in their daily lives, a testament to their unbroken spirit in the face of adversity.
