Flags Flying Over 2,000-Meter Peaks: The 42nd Mechanized Brigade Sets a Record in the Carpathians
In the Carpathians, soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade simultaneously raised Ukrainian flags on the six highest mountain peaks, setting a national record. The event was timed to coincide with the third anniversary of the unit’s first combat mission and was dedicated to the memory of fallen comrades.
A symbolic yet large-scale event took place in the Carpathians, organized by soldiers of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who simultaneously raised their battle flags on six mountain peaks, each exceeding two thousand meters in height. The event was timed to coincide with the third anniversary of the brigade’s first combat mission and was held during a nationwide minute of silence, making it not only a sporting and tourist event but also a deeply memorable one.
According to the brigade’s deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Bondarev, the purpose of the climb was to honor the soldiers who were killed, wounded, or went missing in action, as well as to demonstrate the unit’s strength and unity. Flags were raised simultaneously on June 13 at 9:00 a.m. on the peaks of Hoverla, Brebeneskul, Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi, Petros, Gutyn Tomnatyk, and Rebra, making the event unique in its scale.
Sixteen service members took part in the ascent; they were divided into six groups and moved in unison, taking different routes to the peaks. The climb lasted two days, and according to the participants, their preparation was essentially based on combat experience and daily service in wartime conditions.
The soldiers also singled out the participation of their comrade Andriy Soburay, who, despite being wounded and having his leg amputated above the knee, was able to complete part of the route to the base camp near Lake Nesamovite. His presence was one of the most moving moments of the expedition and an example of endurance and resilience.
Pavlo Gorishevsky, an expert with the National Register of Records of Ukraine, confirmed that this was a unique achievement, as no other military brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had previously raised its flags simultaneously on all Carpathian peaks over 2,000 meters. The record was verified based on video footage provided by the participants of the climb.
The soldiers emphasize that this event has a much deeper meaning than just a sporting achievement, as it symbolizes the memory of fallen comrades and the continuation of their struggle. Today, the 42nd Mechanized Brigade continues to carry out combat missions in the Donetsk sector, leaving the Carpathians as a place of symbolic tribute to its history and combat path. Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Bondarev, deputy commander of the 42nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, spoke about this in Ivano-Frankivsk.
