Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov met with Ukrainian veterans – the Invictus Games community – and presented them with state awards.
Veterans shared their stories of recovery through sport. They spoke about how they joined the Invictus Games and how they now bring their brothers-in-arms and sisters-in-arms into the community, building an environment of support, trust, and mutual motivation.
Kyrylo Budanov presented the Orders of Merit, III class, and the Orders “For Courage,” III class to veterans representing Ukraine as part of the national team at international Invictus Games competitions.
Special attention during the meeting was given to the development of veteran sports in Ukraine as one of the key tools for physical and mental recovery, and to expanding opportunities for Ukrainian veterans to participate in the international Invictus community.
In Ukraine, the Invictus movement began in 2016 on the initiative of the charity Stratcom Ukraine. Since 2019, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been the main coordinator of Ukraine’s participation in the Invictus Games, ensuring the selection and training of the national team, as well as integrating sports into the system of state support for veterans. During this time, Ukraine has not only significantly strengthened its presence on the international stage, but also built a broad community – more than 2,500 participants in the movement and tens of thousands of people involved in supporting veteran sports.