From the trenches to the track, Ukraine’s amputee athletes join international endurance race

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Since losing both legs, Dmytro Bykhovchenko has become a meticulous planner.

The best route for every trip, access to cars, and the availability of ramps and handrails are all worked out in detail ahead of time.

This month, the 30-year-old completed his most ambitious plan yet, joining fellow Ukrainian war veterans in a grueling international fitness race in Valencia, Spain.

Known as HYROX, the competition combines eight 1-kilometer runs with eight punishing workouts, including sled pushes, rowing, weighted carries and sandbag lunges. Amputee athletes competed in the event’s disabled category.

As planned, Bykhovchenko finished the course, wheeling himself around the track and lowering himself to the ground for floor workouts.

“Sport just makes my days easier,” he told The Associated Press in an interview. “Mentally and morally, it really helps relieve my head, not to think about the bad things and generally look at life more positively.”

Bykhovchenko lost both legs three years ago during the Battle of Avdiivka, when a Russian drone dropped an explosive into his trench. Heavy fighting delayed his evacuation for hours.

For Bykhovchenko and his teammates, including veterans with multiple amputations, finishing the event marked a milestone in their recovery. It also carried a broader message about a country still fighting after more than 4 1/2 years of war.

“It means a lot to be here and show the world what a veteran of the Russia-Ukraine war is,” endurance athlete and team member Oleh Tserkovnyy said. “We want our actions to inspire the world.”

After leaving active duty, Tserkovnyy dedicated his time to helping veterans recover from serious injuries. In Valencia, he stood over Bykhovchenko, shouting words of encouragement as his teammate worked through the circuits.

Some team members were relatively new to sports and relied on trainers who volunteered hours to help them get into shape.

Yasia Shandrii, a fitness trainer in Kyiv, worked with Bykhovchenko ahead of the competition.

“The guys have quite a variety of amputations – double lower-limb amputations, single-leg amputations, high arm amputations, and below-the-knee amputations,” Shandrii said.

Bykhovchenko's training partner, Oleksandr Dashko, who had his left leg amputated due to a combat injury, said sports provided a welcome distraction from the war in Ukraine.

“Every meeting with your friends is about the war. The news on Instagram is about the war. The war is everywhere,” he said. “When I’m doing sports, when you work hard, not just during training but for several hours afterward, you forget about the war.”

AP writer Derek Gatopoulos in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

From left, Ukrainian veterans Dmytro Bykhovchenko, Oleh Tserkovnyy and Oleksii Doroshenko walk through Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Sáiz)

From left, Ukrainian veterans Dmytro Bykhovchenko, Ivan Artiukh and Oleksii Doroshenko warm up at the HYROX competition in Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Sáiz)

Ukrainian veterans Oleh Tserkovnyy, left, and Dmytro Bykhovchenko celebrate on the finish line during the HYROX competition in Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Sáiz)

Ukrainian veterans Oleksii Doroshenko, left, and Ivan Artiukh compete in the adaptive division during the HYROX event in Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Sáiz)

Dmytro Bykhovchenko, a Ukrainian war veteran, trains in a gym for the upcoming HYROX competition in Valencia, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

NEW YORK (AP) — The health of the jobs market, along with updates on several areas of the economy and corporate profits, will fill the calendar this week.

The latest updates also arrive as Americans head to the polls for the Nov. 3 midterm elections that could reshape Congress as inflation continues squeezing households.

Here’s a look at some of the key reports coming in the week ahead.

Several reports this week will provide updates on various aspects of the jobs market, which has remained a relatively resilient part of the economy as stubbornly hot inflation burns household budgets. On Tuesday, the Labor Department will release its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for September, providing details on job openings and layoffs for a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Job openings have remained in a relatively stable range throughout the year and economists expect the most recent report to show a slight rise.

The weekly update on unemployment claims, which are a proxy for layoffs, will be released on Thursday. The closely-watched monthly employment report will be released on Friday. That report will detail hiring by employers during October for a range of industries and sectors. Economists expect little change in hiring from September's disappointing update. Revisions have also shaved more jobs from prior monthly reports.

The weaker employment market adds more worries to an economy already under pressure from inflation. It also makes the Federal Reserve's job more complicated. The central bank is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate again before the year ends in an effort to cool inflation. But it also has a goal of seeking maximum employment, and higher rates that slow economic growth tend to hurt the jobs market.

Monthly reports from the Institute for Supply Management have shown that the overall economy is expanding. That trend for slight growth is expected to have continued in October. The manufacturing report will be released on Monday, while the report on the more economically influential services sector will be released on Wednesday.

The reports also include commentary from businesses on the conditions they are facing and higher costs have dominated their concerns. Many businesses are facing more stress over operations and planning because of inflation driven by an erratic U.S. trade conflict with much of the world and the surging price of oil driven by the U.S. war with Iran. The trade conflict has increased costs for a wide range of materials, while making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead amid the constantly shifting U.S. trade policy.

The U.S. war with Iran has been ongoing since February and has essentially shut down the vital Strait of Hormuz and stifled global oil shipments. That has fueled a leap in gas prices, making shipping more expensive for everything from food to clothing. The main driver for much of the inflation facing households and businesses stems from rising fuel costs.

Corporate earnings from a wide range of businesses this week will help add more detail to the bigger economic picture. Companies focused on travel, technology and clothing are all set to report profits for their most recent quarter and provide forecasts for the rest of the year and beyond.

Nearly half of the companies in the S&P 500 have already reported their latest financial results and Wall Street is currently expecting profits to rise by 30% overall.

Clorox, the maker of bleach and other household staples, will report its results on Monday. Big Tech companies Advanced Micro Devices and Super Micro Computer will report their results on Tuesday. Online travel company Booking Holdings will also report on Tuesday, followed by rival Expedia on Wednesday. Clothing and accessories makers Tapestry and Ralph Lauren will report their results on Thursday.

A hiring sign is seen in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

An employee works at the Escape Game Room in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)