Ukrainian war veterans Oleksandr Dashko, from left, Oleh Tserkovnyi and Pavlo Tovstyk, pose for an underwater photo in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, as they take a break from their training session for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk removes his prosthesis in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, as he prepares to train for an upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veterans Oleksandr Dashko, from left, Oleh Tserkovnyi and Pavlo Tovstyk, prepare to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk jumps in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, during a training session to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Competitors jump into the water at the start of a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Ukrainian war veterans Pavlo Tovstyk, left, and Oleh Tserkovnyi, smile after completing a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko trains in a pool for an upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk reacts at the finish line after completing a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk trains in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, during a training session to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strai. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko crosses the finish line during a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Participants compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk rests during a training for a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veteran Oleh Tserkovnyi trains in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Coach Roman Korol, center, instructs Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko, right, at a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, during a training session for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk dons a medal for his participation in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Audio By Carbonatix
1:31 AM on Monday, August 25
By EVGENIY MALOLETKA and KHALIL HAMRA
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Ukrainian war veteran Oleh Tserkovnyi has inspired two fellow veterans to swim across the Bosphorus strait on their country’s Independence Day.
___
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Jay Sekulow is widely regarded as one of the foremost free speech and religious >>Jay Sekulow is widely regarded as one of the foremost free speech and religious liberties litigators in the United States, having argued 12 times before the U.S. Supreme Court in some of the most groundbreaking First Amendment cases of the past . . . . . <<
Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from >>Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from South Central” is back on the radio and TV! <<
It’s new talk for a new generation, introducing Rich Valdés America at Night! >>It’s new talk for a new generation, introducing Rich Valdés America at Night! Rich brings late night radio alive with the perfect blend of news, entertainment, interesting interviews, pop culture and insight. <<
Charlie Kirk is the next big thing in conservative talk radio and he's now >>Charlie Kirk is the next big thing in conservative talk radio and he's now hosting a daily radio show on the Salem Radio Network. The radio show can be heard on great talk radio stations all over the country. <<
Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential >>Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential campaigns, and a former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush. Now, he’s on a mission to arm listeners with common sense, crush liberal narratives, and help shape the . . . . <<
Salem Media, our partners, and affiliates use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize site content, and deliver relevant video recommendations. By using this website and continuing to navigate, you consent to our use of such technologies and the sharing of video viewing activity with third-party partners in accordance with the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy laws.Privacy Policy
