a veteran in a wheelchair covered the distance in memory of a friend

Andriy Solomin took part in the “Race for two”

Center UNBROKEN

Andriy Solomin, a veteran from Lutsk, lost both legs at the front and experienced clinical death.

But after a few months of rehabilitation, he took part in the “Race for Two” in memory of his fallen friend and brother, reported in Unbroken.

34-year-old Andriy first found himself at war in 2014. So when the full-scale invasion began, he immediately joined the ranks of the 100th separate brigade of TRO, where he later became the commander of a rifle company.

He served together with Mykola Myalkovsky, his close friend.

Andriy Solomin won the “Race for Two”

Center UNBROKEN

In April 2024, Andriy and his comrades had a combat task – to secure a position. But later he received information that the enemy probably surrounded them.

“I felt that something was going to happen to me. Recorded a voice message to my mother and wife. It was not the first time that I managed to record, my voice was shaking. He said that everything is fine with me and I won’t be in touch for a few days“, Andriy recalls.

An enemy drone dropped ammunition right under the feet of the company commander – it instantly detonated and damaged both of Andrii’s legs. The commander applied tourniquets himself, but did not believe that he would survive.

“The Russians were very close – on the next street. I told the guys to go without me. I felt a big pool of blood under me. I already put my hands on the turnstiles, wanted to loosen them and said in a whisper: “Mika, see you soon!”says the veteran.

He explained: “Mika” is a call sign fallen defender Mykola Myalkovskyia close friend of Andrii Solomin.

Andriy with Mykola

Photo from Andriy’s archive

In the agony of death, the man thought he heard the voice of his dead friend, who said that he should remain among the living.

The wounded man waited 9 hours for evacuation and lost a lot of blood. He came to his senses already in Dnipro, where the doctors said that Andrii was really on the verge of death.

“I was in a state of clinical death for 6 whole minutes. Somewhere, I think that “Mika” led me on that path. He always cared about someone more than himself.” – says Andriy.

The serviceman underwent rehabilitation at the Unbroken Center. At first, he did not keep his balance well, so the doctors and the patient had to make an effort to strengthen his muscles and teach Andrii to move in a wheelchair.

Andriy with the medal he won for the race

Center UNBROKEN

On September 22, Andriy Solomin took part in the “Race for Two” in Kyiv. In a wheelchair, he overcame a distance of 1 km both for himself and for his friend “Mika”. Moreover, he finished first.

“The first start with you, friend, and immediately gold! I couldn’t do it without you. And we know – it is definitely not the last. Thank you for being there!“, he said.