Wounded Ukrainian veteran becomes a rowing champion

Oleksandr Andriienko, a Ukrainian hero who has lost his leg when defending his country, becomes World’s silver champion in indoor rowing. Sunflower Scotland is proud to have supported Oleksandr, by providing a rowing machine from Scotland, and by donating him a professional sports wheelchair.

Scottish machines for wounded veterans

In April 2024, Sunflower’s chairman Oleg Dmitriev brought a SportPlus rowing machine from Scotland to Oleksandr’s hometown of Shakhtarske. This rower, together with seven other gym machines, were donated to a local charity for all wounded veterans who badly needed rehabilitation.

Shakhtarske is a small town on the eastern border of the Dnipropetrovsk region, bordering Donbas. When Russia started its brutal invasion in 2022, many men from this mining town volunteered to protect their land. Unfortunately, a great number of them paid the ultimate price, and many suffered wounds and now need rehabilitation.

Since we knew the situation, we delivered a donation of eight gym machines. Thanks to this support from Scotland, Ukrainian veterans recovering from war wounds were able to receive physiotherapy. Most importantly, they could improve their mental health. Being together with like-minded veterans in a friendly atmosphere made all the difference.

Before the war, Oleksandr was a local policeman. He has a wife and a young daughter in Shakhtarske. Unfortunately, he suffered a terrible wound, and as a result his right leg was amputated.

But he didn’t give up. Despite the pain, he exercised daily, and he especially likes the rowing machine.

After months of training, Oleksandr was accepted in the Ukraine’s Paralympic team. In February 2025 they flew to Vancouver, Canada, for the world’s top competition: Invictus Games.

On 16th February 2025, Oleksandr won the World’s silver medal in Indoor Rowing, Men’s IR7 Four Minute Endurance Competition.

Sport wheelchair

After hearing about Oleksandr’s victory, we were truly happy for him. He asked us if we could find an inexpensive used sports wheelchair for him. He started playing Paralympic basketball, and he had to borrow someone else’s wheelchair. This was very inconvenient and was holding him back.

We wanted to support Oleksandr. His whole life after the amputation was a vivid example of hope and an inspiration for us all. He was showing that losing a limb was not the end.

The truth is, professional basketball wheelchairs cost a lot. The starting prices ranged from £1000 – £2,500.

Luckily, we found a pre-loved professional wheelchair sold by RGK, a British manufacturer for £950 plus VAT. They said that they used to sponsor a basketball team, but now the wheelchairs were renewed and could be bought at a reduced price. We bought one, and took it with our next convoy to the Ukraine frontline.

We met with Oleksandr at a petrol station near Dnipro, on the 21st March. The Paralympian, together with his friends from Shakhtarske, were going to a sports competition in West Ukraine. Sunflower’s team was going the other way: to the Eastern frontline.

We spent half an hour drinking coffee and chatting. Oleksandr tested the wheelchair, and was really happy with it. He gave Oleg a photograph of the Ukrainian Paralympic team, which he signed.

Before saying goodbye, Oleksandr asked Oleg, if he could find a small automatic car for him. He was gong to re-join the army, and continue defending Ukraine. The injury, the pain, has not stopped him. He said that he saw what would the Russian forces do to everyone if they weren’t deterred.

Finally, Oleksandr shared with Oleg his experience: that through sport he was able to pull himself out of pain and misery.

Finally, it was time to go. A very busy summer was ahead for all of us. Oleksandr would re-join “Lyut”: a Ukrainian special forces regiment. Oleg and the Sunflower team would work harder than ever. They would totally switch to helping doctors to save lives, and helping rehabilitation centres to bring people back to normal life.