A 10-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Oleksandra Pascal performed in Times Square in New York as part of the international tour “Dance of Freedom.” Through her dance, the girl, who lost her leg as a result of Russian shelling, told the world the story of Ukrainian children whose lives were forever changed by the war. During her visit to the United States, she also met with UN representatives, to whom she told how Ukrainian children and civilians suffer every day from Russian shelling. як українські діти та мирне населення щодня страждають від обстрілів росії.
This was reported UN News.
In Times Square, Oleksandra performed a choreographic composition dedicated to the indomitability of Ukrainian children in front of thousands of passers-by from different countries of the world.
“New York really impressed me. There are tall buildings, many people and a very interesting atmosphere. I am glad that I was able to perform here and talk about Ukraine. This is very important to me,” shared Oleksandra Pascal.
United Nations headquarters, where she gave an interview to UN News. She spoke about her own experience of life during the war and how Russian aggression continues to affect Ukrainian children.
Oleksandra’s story has become a symbol of resilience. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the girl was seriously injured during Russian shelling of the Odessa region. Due to severe injuries, doctors had to amputate her leg after 15 days in a medically induced coma.
However, after a long rehabilitation, Oleksandra returned to rhythmic gymnastics. Today, she trains for three to four hours five times a week, performs with a modern prosthesis and successfully competes alongside athletes without disabilities, winning awards at Ukrainian and international tournaments.
In addition to her performance in Times Square, Oleksandra attended the World Cup final, where she watched the decisive match and the award ceremony of the Spanish national team live.
In an interview with UN News, the athlete’s mother, Maria Pascal, emphasized that each of her daughter’s performances is a reminder to the international community about the war in Ukraine.
“The main message is that people should not forget that the war is still going on in our country. What Ukrainian children need most is peace,” she said.
According to UNICEF, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, almost 2.6 million Ukrainian children have been forced to leave their homes. More than 3,400 children have been killed or injured, and more than 1,700 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian attacks.
Alexandra Pascal’s story also became the basis for the inclusive comic book The Heart Sees More Than the Eyes, created by young people with the support of UNICEF as part of the UPSHIFT program. The publication helps children better understand the issues of disability, inclusion and mutual support.
Despite her experiences, the young gymnast continues to dream of a great sporting future. She hopes to one day represent Ukraine at the Paralympic Games if rhythmic gymnastics is included in their program.
The Dance of Freedom world tour is held with the support of the Shakhtar football club and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
Photo: akhmetovfoundation, paskals2016/Instagram
Author: Inna Mikhno