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.
Screenings of the Ukrainian documentary “Second Wind” took place in four Japanese cities — Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kobe — attracting more than 400 viewers. The film was presented as part of the Ukrainian Film Festival 2026, which opened in Tokyo on October 16. The documentary tells the story of five Ukrainian service members — four men who lost their lower limbs as a result of combat injuries and a woman who sustained severe injuries. Together, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), the highest peak in Africa.
Opening the festival, Yurii Lutovinov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan, emphasized that the event marked a new chapter in Ukrainian-Japanese cultural relations and represented an important step toward strengthening mutual understanding between the peoples of Ukraine and Japan.
In his remarks at the festival’s opening, Oleksandr Karasevych, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, noted that despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains a country with a rich cultural heritage, creativity, and talented artists. Ukrainian cinema offers an opportunity to see the country beyond news headlines and to connect with its emotions, dreams, and aspirations for freedom and dignity.
The opening event was attended by Maria Kondakova, the film’s director, and Gennadiy Gazin, the creator of the original concept and producer of “Second Wind.” Gazin is a Ukrainian-born American entrepreneur and philanthropist, as well as the founder of the Second Wind Charitable Foundation. He initiated the project as part of a broader, long-term effort to support the rehabilitation and recovery of Ukrainian veterans.
One of the highlights of the event was a live online conversation between the Japanese audience and two of the film’s protagonists — Olha Yehorova (“Vysota”) and Vladyslav Shatilo (“Shatya”). Among the guests was also Mykola Vasenko, a Ukrainian defender currently undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation in Japan.
The screenings in Japan marked another important milestone in the international journey of “Second Wind,” bringing the stories of Ukrainian service members to audiences around the world and raising awareness of the importance of their recovery, rehabilitation, and continued support.
