After losing her leg to a Russian missile attack, this 10-year-old Ukrainian gymnast is telling her story through dance
After Losing Her Leg: Sasha Paskal’s Dance Journey
Healfromzero.com – After losing her leg to a Russian missile attack, ten-year-old Sasha Paskal is sharing her remarkable story through dance. Currently touring Tokyo, she is preparing for the final performance of her Dance of Freedom Tour. This international initiative, organized by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, highlights Ukrainians whose lives have been transformed by war. The tour also marks the upcoming 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on August 24, linking Sasha’s personal journey to her nation’s fight for freedom.
Over the past two weeks, the young gymnast has moved audiences across multiple continents. Her route included Paris, New York’s Times Square, Rio de Janeiro, and Nairobi before arriving in Japan. Through movement and expression, she tells both her individual story and her country’s narrative using dance as a universal language. “It’s an unbelievable experience,” Sasha said. “Each city is amazing and beautiful in its own way, and I’m really happy to travel because it’s an opportunity to distract myself from what’s going on in Ukraine.”
The Day Everything Changed
Her extraordinary path began on a seemingly normal day in May 2022, more than four years ago. Sasha and her mother Maria were enjoying time together in Zatoka, a scenic coastal town in southwestern Ukraine’s Odesa region. The weather was lovely as they got ready to visit the beach. Russia had launched its full-scale invasion three months earlier in February, but nothing suggested danger was coming.
The neighborhood air raid siren stayed quiet. No unusual sounds or sights warned of the disaster. Suddenly, a missile hit their seaside home, turning it into rubble of concrete slabs, steel bars, and stones. The explosion knocked Maria unconscious briefly, but her memory of what happened next remained sharp when she later told the Museum of Civilian Voices.
“Our daughter was lying on her belly. A concrete slab, a very heavy and very large one, was lying on her leg,” Maria explained. “Her arm was dislocated, so that her bones were seen, and her finger was hanging loose. She also had a lot of bruises on her head.”
Neighbors helped Maria lift the heavy concrete slab from Sasha’s injured leg. Emergency workers took the child to a hospital where she stayed in intensive care for fifteen days in a medically induced coma. Doctors first treated a severe head injury. Then they found that blood flow to her left leg had stopped, and the limb remained cold, requiring amputation.
Resilience Through Movement
While such an injury might have ended many young athletes’ careers, Sasha refused to let it define her future. “My passion for sport is bigger than my loss,” she told CNN Sports. After seven months of dedicated rehabilitation and learning to navigate daily life with a prosthetic limb, she returned to her training facility. Another seven months passed before she competed again in rhythmic gymnastics, the sport she loves. Remarkably, she won her first competition in Chornomorsk, performing with her artificial leg.
“Gymnastics is one of the most important things in my life,” she said. “I like it very much. It’s my everyday opportunity to be fit and it’s my passion.”
Her dedication earned recognition from Ukraine’s leadership. President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska awarded Sasha the “Future of Ukraine” state honor the previous year. This distinction opened doors to international opportunities, bringing her to nearly every corner of the world.
Maria, Sasha’s devoted supporter, has attended every performance. “She’s unbreakable,” Maria told CNN Sports. “She’s so strong and motivated. We are very proud because, although she’s very young, she’s a role model for many people with similar circumstances. We never pushed her, what she’s doing comes from her and we support her in her desire to do gymnastics.”
The war’s fifth year continues to impact Ukrainian youth significantly. UNICEF reports that nearly 2.6 million children—more than one-third of the nation’s young population—remain displaced. Since February 24, 2022, over 3,200 children have been killed or injured. Additionally, more than 1,700 educational institutions have suffered damage or destruction, meaning one in three children lacks access to full-time in-person schooling.
These statistics underscore the growing importance of organizations like the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. “Since the war started, the role of the foundation has grown significantly,” Yuri Sviridov, a supervisory board member, noted. After losing her leg, Sasha’s story has become a beacon of hope for Ukrainian families facing similar tragedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sasha Paskal? Sasha is ten years old as of her 2026 Dance of Freedom Tour.
When did Sasha lose her leg? She lost her left leg in May 2022 when a Russian missile struck her family’s home in Zatoka, Ukraine.
What sport does Sasha practice? Sasha practices rhythmic gymnastics, which she resumed after seven months of rehabilitation following her amputation.
What is the Dance of Freedom Tour? It is an international initiative by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and FC Shakhtar Donetsk that showcases Ukrainian stories through dance and movement.
What honor did Sasha receive? President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska awarded her the “Future of Ukraine” state honor for her resilience and achievements.