It all began with an idea from Gennady Gazin — to climb Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, with friends.
An American of Ukrainian heritage, founder of the charitable foundation If Not Now, When and a devoted friend of Ukraine, Gennady wanted this climb to be more than just a journey.
While walking through Tel Aviv, he saw a jogging soldier with leg prostheses. The image struck him so deeply that a new vision was born: to take Ukrainian veterans with amputations to Kilimanjaro. Not only to reach the summit, but to share their story and show the world that life after serious injuries doesn’t end — on the contrary, with proper support and motivation it can reach new heights.
Gennady shared the idea with his friend Anna Vozna, a volunteer with experience in high-altitude expeditions. She immediately agreed to co-organize the project.
In August 2024, the production company Paganel Studio joined the initiative, taking on the logistics of the expedition. They brought in an experienced guide, Borys Shulman, with unique experience working with veterans in the mountains.
The hardest part was finding the heroes. We spoke with pr centers, veteran organizations, and military units, discovering how challenging the path back to recovery after injury can be. We became convinced that rather than a short form video, this subject required a full-length documentary about strength, courage, and the impossible made possible.
Our heroes are five remarkable Ukrainian defenders:
• Olha Yehorova “Vysota” – sniper platoon soldier
• Mykhailo Matviiv “Hrizli” – senior sergeant, Omega special forces
• Roman Kolesnyk “Dobriak” – soldier, Third Assault Brigade
• Vladyslav Shatylo “Shatia” – rifleman and machine-gunner, Azov special forces
• Oleksandr Mikhov “Ragnar” – major, combat group commander, Omega special forces.
The creative team soon came together as well.
TV host and civic leader Oleksandr Pedan joined as co-producer.
Renowned cinematographer and an active service member Serhii Mykhalchuk became the film’s director of photography.
Franco-Ukrainian filmmaker Maria Kodakova took on directing.
Producer Oleksii Makukhin of I Am Ukrainian became co-producer, and Oleksandr Znakharchuk joined as second cinematographer and a drone operator..
In October, preparations and training began in the Carpathian mountains. Oleksii Alekseienko, head of FRAM Equipment came on board to handle gear logistics and serve as a second guide. Special equipment was custom-designed for our participants, while several Ukrainian companies supplied gear, energy bars, and even freeze-dried meals.
Financial and organizational support came from the If Not Now, Then When foundation founded by Gennady Gazin and led by Anna Furman.
By November we held our first filming sessions and training in the Carpathians, where we assessed the preparedness of our team and their motivation.
Time flew. Kilimanjaro felt closer every day. We consulted with rehabilitation specialists and prosthetics centers to ensure our heroes’ safety, planned every detail of the route, and always kept a backup plan.
We also began to feel that this project was becoming something much greater than a film—a story of new beginnings.
This led to the creations of charitable foundation Second Wind UA, founded by Gennady Gazin, Anna Vozna, Oleksandr Pedan, and Oleksii Alekseienko.
The foundation’s mission is to build a community of veterans and service members with prostheses – Second Wind Club – where, through sports, mountain and nature hikes, rafting, climbing, and other activities, they can regain confidence, overcome physical and psychological barriers, and reach new summits.
We are grateful to our friends and partners who support us financially, including business leaders and the If Not Now, Then When foundation, whose help made this journey possible.
This is only the beginning—and we know many more summits lie ahead.
