Description

The Ukrainian Club at Texas A&M University is honored to present a special screening of the powerful documentary film “Second Wind” on April 8 at 5:30 PM at Hagler Auditorium (Annenberg Presidential Conference Center | 002 George Bush Dr W, College Station, TX 77843). The screening will be followed by a discussion moderated by the professor of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Dr. Alexandra Chinchilla.
 

“Second Wind” - A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Unbreakable Human Spirit. Four Ukrainian
soldiers who lost limbs in combat and now live with prosthetics, alongside one female soldier who
survived a severe front-line injury. Together, they take on one of the world’s greatest physical challenges, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Their journey is not only about reaching the summit. It is about resilience. It is about dignity. It is about reclaiming strength after unimaginable loss.

The film offers a rare and intimate look into the lived experiences of Ukrainian defenders and the human cost of war. It invites viewers to reflect not only on sacrifice, but also on courage, perseverance, and the universal strength of the human spirit. This is more than a film. It is a testament to the power of a second chance, a second wind.
Ukrainian Club TAMU invites students, faculty, and community members to attend this meaningful
screening and engage in a deeper understanding of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle and the resilience of its
people. The future leaders, who will become decision-makers and shape American foreign policy in the
decades to come, need to know this story. Watch trailer here: https://secondwind.film/.
The documentary is produced by Gennady Gazin, an American businessman and philanthropist of
Ukrainian-Jewish descent. Mr. Gazin launched a nonprofit movement SecondWindUA (https://en.secondwindua.org/ and https://www.instagram.com/secondwindua/), that helps veterans with amputations rehabilitate through sports. 

 The film’s director is the renowned Maria Kondakova, a Ukrainian film director and actress. Deeply affected by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Ms. Kondakova turned toward documentary filmmaking. Beginning in 2017, she followed three Ukrainian women serving on the front lines, which led to her critically acclaimed documentary "Inner Wars." Her work includes the following significant projects: Second Wind (2025), Blueberry Summer (2024), and Fallen Leaves (2014).

Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Diyashev (Professor of Practice, Petroleum Engineering at TAMU) for initiating, organizing, and sponsoring the screening of Second Wind Documentary.