On Sunday, January 22, when Ukraine celebrates the Day of Sobornosty, 60-year-old athlete and popularizer of winter swimming Ivan Papushenko swam in the stormy Black Sea.

The video of the swim was published by British military commentator David Kim.

In the published footage, the man from Odessa holds the flags of Ukraine and the USA above his head.

In addition, he took the flag of his native city to the event, as well as the flag of Great Britain.

#Ukraine #UkraineRussianWar #USA

In Odessa, a man arranged a swim with Ukrainian and American flags in honor of the Day of the Unification of Ukraine.

pic.twitter.com/wuTVZ29gke

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 22, 2023

"I chose these flags because Odesa is a Ukrainian city. And we all want to live in Ukrainian Odessa. And the flag of Great Britain is in honor of Jackie Cobell, a swimmer from this country, who supported our country at the beginning of the war. She also organized a swim in honor of of Ukraine in England, where more than 100,000 pounds were collected to help refugees," Ivan Papushenko said in a comment to the local publication novyny.live.

The athlete emphasizes that he understands how important it is now to support his country and glorify it to the whole world.

During its swim, the Odessa "walrus" was able to overcome 20 meters of stormy sea waves. 

We will remind you that on January 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the citizens on the Day of Unity of Ukraine.

Read also:

• Ukraine news

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• News of Ukraine: video