The National Team of Ukraine is actively preparing to participate in the Invictus Games 2023, which will take place from September 9th to 16th in the German city of Düsseldorf. The team representing our country consists of 25 veterans, both male and female, as well as military personnel who are participants of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and sustained injuries during or as a result of their duties in the combat zone.
This information is reported by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Currently, the Ukrainian Invictus team has successfully completed training and educational gatherings in Croatia. This became possible thanks to bilateral agreements between governments and the fruitful collaboration of the Ministries of Veterans Affairs of our respective countries.
Over the course of two weeks at the veterans' center in the city of Sinj, all members of the team were able to combine regular training in 9 sports disciplines with relaxation, which is an important component of rehabilitation for our Defenders. Our Croatian friends provided Ukrainians with all necessary conditions and incredible support, as their country also went through a war for independence and therefore understands the needs of veterans.
Next, the Ukrainian team will head to Germany, where they will continue preparing to participate in the Invictus Games in the city of Düsseldorf.
The director of the veterans' center in the city of Sinj, Igor Vidalina, wished success to our National Team at the Invictus Games and urged all Ukrainians to liberate their homeland from occupiers.
"I hope that you will achieve as many victories as possible. I am pleased that you now have new friends here in Croatia, and we have new friends in Ukraine, and we hope for further cooperation. Thank you once again and good luck in the future!" emphasized Igor Vidalina.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, Yulia Laputina, expressed gratitude to Croatia for the warm reception and the organization of training and educational gatherings for the Ukrainian team. She also thanked Croatia for its incredible support to Ukraine and for sharing practical experience regarding the reintegration of military personnel into civilian life, supporting their families, and rehabilitating the affected civilian population.
"The participation of the Ukrainian team in the Invictus Games is an invaluable experience for building a system of sports rehabilitation for wounded veterans and military personnel in Ukraine. This direction is among the top priorities of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Our boundless gratitude goes to the Government of Croatia, our Croatian friends and partners, for everything you do for our country and our people. Croatia's experience is extremely valuable and beneficial for Ukraine in the conditions of resisting Russia's full-scale armed aggression against our country, especially considering the significant number of veterans and their family members that the state is currently taking care of and will provide social protection, medical, and psychological support after the Victory," stated Yulia Laputina.
"On behalf of the entire team and the organizing committee, we thank you for everything you have provided us for a high-quality training camp: accommodations, meals, transportation, sports facilities, and all the necessary equipment to ensure that the team reaches its peak performance and gains new experience," noted the National Coordinator of the Unconquered in Ukraine, Ilona Voloshina.
We would like to remind that this year's international competition will take place in the German city of Düsseldorf from September 9th to 16th. Our team will participate in adaptive sports such as archery, track and field, cycling, powerlifting (bench press), rowing on ergometers, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball.
Ukraine will be represented at Invictus Games 2023 by:
- Veniamin Bondarchuk
- Nazar Voznyuk
- Pavlo Luchkiv
- Volodymyr Hera
- Maksym Dmytrash
- Ihor Derman
- Mykola Zaritskyi
- Volodymyr Tovkis
- Yevheniy Kireyonok
- Kostyantyn Kobilyanu
- Semen Lagun
- Oleksandr Makovey
- Ivan Moldun
- Dmytro Polov'yan
- Oleksandr Ponomarov
- Yarina Alimanova
- Oleksandr Bud'ko
- Oleg Dolzhok
- Maksym Zubov
- Vadym Maznichenko
- Yulia Payevska
- Bohdan Yarotskyy
- Vitaliy Borodavka
- Yulia Shevchuk
- Dmytro Kozak
