Lithuanian Man Begins Solo Rowing Journey From San Diego for Ukraine Awareness

A Lithuanian rower set off on a long journey from Shelter Island on Monday.

Aurimas Mockus will be rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean from San Diego to Brisbane, Australia — at least an eight-month journey — in a single-seater boat that was built by Ukrainians.

Mockus, 44, says he is doing so in order to honor the thousands of people who have died in the Russia-led war in Ukraine and to remind the world to continue to pay attention to the ongoing violence there.

He added on his website that the message he hopes to impart is that “Lithuania stands together,” and that he aims to honor Ukrainians who died in the war, “and to remind the world that we cannot stop helping the country fighting for the freedom of us all.”

Mockus has evacuated multiple families and pets from active conflict zones and brought humanitarian aid to Ukrainians multiple times since 2022, according to a GoFundMe page that was organized by an Irish fund for the journey.

If successful, Mockus will be the first person in the world to have made this journey solo. He will be supporting the trip by taking donations and selling merchandise.

His location can be tracked in real time here. He will also be updating his Facebook page.