Ukrainian soldiers are relaxing in saunas set up by a former Berkeley resident

"Roman Zukh rests on his stomach on the wooden bench as Petro gently beats two bundles of birch leaves across his back, gathering the warm air of the sauna as he massages Roman's tired body. In just a few days, Zukh will be back with his battalion on Ukraine's frontlines, where he works as a combat medic in the battle-weary Donetsk region. But for now he is safe and warm receiving a traditional venik treatment from a local bath master at a recovery retreat."

"Combat medic Roman Zukh (left) relaxes in a chan, a Ukrainian hot tub. Credit: Olha Satina/Repower When news of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached Aaland nearly four years ago, he felt like he was witnessing the beginning of World War III. A longtime sauna enthusiast, who'd grown up with a sauna built by his Norwegian father in his family's Livermore living room, Aaland's brain immediately flickered to ways the world's sauna community could help."

Combat medics from Ukraine's frontlines take part in a 10-day recovery retreat in the Carpathian mountains that includes nightly sauna sessions and traditional venik treatments. Participants, including Roman Zukh, use saunas and chans to relax and recall prewar family life while receiving massages and warm-air therapies. Many medics return to active duty after the program; they describe field-built saunas as inferior to proper facilities. The retreat is funded by Sauna Aid, an international charity created by former Berkeley resident Mikkel Aaland and supported by Bay Area saunas. The program aims to provide physical and emotional respite for frontline medical personnel.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org