Victoria Kirdina, a 19-year-old cyclist from Samara, has been battling severe health issues for three years following a devastating accident in Sochi at the end of 2022. The accident left her with complex fractures and required multiple surgeries, impacting her life significantly.

The accident occurred on December 4, 2022, when Victoria, then 17, was training with a group of cyclists. While navigating a sharp turn on the highway towards Sochi, she was caught between a Niva car and a Mitsubishi Fuso truck.

The cyclist sustained severe injuries, including fractures to her vertebrae and femur, requiring extensive medical intervention, with doctors inserting ten screws and a 37-centimeter rod to stabilize her spine and femur, and Victoria was placed in an artificial coma to manage her pain and stabilize her condition.

After initial treatment in Sochi, she was transferred to Krasnodar for further operations. Following surgeries in Krasnodar, the family traveled back to Samara by train.

Her mother, Olga Kirdina, is deeply concerned that a criminal case has not been opened regarding the accident, and expressed outrage that the responsible parties may evade punishment.

The prosecutor’s office of the Adler district of Sochi initially refused to initiate a criminal case, citing a lack of evidence of a crime. This decision was overturned and an auto-technical forensic examination was ordered, but the situation repeated itself with a second refusal and subsequent overturning.

Conflicting accounts of the accident have emerged. According to the police in Krasnodar Territory, Victoria allegedly drove into the oncoming lane while overtaking a vehicle, leading to the collision. However, her mother disputes this version, citing data from Victoria’s heart rate monitor that indicates she was traveling at a low speed and did not enter oncoming traffic.

Despite the severity of her injuries, Victoria was denied disability status because she was deemed capable of performing basic self-care tasks. This denial has complicated her access to financial support and potential avenues for seeking justice through the courts.

After experiencing sudden back pain in November 2023, doctors recommended removing the metal structures from her spine, which led to further complications, including kyphoscoliosis. Victoria’s family has faced significant financial strain due to the high costs of her treatment and recovery.