In honor of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Titienko from the 4th Separate Special Forces Regiment and veteran Stanislav Zoryi achieved a remarkable feat by completing 1002 pull-ups!
The duo took 1 hour and 38 minutes to accomplish this record. It was officially recognized by a representative of the Ukrainian Record Book, and both record-setters received their certificates.
Sergeant Alexander Titienko is an exceptional individual. His life has been dedicated to serving in the Special Forces and sports. He holds several national records: 870 burpees in 60 minutes, 295 pull-ups in one hour, and 51,537 dips in team competitions. He is also a champion of military football and a frequent marathon participant. Three months ago, he captained the Special Forces football team in a match against the Ukrainian veterans, where Andriy Shevchenko was the opposing captain. Importantly, Alexander dedicates all his victories to fallen comrades.
“I remember everyone I have met during my 13 years in special operations,” says Titienko. “I have witnessed the incredible things they did during the war; many gave their lives for Ukraine. I met Stanislav at a martial arts tournament. I admire his willpower and character. He went through hell and has essentially been reborn. Now, he shows incredible results.”
24-year-old Stanislav Zoryi, call sign “Refa,” is a two-time world champion in kickboxing among juniors. In March 2022, he was involved in operations to clear territories from Russian forces and later participated in the liberation of Izyum. He served in the Special Operations Forces but suffered injuries near Bakhmut: first from a mortar shell and later in an evacuation vehicle that hit a mine. Stanislav regained consciousness in a Dnipro hospital, realizing he was the only survivor from the vehicle.
The young man underwent a leg amputation and 35 surgeries. He has essentially rebuilt himself, and sports now play a crucial role in his life. “I live in Ivano-Frankivsk and train for one and a half to two hours every day,” Stanislav shares. “My motivation comes from helping my comrades. I connect with them and involve them in sports competitions. Unfortunately, not everyone can find their way back after the war. This time, we collected funds for the rehabilitation of soldiers through our pull-ups.”
During the record-setting attempt, Alexander and Stanislav pushed themselves to the maximum, taking turns doing sets of 5-6 repetitions. On average, they spent 10-12 minutes for every hundred pull-ups. “I was surprised by the high pace we set at the beginning,” noted “Titan.” “I told Stas to pace himself and calculate his strength wisely. He is a true champion with character and perseverance.”
The accuracy of the repetitions and counting was overseen by Anna Krysyuk, the General Director of the World Record Book: “For me, these boys symbolize the resilience of Ukrainians. They have so much optimism and faith in justice! This achievement will be included in the printed version of the record book for 2025 and will be among the top hundred records in the country.”
1002… At this incredible number, the special forces embraced each other tightly amidst applause. Another bright sporting page has turned, and ahead lie new challenges. As Alexander Titienko stated, he is now preparing to break the world record for pull-ups in one hour — 402 repetitions, scheduled for June 8 of next year in honor of his fallen comrade with the call sign “Yasha.” He will dedicate this achievement to him.
