Yana Stepanenko is a remarkable 13-year-old Ukrainian girl whose story embodies the strength and resilience of a generation shaped by war. In April 2022, a Russian missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station in Donetsk Oblast took 61 lives and left over 120 people wounded. Among the injured were Yana and her mother—her mother lost one leg, and Yana lost both.
What followed was a journey defined not by tragedy, but by courage. After being evacuated for treatment, Yana received her first prosthetic legs for walking and running in the United States. She underwent a year of intensive rehabilitation before returning home to Ukraine, where she continued her recovery in Ukraine. There, she received updated prostheses and kept moving forward, both physically and emotionally.
Yana has since turned her pain into purpose. She has completed several runs, including the 5K Friendly Run at the Tokyo Marathon and the 2024 Boston Marathon 5K. Her efforts have inspired thousands and drawn attention to the ongoing needs of those affected by the war.
More than a survivor, Yana is now a voice of hope and resilience. Her determination to reclaim her life is a powerful reminder of Ukraine’s unbreakable spirit.
