Ivan Roman, soldato che ha perso un braccio, una gamba e parte della vista, ora gareggia come arciere

Ivan Roman, a veteran of the 79th Air Assault Brigade from Mykolaiv region, lost an arm, a leg, and part of his vision on the front line. Over a year and a half ago, an FPV drone struck him during a combat mission. Since then, Ivan has undergone 17 surgeries. 

Despite his injuries, Ivan has taken up archery and dreams of competing in the Paralympics. Coaches describe him as a unique athlete. He shared his story of military service, recovery, and passion for sports with journalists.

From Welder to Soldier

Ivan trained as a gas-electric welder. In 2014, he was called to service.

He served in the repair company, evacuating damaged equipment and occasionally working close to the front lines.

“One morning we entered a village after shelling. People ran to tell us a five-year-old child was killed. We were in the same conditions and couldn’t help. Specialized teams were needed,” he said.

Full-Scale War

Ivan recalls that signs of Russia’s full-scale invasion appeared a week before February 24, 2022.

“We kept hearing explosions. They said it was training, but we knew something was coming. On the 24th, the offensive started, and the pressure on our guys on the front was intense,” he said.

In the early days of the invasion, Ivan evacuated damaged vehicles, including fuel trucks. He served near Lysychansk, Bakhmut, and later Lyman, nearly capturing Russian equipment.

The Day He Lost His Limbs

On January 21, 2024, while evacuating comrades, an FPV drone exploded near his vehicle. Another drone struck the windshield as he prepared to leave.

“I didn’t realize what happened. I jumped from the car, and my arm… was gone. Adrenaline hit, so I didn’t feel pain. On the ground, I realized I had lost my arm, badly damaged my leg, and my vision was impaired,” Ivan recounted.

Fellow soldiers provided first aid, and another soldier evacuated him despite the danger. 

Discovering Sports

After surgeries, Ivan was sent to Ivano-Frankivsk and then to the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv. In mid-2024, he discovered archery through a masterclass by Olympic medalist Kateryna Dubrovina.

In February 2025, Ivan competed for the first time, narrowly losing in duels. He now aims for the Paralympic team, with his wife Larysa as his main support.

07

Proof that Ruzzia cannot hope to win.
Героям слава!

Amazing person. I’m not half the man he is and I have all my limbs.