When ILLIA HAIDUK takes an interest in anything, he becomes a fanatic about it. He loves the feeling of adrenaline and believes that the veteran community is very important for an active life after war. During the Invictus Games, he rediscovered his interest in music and felt a sense of lightness.
About himself: I’ve always noticed that when I like something, I become fanatical about it and immerse myself fully. I start studying, reading books, and seeking out experts in the field. That’s how I once got into CrossFit—I studied everything from exercises and training to nutrition.
I have got 70% passion in my character and 30% calm. It takes a lot of effort to throw me off balance.
As for my preferences, I love pancakes and Coca-Cola. Pancakes were the first dish I learned to cook since I would constantly steal them while my mom was frying them. Eventually, she taught me how to make them. I never stuff them with anything— I just take them, roll them however I like, and eat them with whatever I want.
On Sports, Endurance, and Tactics: My whole life I’ve been taking sports seriously. I need to exhaust myself completely, drain all my energy—only then do I feel satisfied.
I chose skeleton and single-ski downhill among other winter sports. I thought, what would be practical for me in life? Skiing and biathlon are cool, but it’s impossible with one leg. Snowboarding requires a specific prosthesis. But with one ski, you just take it and go. You only need specific type of poles.
Before the war, I served in the police in the public order protection unit (TOR). Every year we had to pass the Murph test—a tough set of exercises: 1,600 meters of running, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another 1,600 meters of running. All had to be completed in 40 minutes. I always managed to make it.
Our unit also underwent medical and tactical training. We practiced everything, including blood loss management and providing first aid. Once, I found a workout routine from one of the most dangerous criminals in England—he trained like this in prison. I pushed myself to exhaustion with these exercises, sometimes to the point of dizziness, but I always convinced myself that someday it would come in handy. And it did when I was injured.
On War and Adrenaline: I transferred to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ended up in an FPV unit, the RUBAKs — a company of unmanned attack aircraft complexes, which had just been formed then. My obsession with things played a role here as well—I liked it, and it quickly started to work out for me. After two months, I became a squad commander and began going on combat missions.
When you’re flying, you realize it’s not a game—you get filled with adrenaline, lose control of yourself, and become the drone’s pilot. You become the drone. But because of this, your fine motor skills slow down, and your fingers can become stiff. There were times when, after successfully hitting a target, I’d set down the controller and feel my hands tremble slightly, and then it hits me: “Oh! This is it!” You work toward something for a long time, you put in the effort, and then it finally pays off.
On Injury and its Acceptance: I was 30 meters away from the epicenter of the explosion. There was no whistling sound, just a flash. Instinctively, I started to fall. I blacked out for a minute. When I got up to help my comrade, I couldn’t put weight on my leg—it was bent at a 90-degree angle. I realized: “This might be the end of the road.” I applied a tourniquet. Unfortunately, my comrade had been closer to the explosion…
At the hospital, I asked the doctors twice if my leg could be saved. There was no chance. But just a week later, when the pain started to subside, I tried standing and squatting on one leg. Acceptance is understanding that life goes on. The biggest support is the desire to keep moving toward your goal. I like being active, and I know that by setting an example, I can inspire or motivate others.
A bumblebee doesn’t know its body isn’t designed for flight, so it flies anyway. We also don’t know our full potential, and that’s why we keep going. If a person is not set limits upon, they can do anything. My rehabilitation therapist advised against participating in the national Invictus Games because my wound wasn’t healing. But I thought: “If I sit around, I’ll lose my life that way.” The guys motivate me a lot with their example.
Right now, in the Invictus Games, we’re rising. After the international event, it’s crucial that no one falls into apathy. It’s very important to keep seeing the goal ahead.
Translated by Green Forest English School