As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, tennis players Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky met with Ukrainian children who had been returned from temporarily occupied territories and deportation.
Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky led an adapted tennis training session on an outdoor court and chatted with the young Ukrainians.
The meeting was part of the broader reintegration process carried out under the Bring Kids Back UA. It aims at helping children regain a sense of trust in the world through safe interaction, play, physical activity, and communication with those who represent strength, resilience, and national unity.
Together with the renowned athletes, the children practiced simple tennis drills and took part in team games and contests.
“Reintegration is not just about documents or legal status. It’s about the opportunity to feel joy, trust, unity, and support again. Sport, as a space for action, play, and teamwork, is incredibly important for helping children recover after experiencing war,” noted Dariia Zarivna, Chief Operating Officer of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
Elina Svitolina, an ambassador for Bring Kids Back UA, has been a consistent supporter of the initiative and regularly takes part in activities aimed at helping children affected by Russian aggression.
The Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine is a systematic effort to return illegally deported children as well as support their rehabilitation and reintegration. Psycho-emotional support, physical activity, and trust in the community are key elements that help young Ukrainians not only come back physically but also find stability in their new lives.