We are glad that new, interesting men and women keep joining our club and our movement. They do all sorts of things for a living — among us are students, programmers, doctors, sales managers, pharmacists, smiths, military, designers and more. And yet we are all one large, close-knit family — Knyaz! We are proud of our country and represent Ukraine with dignity all over the world, defending its honour at sporting events. We pay particular attention to patriotic upbringing of children and youth in the club — very often through the example of their older friends.
Every member of Knyaz Club is interesting in their own way; every one of them has a story.
Today we want to introduce you to a young man who has defended Ukraine’s interests more than once. And not just at sporting events around the world — he also defended his homeland in the ATO conflict zone.
Meet Dmytro Karpenko — Knyaz Club fighter, blacksmith, a strong and fiery man, a patriot, and an ATO veteran.
Dmytro had always dreamed of being a soldier. In 2013 he went into the army for compulsory service. At the time he had no idea that war was about to start. While in his unit he served in the convoy regiment, position: rifleman-radio operator.
In 2014, when separatists reached the area near Izium (Kharkiv Region), Dmytro decided he had to go and defend his homeland. «I think it’s every man’s duty to defend his home,» he says. In the ATO zone Dmytro spent time at hot checkpoints. While checking vehicles, he repeatedly came under mortar fire. The first priority then was the safety of the civilians crossing the checkpoint — get them under cover first, look after yourself second. But thank God, Dmytro came home in one piece.
Life on the front was hard. So were supplies of ammunition and food. Dmytro and his comrades were as happy as kids when a local resident brought them, as a gift, two three-litre jars of hot borscht — plus bread and lard! For his birthday Dmytro was given ammunition and food as presents.
When he came home, the burning urge to go back to the ATO stayed with him for a long time.
Now Dmytro has found himself as a blacksmith. From pieces of metal he creates excellent axes. The hard work with the hammer brings him real satisfaction. And the bursts of energy he releases in training with us at Knyaz Club.
«I heard about Historical Medieval Battle a long time ago from my friend Oleksii Podriadchykov (also a Knyaz Club member). I really wanted to try putting on armour and breaking into a buhurt,» Dmytro says. «Thanks to the lads for the training, support and help at the right moment — and personally to Ilias Vyshutin, for great workouts; I feel great! Knyaz rules!»
Today Dmytro takes active part in many HMB tournaments in different countries, representing Ukraine shoulder to shoulder with his Knyaz Club mates. He prefers mass divisions, or «2 vs 2» — where you feel your partner’s shoulder and know you carry responsibility for him too.
We wish Dmytro success in all his endeavours and thank him for always being ready to fight for Ukraine’s honour — both on the front line and in sport!