{"id":43143,"date":"2026-01-07T16:32:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pl-ua.eu\/?p=43143"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:48:09","slug":"project-stories-5-mountains-and-a-mans-strength-from-soldier-to-rescuer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pl-ua.eu\/en\/project-stories-5-mountains-and-a-mans-strength-from-soldier-to-rescuer\/","title":{"rendered":"Project stories 5. Mountains and a Man\u2019s Strength: from Soldier to Rescuer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s explore another story from the \u201cProject stories\u201d series \u2013 a collection showcasing the people who implement projects or benefit from their results.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each story highlights individuals, places, and actions that \u2013 with the support of the Interreg NEXT Poland \u2013 Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme \u2013 bring lasting improvements to the daily lives of border region residents and enhance the experience for visiting tourists. We hope these stories will inspire new cross-border initiatives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy another inspiring story!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Danger and hardship have never frightened Oleksii. He has always led an active lifestyle: since childhood, he trained in sports clubs and went on mountain hikes. As an adult, he chose a military career and devoted 26 years to service. Yet his love for the mountains has always stayed with him. Even during his studies, Oleksii organised hikes for his classmates. And when he retired from the Armed Forces, he did what people who cannot stay still usually do \u2013<\/em> he looked for new challenges. He completed mountain guide training at the NGO \u201cAssociation of Mountain Guides \u2018ROVIN\u2019\u201d (beneficiary of two projects funded under Poland\u2013(Belarus)\u2013Ukraine Programme) and led groups across the Carpathians. Later, he learned about the formation of mountain rescue units within the project implemented by the Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oleksii became one of those who rush to help people who get lost, exhausted, frozen, or injured in the mountains. He knows the Carpathians well and understands the dangers they may conceal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Carpathians may seem like relatively safe mountains: they are not very high and appear gentle. But this impression is deceptive. Every year, hundreds of tourists find themselves in dangerous situations, and many cases end in tragic fatalities.<\/p>\n