The first Military Run UA took place on October 10, 2021, in Kyiv in honor of Defender's Day and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The organizers and initiators of the race were: the Department of Strategic Communications of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Charitable Foundation "Vesna!" and the Charitable Foundation "Veterans Dozen".
In January 2022, the musical group's "Mandry" leader, Sergiy Fomenko, wrote the lyrics and music for the "Military Run" song, and in early February, Mandry recorded a song in the studio. The premiere of the song was scheduled for May 2022 in Mariupol during the Military Rin UA event - for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard, simultaneously with the participation of Ukrainian veterans in the Soldier Field 10 race in Chicago, dedicated to all fallen soldiers of the US Army.
The plans were changed by a new phase of the Russian war against Ukraine. On February 25th, the "Military Run" song was released on Ukrainian radio stations.
Despite the full-scale war in Ukraine, the organizers of Military Run UA, in cooperation with the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, decided not to cancel the participation of our veterans in the Soldier Field 10 race in Chicago. Wounded Ukrainian veterans undergoing rehabilitation in the United States will take part in this marathon to honor the United States for its strong support, and in solidarity with veterans of the US Armed Forces in the fight for freedom, democracy, and human rights around the world!
An exclusive gift for this event was the release of the video clip of the band "Mandry" for the song "Military Run", which was created with the support of the Charitable Foundation "Vesna!" and the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sisters Cities International.
Directed and edited by Yuri Konovalsky.
The cinematographer - Ruslan Bogdan.
Focus puller - Mitya Borodin.
Light - Denis Shust.
Executive producer - Hryhoriy Plevako.
The author of the idea is Serhiy Fomenko.
Special thanks to NGO "Brothers in Arms", 2nd Company of the 206th Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Charitable Foundation "Circle" and the studio "One Location".
Slava Ukraine!
