A Russian-born doctor working for the NHS has completed a solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for healthcare workers in war-torn Ukraine.
Leo Krivskiy, a consultant anaesthetist based at University Hospital Southampton, rowed 2,630 nautical miles completely alone in a 6-meter ocean boat named Happy Socks. He began his journey on Boxing Day from Gran Canaria, Spain, and reached Barbados after more than three months at sea.
Krivskiy, originally from Moscow, was visibly emotional as he reunited with his wife and children upon arrival. He had spent over 100 days battling exhaustion, isolation, and rough ocean conditions, all in pursuit of his cause. So far, his journey has helped raise over £40,000 for medics working in Ukraine.
The cause is deeply personal for him. His wife and mother are Ukrainian, and when the war broke out in 2022, his wife’s parents were in Kyiv. He was shocked and distressed by the invasion, which pushed him to act. He started volunteering, delivered medical supplies to Ukraine himself, and later founded a charity called Ukrops to support healthcare efforts in the region.
During his voyage, Krivskiy often battled with moments of doubt and despair, even considering quitting twice. But he pressed on, rowing day after day across open waters. After completing the trip, he sent a heartfelt message to the Ukrainian people, saying his journey was a “small victory” over personal fears and setbacks, and urging them to continue their own fight.
Onboard Happy Socks, he carried both Ukrainian and British flags as symbols of solidarity. His message was clear: even a single person, alone in the middle of an ocean, can make a difference.