Two Injured Ukrainian Soldiers Running London Marathon For Their War-Torn Homeland—-Two injured Ukrainian marines are taking on the TCS London Marathon for their war-torn homeland — and will return to active duty afterwards.
Heorhii ‘Gosha’ Roshka and Oleksii Rudenko have refused to be sidelined after losing limbs in the fight against Russian military aggression since 2014.
The 42km run in London will be the servicemen’s first marathon, with Mr Rudenko telling the PA news agency: “We are very eager to start. We’re ready and we’re not afraid.”
“I want as many people as possible to see that Ukrainians can beat the marathon even without limbs and that we are unbreakable and unstoppable,” he added.
Mr Roshka joined the Ukrainian army in 2017 after Russia occupied Crimea.
In May 2022, he took up a combat position in the Azovstal steel plant, the heart of a pocket of resistance in the then-besieged city of Mariupol, which is now under Russian occupation.
After being hit by a mine, he retreated to a bunker in the steel plant where his arm was amputated.
Less than two weeks later he was forced to surrender and was taken captive along with his comrades.
Mr Roshka said he is “still very emotional” about the atmosphere inside the steel plant.
“People were in a very bad situation so we were just waiting there for the final moment of our life because no-one thought there was going to be survival,” he said.
“Some people decided it was going to be maybe easier to shoot themselves because it was a desperate situation.”
Mr Roshka was held captive with his fellow Ukrainian soldiers in a hospital in Donetsk for a month-and-a-half before he was eventually freed as part of a prisoner swap.
He said: “I lost a lot of blood so I didn’t really care at the moment we were taken captive. I felt really, really bad and I didn’t really care what happened next.
“During captivity itself, it was really hard. We were humiliated both physically and mentally. We were hit and verbally abused.
“When the arm was amputated in Azovstal the conditions were really bad and I couldn’t properly treat it there and in captivity I didn’t get good healthcare so the arm started to rot.”
Mr Roshka was initially suspicious when placed on a bus driving to Ukraine but when he realised he was being freed, he felt “happiness”.
“We started to have faith and then once we saw the Ukrainian flag, almost everyone started crying and we were really happy,” he said.
Mr Roshka went through “a hard path of recovery, prosthetics, and rehabilitation” in Ukraine before returning to military service.
On running the London Marathon, he said: “This is not only a test of my character, but also an opportunity for me to support my fellow brothers who were seriously wounded.”
Mr Rudenko, who had to leave the interview early after air raid sirens rang out in Odesa, joined the Ukrainian army in 2020 and held a position in Donetsk for six months before stepping on a mine during a combat mission and losing his leg.
“We were walking through a forest and we de-mined three mines but the fourth mine was hidden under the ground. It wasn’t visible so I stood on it,” he told PA.
“Then after the explosion I saw that my leg was gone so I quickly applied a tourniquet and we decided to fall back.”
Mr Rudenko, now an army instructor, continued: “I was taken to Kyiv first and underwent nine operations and when I spoke to the doctor I asked them if I could run after the amputation.
“The doctor said that in order to run, I would need a sports prosthetic so to do that they needed to cut the upper leg so this is why I had another operation to cut the leg even more.”
After undergoing nine operations, it took Mr Rudenko five months to fully adapt to his prosthetic leg.
He said: “The first couple of weeks you have to walk 12 minutes a day on prosthetics but I didn’t care and I walked two or three hours. You really need to move. If you move a lot, it’s easier to adapt.”
The servicemen are raising money for two injured Ukrainian soldiers through the Citizen Charity Foundation.
Mr Rudenko concluded: “I am running 2024 London Marathon to support as many seriously injured fellow brothers with amputations as possible.
“My goal is to spread awareness and raise funds for seriously injured Ukrainian servicemen who have lost limbs.”
Romelu Lukaku Joins Fenerbahçe from Napoli in €6m Transfer—-The Belgian striker has completed his move to Turkey after Napoli agreed to sell him to Fenerbahçe for a reported €6 million plus bonuses, bringing his two-year spell in Italy to an end.
Romelu Lukaku has completed his transfer from Napoli to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, ending his time in Serie A after the two clubs reached an agreement for the Belgian striker.
The 33-year-old has joined the Istanbul club in a permanent transfer, with Italian media reporting that Fenerbahçe will pay around €6 million, with additional performance-related bonuses potentially increasing the value of the deal. Neither club formally disclosed the financial details of the transfer.
Lukaku’s departure brings an end to a two-year spell with Napoli, where he played an important role in the club’s domestic success. The Belgian joined the Italian side from Chelsea in 2024 and went on to help Napoli secure the Serie A title during the 2024–25 campaign.
His time in Naples was ultimately disrupted by fitness problems during his final season. Lukaku made only seven appearances during the injury-affected campaign, limiting his opportunities before the decision was eventually taken to move him on.
Despite those difficulties, Lukaku leaves Napoli with a league title on his résumé and a reputation as one of Europe’s most experienced centre-forwards. His physical presence, finishing ability and extensive experience at the highest level made him an attractive target for Fenerbahçe as the Turkish club looked to strengthen its attack.
The move also represents a return to Turkey for Lukaku, who has a personal connection to the country. His father, former professional footballer Roger Lukaku, played for Gençlerbirliği in Ankara, meaning the Belgian spent part of his childhood in Turkey. Lukaku described his return as an emotional moment as he begins a new chapter with Fenerbahçe.
Fenerbahçe finished second in the Turkish league last season and are looking to close the gap on their rivals while competing for major honours. Lukaku’s arrival gives the club an experienced attacking option capable of leading the line and providing a significant presence in the final third.
The Belgian international also arrives after featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite Belgium’s eventual exit in the quarter-finals, Lukaku scored three goals during the tournament, demonstrating that he remains capable of making an impact on the international stage.
Before joining Napoli, Lukaku enjoyed successful spells at clubs including Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Chelsea. His most productive period came at Inter, where he helped the Italian side win the Serie A title in 2020–21 before returning to Chelsea.
His move to Fenerbahçe now gives the veteran striker another opportunity to write a new chapter in his career. For Napoli, the transfer allows the club to move on from a player whose final season was heavily affected by injuries, while Fenerbahçe gain an experienced forward as they pursue domestic and European ambitions.
Lukaku’s arrival is expected to generate significant excitement among Fenerbahçe supporters, who will hope the Belgian can rediscover his best form and provide the goals needed to challenge for silverware in Turkey.
Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of football superstar Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68, bringing an end to the life of a man who played a central role in shaping one of the greatest careers in football history.
Jorge died on Friday night at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a long illness, according to the Messi family and reports from Reuters and the Associated Press. His death comes less than two months after Lionel Messi and Argentina competed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For decades, Jorge remained one of the most important figures behind his son’s extraordinary career. He served as Lionel’s agent from his teenage years and was closely involved in the major decisions that took the Argentine from a gifted youngster in Rosario to global football superstardom.
Born and raised in Argentina, Jorge worked in the steel industry before becoming heavily involved in his son’s football career. He supported Lionel from his earliest days at Newell’s Old Boys and later accompanied him when the young footballer travelled to Spain to pursue an opportunity with Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
That journey ultimately transformed the Messi family’s life. Lionel went on to become one of the most decorated players in football history, winning numerous domestic titles, Champions League trophies, individual awards and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Jorge remained closely involved throughout that journey, handling much of his son’s professional representation and business affairs. He was involved in contract negotiations and major career moves, including Lionel’s departures from Barcelona and subsequent transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.
The Messi family had previously asked the public and media to respect their privacy regarding Jorge’s health. In June, the family confirmed that he was receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed health condition after false reports about his death circulated during the World Cup.
Jorge’s illness also became an emotional backdrop to Lionel’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. The Argentina captain had spoken about personal difficulties surrounding his father’s condition during the tournament, with his family keeping details of the illness private.
News of Jorge’s death has prompted tributes from across the football world. Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club where Lionel began his youth career, expressed condolences and recognized Jorge’s importance to the Messi family’s connection with the club. CONMEBOL also joined the football community in mourning his passing.
Beyond being Lionel Messi’s representative, Jorge was remembered as a father who stood behind his son’s ambitions from childhood. His influence extended from the football pitches of Rosario to the biggest stadiums in Europe and the world, as he helped guide Lionel through the challenges that accompanied his extraordinary rise.
For Lionel Messi, the loss marks the passing of a deeply influential figure in both his personal and professional life. Jorge was not only the man who helped manage his son’s career but also one of the people who witnessed and supported the journey from a young boy with extraordinary potential to a World Cup-winning football icon.
Jorge Messi was 68. His legacy will remain closely connected to the remarkable story of his son and the extraordinary football career that followed their journey from Rosario to the global stage.
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