Ukrainian veterans' inspiring Bosphorus swim on Independence Day, in photos

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk rests during a training for a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko trains in a pool for an upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk dons a medal for his participation in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Coach Roman Korol, center, instructs Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko, right, at a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, during a training session for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veteran Oleh Tserkovnyi trains in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk rests during a training for a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Participants compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko crosses the finish line during a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk trains in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, during a training session to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strai. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk reacts at the finish line after completing a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Dashko trains in a pool for an upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veterans Pavlo Tovstyk, left, and Oleh Tserkovnyi, smile after completing a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Competitors jump into the water at the start of a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk jumps in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, during a training session to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veterans Oleksandr Dashko, from left, Oleh Tserkovnyi and Pavlo Tovstyk, prepare to compete in a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, from the Asian side to the European side, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk removes his prosthesis in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, as he prepares to train for an upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian war veterans Oleksandr Dashko, from left, Oleh Tserkovnyi and Pavlo Tovstyk, pose for an underwater photo in a pool in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, as they take a break from their training session for the upcoming 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk, right, celebrates his goal with San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) collides with San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) celebrates his goal with left wing Pavol Regenda (84) and others during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)