WOUNDED war heroes from Ukraine and Britain have joined forces to climb the war-ravaged nation’s highest mountain in a defiant display of their unbreakable spirit.
Amputee Chay Coulbert, 37, and Rob Chell, 53, joined ten injured Ukrainian marines as they put two fingers up to Putin by summiting the 6,762ft Mount Hoverla.
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The pair shared battle stories, helped each other up the climb and unfurled a marine flag at the top in a remarkable show of unity against Russia’s illegal war.
One veteran with an above-knee leg amputation had a flag with the face of his killed brother on.
When he couldn’t make it any further, the Brits carried it to the top and flew it in his honour.
And the pair are now helping a double-arm amputee who needs bionic prosthetic arms to overcome his injuries.
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The Sun joined the wounded Ukrainian veterans who told us how they were prepared to die fighting for their freedom.
They also spoke about the moments they thought their life was over when they got injured, and how they have bounced back to show their brothers in arms that Putin won’t stop them living a courageous life.
When we reached the top with them, we signed a rock to add to scores of others supporting the war-torn country – letting them know “The Sun was here”.
The expedition was organised by rehab charity Vsesylni and Ukraine’s 39th Marine Brigade care service Sluzhba Turboty.
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Ex Royal Marine Commando Chay, from Ashbourne, Derbys, who lost his leg to an IED fighting in Afghanistan in 2012, said of his fellow former soldiers on the trip: “We can talk to each other on a level that other people can’t.
“All the therapists that they’ll meet, unless they’ve actually been on the front line serving themselves, they won’t actually realise what it’s like to go through something like that.
Chay added: “The Ukrainian veterans are really inspiring guys.
“Our wars are, like, Iraq and Afghanistan, where we’ve gone to a foreign country, whereas here, they’re defending their homeland.
“They’re very committed. If it weren’t for the Ukrainians holding them back, the Russians would be walking straight through Europe until they’re knocking on our door.
“They’re not just fighting for their freedom, but our own too.”
Ex-combat Royal Engineer Rob, from Ashbourne, has multiple injuries in both his feet from fighting in Iraq in 2003.
He said of the Ukrainians: “They’re still taking the fight to the Russians. Outstanding determination and bravery.”
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Among those climbing was hero Oleksii, 35, who defied the odds by reaching 6,000ft with a hugely debilitating above-knee leg amputation, supported by wife Elizabeth, 29.
The corporal, who got higher than his attempted climb last year, said: “I want to show my comrades and everyone with injuries that there is a life after. You can do everything.”
In September 2023, Oleksii was in Dnipro, throwing grenades away as they hurtled towards him — but approaching enemy soldiers moved back when they saw he was injured and starting to lose consciousness. Oleksii later realised that they were waiting for evacuation teams to come and save him so they could learn about Ukraine’s tactics and possibly target medics and hospital locations.
He crawled for more than an hour and a half towards safety so the evacuation teams would not need to give away his position.
The hero joked of how he got injured: “It was boring. It’s like in a movie. I thought it would be better.”
On the trek, Oleksii struggled behind most of the group because of his injury, but Brits Chay and Rob stayed with him the whole way.
He reached just below the summit but could not go on.
Chay, who now runs mountaineering support firm Vanguard Resilience Coaching, carried up a flag bearing Oleksii’s brother’s name and picture, who died during the war four days after his 32nd birthday. Chay told The Sun: “I went to war with my own brother and I was blown up one kilometre away from where he was on the ground.
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“It could quite easily have been my brother carrying my flag. It was really meaningful for me to do that service for him in his honour.”
Oleksii added of Chay and Rob’s support: “It’s important that Royal Marines are coming with Ukrainian marines. We are going together until the end. It’s important and symbolic.”
A 31-year-old double arm amputee, given the military call sign Sour to protect his identity, was hit by mortar shelling while serving as a drone pilot near Pokrovsk in November.
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He does not have prosthetics but still made it to the top of the mountain first.
And he misses the work so much that he has been training on a drone simulator using just his feet.
Recalling how he got injured, he said: “We were hit by mortar shelling on the most dangerous crossroad.
“My arms were on my head, so all the shrapnel went in my arms. My arms were like chopped beef.
“My brother in arms applied a tourniquet, but because the area was too dangerous we continued on foot.
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“I knew my arms were going to be amputated. But I had to just survive.
“When you see this darkness after a shelling, it’s scary. You realise that you need to fight for life.”
“Russia was not ready for our spirit. They thought they could walk into Kyiv in three days. Four years later they can’t claim us.”
In April 2023, Vlad, 32, was in Kherson when a mine exploded, leaving him needing an arm amputation.
Vlad, who served in the 39th and other brigades, said: “My right hand was only one bone and the left hand was all blown off.
“I was trying to get up but I couldn’t. In front of me, I saw a guy without armour die when a small piece of shrapnel went into his heart.
“I thought my life was over, but I’ve changed my mind now. I climbed this mountain to show that I can do this, that Russia won’t stop us.”
He still has around 100 pieces of shrapnel in his legs and feet, and the two Brits are now helping him to source equipment that can help with his arm injuries.
Serghiy, 34, served as a sergeant major in the 39th brigade and had part of his left foot amputated in November 2023 after being blown up near a land mine on the left bank of the Dnipro river.
He spent a year and half healing before returning as a staff sergeant for a year, and now helps with military training.
He said: “I had half of my left foot blown up. When it happened I just thought, oh f***.
“I did everything I could to reach the evacuation point by myself. I was exhausted. My guys who were around helped me and carried me.
“A boat arrived and took me away. I was surprised that they didn’t cut the foot off totally.
“Now I am great. Mentally I don’t have too many problems.
“The trek gives people the understanding that they can do more than what people expect of us. It’s important for us to carry the memories of those we lost through this time and remind everyone around us that they had a name.
“This is somebody who gave their life for this country, and we should remember them.
“Russia had better stop. We are going to win.”
Drone pilot “Kasper”, 27, suffered two injuries in the hellish Donbas region. His first was in December 2024, and his second came in November 2025 when the location for a medal ceremony was leaked.
After rockets came, he needed his left arm below the elbow amputated.
He said of the Hoverla hike: “It is to prove to myself that I haven’t lost my power, my ability and my self confidence.”
Olga Pieskova, founder of the Odesa-based Vsesylni charity, said: “It’s also very important for the team of the 39th brigade to have this link between the marines in the UK and marines in Ukraine.
“For veterans and serving soldiers, it’s important to understand that the same guys with the same experience are supporting us.”
International relations lead Rosie Cecil added: “This has demonstrated the power of the brotherhood, and how they are a team whether they are still serving or not.
“I’ve never seen courage like that. People who’ve been wounded twice and are still getting up and trying to lead a normal life. It’s incredible.
“Their wives and girlfriends are extraordinary people. With these guys, it’s not just the physical support. It’s the mental strength and the feeling that they’re not alone.”
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