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Russian doctor to row Atlantic to help Ukraine medics

Leo's Row Leo Krivski looks at the camera, he is in a surgery theatre room with screens showing medical date behind him and wears blue scrubs. He has a red lanyard around his neck, dark blue scrubs and a pale blue hat on, with thin black wire framed glasses.Leo's Row
Leo Krivski is preparing to row across the Atlantic to raise money for medical supplies in Ukraine

"I think it's good to test yourself to see who you really are" - the words of a doctor about to take on a solo row across the Atlantic.

Moscow-born Leo Krivski has been raising money to support medics in Ukraine through a charity he founded a year ago, called Ukrops.

Now, in a bid to raise more money and awareness of aid requirements in the country, he is preparing to set sail.

Mr Krivski, who works as a consultant anaesthetist at the University Hospital Southampton, says the challenge could take anywhere between two to three months.

Leo's Row Mr Krivski stands with his thumbs up looking at the camera, next to a young man who also has his thumbs up. They pair are standing in front of two cars, both with their boots open containing cardboard boxes full of supplies. Mr Krivski is wearing thin wire framed glasses, a navy blue v neck t shirt with a blue jacket over the top and jeans. The man next to him has short dark blonde hair and wears a mint green polo top with pale denim jeans.Leo's Row
Mr Krivski started driving medical equipment over to Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022

Talking to BBC Radio Solent ahead of his departure on Thursday 12 December, Mr Krivski said he wasn't feeling intimidated by the challenge as he's been too busy preparing.

He explained: "It's unpredictable, I'm stocking up for 100 days. I haven't had time to actually sit down and let it sink in, I just think about it in practical terms."

Mr Krivski is determined to take on the row to raise more money for fellow medics in Ukraine.

Having grown up in Russia, he says he witnessed how Ukrainians were treated from a young age, but as his mother was from the country he visited regularly - later working with Ukrainian medics in Crimea in 2014.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he said his wife's parents were in Kyiv and he was "horrified" to see it under attack.

Leo's Row Four men stands outside a hospital wearing scrubs. Leo is on the left, wearing light blue scrubs and a matching cap and thin wire framed glasses. To the right, a man with black hair wears pale blue scrubs, a blue cap and a white overcoat, a man stands next to him with black short hair and a black beard, wearing deep green scrubs and another man stands next to him, with matching blue scrubs on. They are all smiling at the cameraLeo's Row
Mr Krivski has been fundraising through his charity Ukrops and working with medics in Ukraine to deliver equipment

Mr Krivski started volunteering, making contacts and driving medical equipment over to Ukraine and eventually setting up Ukrops.

He continued: "I've made quite strong connections and friends who can make a difference.

"We can have long lasting impact, it's all personal, it's all medics to medics and I have contacts on the ground so we can use the money in the best way we can."

Mr Krivski has been busy preparing himself for the row with weight lifting sessions in the gym and rowing on the Solent.

He said it will be thinking about raising money for the charity that will "give him strength" while he sails the Atlantic.

Mr Krivski added: "That and the friends, colleagues and family who have signed my cabin with various inspirational things, just looking at that I think will be empowering - and thinking about my Ukrainian colleagues and military people having much worse conditions not of their choosing.

"I realise it's going to be horrible at times but I'm looking forward to it, I think it's good to test yourself to see who you really are, so I'm looking forward to discovering who I really am."

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