As part of the Charity International Boxing Tournament in Kyiv, the first wheelchair fight in the history of Ukraine took place. War veterans Mykhailo Drobotenko (callsign “Sever”) and Pavlo Kushnirov (callsign “Staf”) entered the ring.
Mykhailo Drobotenko is a specialist in the unit of social and humanitarian work and national and patriotic education of the department of social and humanitarian work of the DonSUIA. In 2022, while performing a combat mission in Severodonetsk, he stepped on a mine and lost his both lower limbs.
Despite the injury, the veteran continued his sports activities: he began training, set a world record at the Arnold Schwarzenegger International Festival, and won the title of European champion in para jiu-jitsu.
The fight lasted three rounds of two minutes each and ended in a draw.
“This fight is not about rivalry, but about the strength of spirit, faith and respect. It became a symbol of courage and indomitability, demonstrating that true resilience has no limits,” said Mykhailo Drobotenko.
The DonSUIA is proud of its employee, who demonstrated an example of courage and indomitability of Ukrainian people.
