A private premiere of the documentary film Second Wind took place in Tel Aviv. It tells the incredible story of several Ukrainian soldiers who sustained severe injuries in the war: four of them lost limbs, and a fifth servicewoman was critically wounded. This didn't stop them, however, not only from getting back on their feet, but from conquering the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The premiere screening for invited guests was held under the auspices of the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel and with the support of Ukraine Rising Foundation. According to the film's creators, the screening in Israel holds special significance and symbolism.
"The idea for the film was inspired last summer by a young Israeli with a prosthetic leg who jogged past me on Tel Aviv beach," says Gennady Gazin, producer of the documentary.
"I set several goals for the film: to inspire thousands of war amputees, not just Ukrainians, to keep fighting and re-engage with society in a positive and life-affirming way. I also wanted to educate the Ukrainian public about the challenges and opportunities of reintegrating wounded warriors as productive members of society.
"The final objective is to counter the false narrative that Ukraine is a ruined country and Ukrainians are a ruined people, in short, a liability for the West. Through individual stories, I wanted to show a country full of vigor and potential, a country worth supporting and, ultimately, saving."
Roman "Dobryak" Kolesnyk, one of the film's heroes, explained, "When I went to war, I didn't even hope I would survive, because I joined the assault troops knowing I would fight until I died in one of the operations.
"So when I was wounded and lost my leg, I was confident I would conquer more than one mountain peak. I believed I would run again, do backflips, and compete in boxing competitions – which I am managing to do in this life with a prosthesis.
"The ascent gave me even more strength and faith in myself, proving that impossible things can be done, such as climbing one of the world's highest peaks."
The journey of amputees and a severely wounded female sniper is more than a physical feat; it is a profound act of defiance and a powerful symbol of a nation's struggle, embodying hope emerging from the ashes of war and serving as a universal testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This film aims to inspire.
Film director, Maria Kondakova, spoke about making the film. "Since 2014, I've filmed Ukrainian defenders in trenches and on Kilimanjaro, " she said. "Documenting ordinary people who became heroes, I learned that life is stronger than death. Our heroes prove that what seems impossible is possible – they refuse to let their injuries define them. By climbing one of the world's highest peaks, they show that people with severe injuries can live full lives. This ascent is a metaphor for the Ukrainian people, who despite pain continue their path toward freedom and sovereignty.
"We had no Plan B. Our heroes climbed together in only four days, which became their greatest test. Three of them are on active military service and had only a few days to complete this mission. I'd never hiked mountains before but knew I'd reach the summit to capture their reactions. At 6,000 meters, all cameras failed – I used my iPhone for the final shots. Despite physical and mental challenges, we found creative solutions. After screenings in Washington, New York, Stockholm, and Ukrainian cities, seeing standing ovations and veterans who admit this film inspired them not to give up, I know I accomplished my mission."
Kondakova went on to discuss screening this film in Israel. "Presenting Second Wind in Israel feels like arriving on holy ground where it all began. Producer Gena Gazin conceived this film after seeing a young man jogging on a prosthesis in Tel Aviv – struck by his willpower and life force. I hope this film inspires others to conquer their own peaks."
The screening was held at Rav Hen Dizengoff Tel Aviv in the presence of Mr. Gennadiy Breskalenko, Deputy Head of Mission at the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, international diplomats and other distinguished guests, among them Nathan Sharansky, who closed the screening with touching words:
“This film is very important and I think that hundreds of thousands need to see it. Here in Israel we lost 2500 citizens and soldiers in this awful war with terror. We have so many wounded and hundreds of thousands with post-trauma. In Ukraine, these numbers are much, much larger. From my experience, when you are in prison, the most important thing is to keep your inner freedom. And when you are released, the most important thing is to feel that you are the owner of your life as you were before, and it's a huge challenge for those who lost their limbs. These 5 heroes proved this is possible in the most powerful and extreme way. Seeing this will help many more to overcome their trauma."