Ukrainian gymnast Sasha Pascal who lost leg in Russian strike honored at European Parliament

Pascal attended the Sept. 16 plenary session as von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the Union address.

“Her spirit could not be broken,” von der Leyen said, describing how Pascal was 6 years old when a Russian missile struck her home.

The girl was pulled from the rubble and spent two weeks in a coma. When she woke up, she learned that she had lost her left leg.

Seven months later, Pascal returned to gymnastics with a prosthetic leg and went on to win medals.

“This summer, she traveled the world with her Dance of Freedom tour,” von der Leyen said. “Her aim is to tell the world about Ukrainian resilience and the fight for freedom.”

Pascal performed during the tour near the Eiffel Tower, in Times Square, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

“And today, she wants to bring her message right here to the heart of Europe,” von der Leyen told lawmakers before introducing the Ukrainian girl.

MEPs rose to applaud Pascal.

“Sasha, you are a great inspiration to all of us,” von der Leyen said, concluding with “Slava Ukraini!”

In the same speech, the European Commission president described Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities as a “deliberate strategy of terror.”

She said Ukrainians had repeatedly demonstrated that their spirit could not be broken, presenting Pascal’s story as an example of that resilience.

Pascal also met von der Leyen personally during a dinner in Strasbourg.

“This is a special opportunity to tell the world the story of Ukrainian children and show the strength of Ukraine,” Pascal wrote on Instagram about her visit to the European Parliament.