Ukrainian girl who lost leg in Russian strike goes back to competing in gymnastics

Oleksandra Paskal, 7, who last year lost her leg during Russia’s missile attack on Odesa region, took part in her first gymnastics competition since the incident, having mastered her prosthetic.

That’s according to Daria Herasymchuk, a presidential adviser on children’s rights and rehabilitation, Ukrinform reports.

"I just received a message from Masha, Oleksandra Paskal's mother: ‘Today was our first competition!’ I watched it and could not believe how quickly she had recovered! And most importantly, what kind of powerful motivation must a 7-year-old girl have to return to rhythmic gymnastics with a prosthetic leg at such a high pace," Herasymchuk said.

She emphasized that "no Russcists with their missiles, no injuries or amputations will ever break Ukrainians."

As reported earlier, Oleksandra Paskal lost her leg as a result of a Russian missile attack on May 16, 2022, which hit the Black Sea resort town of Zatoka. Before the amputation, Oleksandra had been engaged in dancing and gymnastics, widely performing and receiving various awards.

The Russian strike left the girl stranded under the rubble of a destroyed building. Oleksandra spent more than two weeks in intensive care where she was admitted with an injured leg, fractured arm, four broken ribs, a head injury, and multiple shrapnel wounds. Doctors were eventually forced to amputate her leg.