The Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Greece with visible scars of war – one with a head scar, another with both legs amputated above the knee, and some with invisible mental wounds from a three-year conflict that has devastated their homeland.
According to reuters.com, 22 men traveled over 1,000 km (620 miles) from Lviv, Ukraine, to a monastery perched on a cliff on the mountainous Athos peninsula in northern Greece, seeking solace from the memories of the battlefield.
During their four-day visit, part of a psychological support program organized by Ukrainian authorities, the soldiers embarked on a pilgrimage to several monasteries on Mount Athos, a spiritual hub since the 10th century.
“Many servicemen are grappling with the aftermath of the events of the past three years. They suffer from various ailments – physical injuries, and we are committed to their rehabilitation,” stated Father Mykhailo Pasirskyi, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest who accompanied the group.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 triggered the deadliest conflict on European soil in over 70 years. By August 2024, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine had recorded nearly 12,000 civilian fatalities and over 24,000 casualties. Russia denies targeting civilians.
As per reuters.com, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported in December 2024 that 43,000 Ukrainian service members had died, with 370,000 wounded. He also mentioned that Russia had suffered almost 200,000 military losses. Moscow has not disclosed its casualties but refuted the estimates as exaggerated.
Ivan Kovalyk was injured in September 2023 on the front line when a shell exploded as he was retrieving supplies for fellow soldiers. As a result, the 22-year-old lost both legs below the knee and now relies on prosthetic limbs for mobility.
Despite his injuries, Kovalyk was determined and, with assistance from comrades, navigated the narrow passages and cobblestone paths of the Athos monasteries. He remained optimistic about his condition and credited the visit to Athos for helping him cope with stress.
Athos has served as a spiritual haven for the Orthodox Church since Byzantine times and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988. The tradition of only allowing men to visit continues to this day, as highlighted in the reuters.com report.
The soldiers, driving through the winding lanes of the peninsula, ascended the tree-lined mountains overlooking the Aegean Sea to reach the cliffside monasteries. They participated in communion, prayer sessions, and reflected on their experiences while enjoying the serene surroundings.
“Our five-day stay on Athos has proven to be more beneficial than a year of rehabilitation in Ukraine’s medical facilities. The spiritual experience and serenity here are truly remarkable,” expressed Orest Kavetskyi, a Lviv regional official involved in organizing the trip.
“Visiting Athos, I felt the grace and blessing of God, witnessing the grandeur of this place,” he added.
Ukrainian soldiers with marks of war from a three-year conflict that has ravaged their homeland arrived at a monastery built on a cliff on the mountainous Athos peninsula in northern Greece, where they hoped to escape haunting memories of the battlefield https://t.co/P5ieXhYWTC
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 3, 2025