“I wanted to be part of international missions and protect my country's national interests. Every day of service was meaningful.”— Yevhenii Malik
A proud native of Poltava, Yevhenii served with honour as a commander in the 36th Marine Brigade, taking part in numerous high-stakes missions and putting the defence of Ukraine's sovereignty ahead of everything else. To the marines who fought beside him, he was an inspiration.
During the relentless siege of Mariupol, after more than a month of grinding combat in a city that was surrounded with no way out, Yevhenii was captured. He was held in Russian captivity for years, subjected to torture and physical and psychological abuse. His spirit remained unbroken — he found the strength to survive and to hold on to hope.
Struggling with PTSD and the constant nightmare of captivity, Yevhenii found strength in rehabilitation. With dedicated care at a Kyiv clinic, his physical and mental healing began — and sport has been a crucial part of his recovery.
