Vyacheslav Goryan, a participant in the regional “Young Person of the Year – 2026” competition in the “Unbreakable Will” category
Viacheslav Horian is a young Ukrainian defender whose story embodies resilience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he was serving his compulsory military service in Mariupol. In March 2022, he was taken captive and spent more than two and a half years in Russian imprisonment, enduring severe physical and psychological hardship. On August 24, 2024, Ukraine’s Independence Day, he finally returned home as part of a prisoner exchange.
After his release, Viacheslav chose not to let his past define his future. Instead, he dedicated himself to recovery and personal growth, earning qualifications as a massage therapist and rehabilitation specialist while mastering modern rehabilitation and manual therapy techniques. Today, he works at the “I am Mariupol. Health” Medical Center in Kyiv, where he helps patients regain their health, mobility, and quality of life. His own experience of survival, resilience, and recovery enables him to connect with people with exceptional empathy and understanding. Viacheslav’s journey is a powerful example of the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian youth. It shows that even after the most difficult trials, it is possible to rebuild one’s life, serve others with dignity, and inspire hope through perseverance, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the future.