A ceremonial welcome and awards ceremony took place in Lviv for members of the Ukrainian national team who competed at the 2026 Marine Corps & Air Force Trials.
The event was attended by veteran and Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Ruslan Prykhodko, Head of the Lviv Regional State Administration Taras Hren, as well as representatives of partner organizations and the media.
The Ukrainian team, consisting of 13 veterans and 2 female veterans, achieved one of the best results at the competition, winning 43 medals.
The athletes earned 27 gold medals in running, swimming, powerlifting, discus throw, shot put, cycling, and rowing, as well as a team gold in volleyball. In addition, the team won 8 silver medals and two team silvers in wheelchair rugby and archery. Ukrainian competitors also claimed 6 bronze medals in running, discus, shooting, and swimming.
Participants were congratulated for their performances, perseverance, strength, and outstanding achievements. Ruslan Prykhodko presented the veterans with departmental commendations from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
After the official part, team members had the opportunity to interact in an informal setting, sharing their emotions and memories from the competitions, which took place from February 20 to March 3.
The Marine Corps & Air Force Trials are one of the major international tournaments for service members and veterans recovering from injuries, bringing together participants from multiple countries. Alongside Ukraine, partner teams from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom also competed.
Once again, Ukrainian veterans demonstrated that it is possible not only to return to active life after injuries and challenges but also to achieve victories on the international stage.
Their results underscore the importance of developing veterans’ sports as a key element of rehabilitation and recovery. The state will continue to actively support veteran sports initiatives and the participation of Ukrainian service members in international sporting events.
The formation, preparation, and participation of the Ukrainian national team are organized by the Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine together with the “Come Back Alive” Initiative Center, supported by UGB Ukrgasbank, in line with the Veteran Policy Strategy and the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine, developed at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska.
