Headline: Ukrainian Defenders Nava and Herda embark on Antarctic Expedition with UNITED24 Ambassador Scott Kelly

Valeriia ‘Nava’ Subotina and Mariia ‘Herda’ Chekh, servicewomen of the ‘Azov’ Brigade, participated in an Antarctic Expedition as part of the Space2Sea program by FUTURE of SPACE, held from December 19 to 29, 2024. The idea for the journey with the defenders came from UNITED24 ambassador and former astronaut Scott Kelly, who accompanied them. 

The UNITED24 platform played a key role in connecting the defenders with Space2Sea and Scott Kelly after learning about Valeriia's dream to visit Antarctica from representatives of the National Antarctic Scientific Center.

“When I received an invitation from UNITED24, FUTURE of SPACE, and Scott Kelly, I could not believe that it would really happen. Antarctica for me is a continuation of the will to fight. Another corner of the Earth where we need to be heard. I want to remind the whole world about the Ukrainian military's fight; about those who are still in russian captivity. Each of them, like me, has a dream. I believe that after their release, everyone's dream will come true,”

Valeriia Subotina.

Nava invited her sister-in-arms Gerda to join the expedition. Together, they went through hell during the Azovstal shelling in May 2022, followed by the horrors of russian captivity, where they both spent a long, devastating year. For Valeriia, this expedition was a lifelong dream that she never gave up on, and something that stopped her from giving up as a warrior, as a captive, and as a woman who lost her loved one — Valeriia got married and lost her husband during the siege of Azovstal.

“Traveling to Antarctica is an incredible honour, made even more profound by the presence of two brave defenders who risked their lives for their country in the battle. Their resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable challenges inspire me deeply, as does Ukraine’s enduring spirit. This journey is a testament to the strength of humanity and the boundless potential of unity and exploration,”

Scott Kelly.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this journey possible: our ambassador Scott Kelly, FUTURE of SPACE, and long-time partner of UNITED24, fintech company Activitis, who funded the trip for Valeriia and Mariia.