The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
On September 24, an open adaptive workout for veterans and servicewomen after amputations took place at the Expocenter of Ukraine in Kyiv. It was not just a sports event but a space of strength, recovery, and support.
The organizers — the “Games of Heroes” team in cooperation with the national platform Diia.Education — created an environment where veterans could feel part of a community and gain skills for both physical and psychological rehabilitation.
The event began with a discussion panel where experts talked about the importance of adaptive exercises, training coaches, and implementing new digital solutions in rehabilitation.
— Our primary mission is to develop the digital skills of Ukrainians so that people can competently and easily apply this knowledge in their lives. When our partners from the “Games of Heroes” approached us with the idea of filming a series, we gladly agreed. The series showcases a truly powerful program since it covers all three categories of adaptability in sports, although initially, we had planned to cover only one. The great credit here belongs, first and foremost, to the “Games of Heroes” team for their initiative, — said Ruslana Korenchuk, head of the Diia.Education project.
But the heart of the event was the practical part. Certified adaptive trainers conducted exercises for participants with amputations, their families, and civilians. They demonstrated how to adjust movements for different types of injuries and how to properly assist a person in the process of prosthetic adaptation. Every movement, every exercise was a step toward regaining control over one’s body and life.
Since 2015, the “Games of Heroes” organization has been providing free physical rehabilitation programs for people after severe injuries and amputations, organizing competitions in Ukraine and abroad, and training coaches. This year, Diia.Education joined their efforts, making veteran support more accessible and systematic, and promoting the culture of adaptive sports.
The training was conducted by Yuliia Koval, head of the adaptive trainers’ school and chief coach of the “Games of Heroes” project.
According to her, there are already over 100 trainers across Ukraine who provide high-quality training services to veterans.
— We were the first to start supporting veterans after severe injuries. At the beginning of the full-scale war, we realized that competitions were not as critically important as recovery through sports. Of course, competitions are great, but one must approach them well-prepared. That’s when our training school was born. It’s a fundamental base — quite essential — because its core is CrossFit, which later allows the layering of other types of adaptive sports without harming the spine or overall health, — emphasized Yuliia Koval.
This event was not only about physical exercises. It was about dignity, spirit, and the community that stands by its own. Everyone present could feel that life after injury does not end — it transforms into a new level of strength and possibilities.
