In August 2025, Volodymyr Morpak came to the Sunset Swim at Zadorozhnie Lake. He wanted to return to open-water swimming, but before the start he realised he needed support. He met Dmytro Burakov, who swam alongside him. Later Dmytro and Yuliia Rudiuk invited him to Svitiaz Wave. That is how his story with Zhabkolapky began.
To us he is Volodia, or Casper: a veteran, father of four, one of our first swimmers and a co-founder of the community. Someone who was there from the start.
Returning to the water
Volodia grew up near the Dnipro River and swam since childhood. He swam at school, at university and after joining the military. He entered Ukraine’s Armed Forces in 2010 and rose from soldier to captain and deputy battalion commander.
On 24 March 2022, while defending Volodymyrivka near Volnovakha, Volodia suffered serious injuries to both legs. Multiple operations, treatment in Lviv and Paris and a long recovery followed. Swimming left his life for a while. Then he returned to the water.
“I relax in the water,” Volodia said. In time it became a place where he could train, set goals and simply be among his people again.
From Svitiaz to ten kilometres
After that first swim at Zadorozhnie came 1.5 km at Svitiaz Wave. Then the winter Crazy Challenge 2026 in Kyiv: a 24-hour pool relay. Zhabkolapky swam 62.1 km and finished fifth of nine teams. Volodia’s individual result was 10.8 km.
Next came new open-water distances: 5 km at Oceanman Kyiv and 10 km at Freedom Splash. When we remember that first Sunset Swim, ten kilometres feels especially meaningful. Volodia is probably already thinking about the next swim 😅
In September 2026, he also swam 1.9 km in 45:16 at SVITIAZ IRONWAVE and handed the relay to Oleh Yordan. Together with Serhii Dubovyi, they formed a team of three veterans for the swimming, cycling and running legs of the triathlon.
Swimming is not his only sport. Volodia is involved with Veteran Spirit Lviv, plays wheelchair rugby and basketball, and represents Lviv at competitions.
Supporting others beyond the water
After military service, Volodia became a veteran support specialist at the Lviv centre for combat veterans. He helps other veterans find available opportunities, answers and people they can turn to. He told Suspilne he wants to be a friend who listens and helps them connect.
In Zhabkolapky, we know Volodia as someone who shows up at the start, takes on new challenges and keeps swimming. We are so glad he met Dmytro at Zadorozhnie, and that now we swim together.
Keep swimming and don’t croak, Casper.