Recovering Ukrainian soldier Ivan Kovalyk, 22, is photographed with his national flag during their visit to Simonos Petras Monastery in Mount Athos, Greece, November 26, 2024. Kovalyk was taking a break on the front line in September 2023 when the soldiers who relieved him asked him to bring a radio, food and water when a shell exploded nearby, and he lost both legs below the knee. "Of course, it helped a lot, because it helped me to relieve stress," he said about his visit to Athos, which he plans to repeat. "There was always support from relatives, from friends, brothers-in-arms, support from the state, without that, it would not have been possible." REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis