Christopher Greenwood and Roman Havryliak summited Mera Peak in Nepal, reaching an altitude of 6,476 metres. Following Russia full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both joined the defence of Ukraine and sustained severe combat injuries that resulted in the loss of a lower leg.
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 defence 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 acclimatisation ahead of the final summit push. The team faced challenging mountain terrain, up to three metres of fresh snow, massive avalanches in close proximity, low temperatures and significant physical strain at high altitude. Christopher and Roman completed the climb using prosthetic legs.
Joining Christopher and Roman throughout the expedition were Gennady Gazin, Anna Vozna and Oleksii Aleksieienko — founders of Second Wind, a community that brings together service members and veterans who 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 programmes. 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 metres. At 6,476 metres, 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.
Christopher John Park-Greenwood is originally from Yorkshire, England. A career soldier, he served in the British Army and the French Foreign Legion. Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he joined the 73rd Naval Special Operations Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2023, he sustained a severe combat injury that resulted in the loss of a lower leg.
Roman “Hava” Havryliak is from the Lviv region. Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as a UAV operator with the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade. During his service, he sustained a severe combat injury and lost his leg. After more than a year of treatment and multiple surgeries, he set himself a goal — to return to the mountains.
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.
