Ukrainian amputee gymnast completes global ‘Dance of Freedom’ tour

Oleksandra (Sasha) Paskal, the 10-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast who lost her leg in a Russian missile attack, has completed her global “Dance of Freedom Tour,” a five-continent journey launched by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in partnership with FC Shakhtar Donetsk to share a message of freedom, resilience and hope from Ukraine’s children.

The tour opened in Paris on 17 July in front of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, before moving to New York on 20 July for a performance in Times Square, where Sasha also attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and performed at the United Nations Headquarters.

In Rio de Janeiro on 24 July, she performed at Aterro do Flamengo overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain and met Olympic medallists Rebeca Andrade and Jade Barbosa at the Brazilian Olympic Committee Training Centre.

She then performed in Nairobi on 28 July as part of UNICEF’s 80th anniversary celebrations, before closing the tour in Tokyo on 31 July with a performance for schoolchildren, Olympic athletes and media at the Children’s Education Laboratory.

Reflecting on the tour, Sasha said: “I loved dancing in so many beautiful places and meeting so many new people. Every time I performed, I thought about home and about all the children in Ukraine.

“I want them to know that even when things are hard, we can still dream and keep going. Dancing makes me feel free, and I wanted to share that feeling with the world.”

Yuriy Sviridov, member of the supervisory board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, and Director of Strategic Initiatives at FC Shakhtar, said: “Sasha’s journey across five continents has been an extraordinary testament to the strength and spirit of Ukraine and its children.

“In every city, she carried a simple but powerful message: that even in the darkest circumstances, hope and the will to move forward cannot be extinguished.

“We are enormously proud of what she has achieved, and grateful to everyone who welcomed her along the way.”

The Dance of Freedom Tour reflects the ongoing commitment of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation to supporting people in Ukraine during the war, particularly children and families affected by injury, displacement and trauma.

It was Rinat Akhmetov’s personal decision to support Sasha and back the tour, with FC Shakhtar Donetsk serving as a central partner throughout, lending its platform and global reach to help carry her story to audiences around the world.