All Articles
-
Article
-
Veteran department
More Than Sport: How the CBA Initiatives Center Supports Ukraine at the Invictus Games
Since 2018, the CBA Initiatives Center has supported the Ukrainian national team at every stage of its participation in the Invictus Games. For Ukraine, the Invictus Games are not a formality. We are the only participating country that, while taking part in the event, is simultaneously defending its territorial integrity and national identity.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
HART: Kyiv to Stage Major Adaptive Sports Games for Veterans from Nov. 30 Till Dec. 7
Only a few days remain until the biggest adaptive sports event of the year. On November 30, Kyiv will host the opening of HART, a national adaptive sports competition for veterans.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
7 days of competition and 9 adaptive sports: registration is now open for the multi-sport veterans’ event HART
This winter, Kyiv will host HART — Ukraine’s first national multi-sport competition for veterans who sustained injuries, wounds, or illnesses while defending their country. From November 30 to December 7, participants from across Ukraine will compete in nine adaptive sports. Registration is open until October 20, 2025.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Recommendations for Scaling Adaptive Sports for Veterans in Local Communities
Over nine months, specialists from the Veteran Department of the CBA Initiatives Center, as part of the project “Adaptive Sports for Veterans: A Regional Model,” visited medical institutions, sports halls, and athletic clubs, and met with representatives of government and civil society in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
-
Article
-
Analytical department
-
Veteran department
How Rehabilitation Centers Become a Bridge Between Veterans and Adaptive Sports Findings from the new study by the CBA Initiatives Center
“Barriers and Prospects for Scaling Recovery Through Adaptive Sports: The Perspective of Rehabilitation Institutions” is the latest study by the Come Back Alive Center for Initiatives. It serves as a logical continuation of the previous research, “The Joy of Movement,” which explored how adaptive sports contribute to the recovery of wounded veterans.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
Registration is now open for HART — the national sports competition for veterans
The CBA Initiatives Center and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine have opened registration for HART, a major sports event for the Defence Forces community. It will be the largest veterans’ sports event in Ukraine in 2025, taking place in Kyiv from November 30 to December 7.
-
Article
-
Analytical department
-
Veteran department
Taras Shpuk, a former employee of “Come Back Alive” and a great friend of the Foundation, was killed at the front
While carrying out a combat mission as part of a special operations group, our friend and former colleague Taras Shpuk, a warrior with the call sign “Cherep” (“Skull”), was killed. He was 34 years old.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Training, therapy, and community: five spaces for veterans, servicewomen, and their families in Ivano-Frankivsk and the region
The CBA Initiatives Center believes that recovery is not only about the body — it’s also about finding new meaning and being surrounded by people who understand. As part of the “Our People Are Here” project, the team has gathered several special places across Ivano-Frankivsk region where veterans and servicewomen can explore new sports, receive professional support, and feel the power of a community that understands and accepts them. Below is a list of these spaces.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
“Trauma makes life smaller, while physical activity makes it bigger.” Taras Kovalyk on his military journey and how movement helps restore meaning
In an interview with Army TV, Taras Kovalyk spoke about why he fled civilian life to return to the army, how physical activity helped him rediscover purpose, and why therapy and sports are vital tools for recovery.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
Ukraine Launches a Course for Those Supporting Veterans and People with Disabilities: How to Join
CBA Initiatives Center has launched a free Personal Care Assistants Training Program. Participants will learn how to provide care professionally and safely, as well as receive guidance on preserving their own well-being while on this path.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
National Wheelchair Rugby Competition for Veterans “HART” Held in Kyiv
Kyiv hosted the National Wheelchair Rugby Competition for Veterans and Servicewomen, “HART.” The CBA Initiatives Center, together with the Ministry for Veterans Affairs, organized the event. Prior to the competition, participants had the opportunity to attend a week-long sports camp, where rehabilitation specialists and coaches worked with them. Some participants learned the basics of wheelchair rugby during the camp. The main competition took place on August 30–31 in Kyiv.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
The Power of Community: How Adaptive Sports Workshops Help Veterans Recover
The CBA Initiatives Center organized a series of adaptive sports workshops in Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, Sataniv, and Ternopil, with a total of 350 participants.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Why You Should Try Sitting Volleyball Today
Sitting volleyball is one of the most popular team adaptive sports both worldwide and in Ukraine. You can see it at international veteran games as well as in local sports halls where teams from Kyiv, Odesa, and other cities train. For many veterans, this game is not just physical activity—it’s a way to recover and feel the spirit of teamwork again.
![Cover: Our People [Train] Here: 5 Unconventional Spots for Veteran Workouts in Kyiv and the Region](/storage/page/536/dfa6911d558dfa674a2758aaed208e34137af590.jpg)
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Our People [Train] Here: 5 Unconventional Spots for Veteran Workouts in Kyiv and the Region
Recovery after injuries, wounds, or illnesses caused by the war isn’t limited to hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Physical activity offers a space where veterans can not only regain endurance but also experience team spirit and find like-minded people. Across Ukraine, many initiatives offer free training sessions for veterans. Below is a list of notable ones in the Kyiv region.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Where to Train in Zhytomyr Region: Adaptive Sports Locations and Clubs
Zhytomyr region has emerged as a true hub for adaptive sports and veteran initiatives. Here, sports clubs, sections, and hubs offer military personnel, veterans, and their families not only opportunities to train but also a space to find support, make new friends, and regain strength for recovery. The CBA Initiatives Center team explored which locations stand out.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Ukrainian Veterans Make Their Debut at the International Hope Wins Tournament: How It Went
The Ukrainian wheelchair basketball team, Titans, competed for the first time at the international Hope Wins tournament, held in Poland and the Netherlands. For the veterans, it was an opportunity to test themselves against professional Paralympic teams and achieve remarkable results — winning silver and finishing fifth.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Adaptive Sports Workshops for Veterans to Take Place in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk
As part of the “Our Here” project, CBA Initiatives Center is launching a series of free workshops for veterans called “How Adaptive Sports Support Recovery.” The workshops aim to demonstrate the impact of sports on veterans’ recovery and provide tools to help develop adaptive sports in local communities.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
“Our Here” Map of Recovery Locations for Veterans: How We Research and Select Sites
At the heart of the “Our Here” project is an interactive map that brings together locations across different regions of Ukraine where veterans and active service members can focus on recovery. The map features sports sections, veteran spaces, hubs, and other facilities offering rehabilitation and consultation services.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Five Reasons to Attend an Adaptive Sports Workshop for Veterans
Free educational workshops will take place in several Ukrainian cities — Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro — where participants can try various adaptive sports, learn about their benefits, and meet like-minded people. Adaptive sports are not only physical activity but also a vital tool for veterans’ recovery, socialization, and mutual support.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
National Sitting Volleyball Championships for Veterans and Service Members in Kyiv: What Awaits Guests
The CBA Initiatives Center, in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, is launching the National Sitting Volleyball Championships for veterans and service members. The event will take place on July 5–6, 2025, in Kyiv.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
CBA Initiatives Center to Hold Free Educational Workshop on Adaptive Sports for Veterans in Ivano-Frankivsk
The CBA Initiatives Center is organizing a free educational workshop for veterans titled “How Adaptive Sports Support Recovery” as part of the Our Here project.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Adaptive Sports for Veterans: Why It Should Be Developed and What Holds It Back
Adaptive sports are inclusive physical activities tailored to the specific needs of the participants. Any sport can be adapted to a certain extent, modifying its rules to fit an individual’s abilities. This approach is particularly valuable and relevant for service members who have sustained injuries, trauma, or illnesses—visible or invisible—while defending their country.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Sports Camp: From Training to New Friendships
A sports camp is a five-day program for veterans where participants can try various adaptive sports and receive support from physical therapists and massage specialists.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Recovery Through Movement: How Adaptive Sports Are Becoming Part of the Veteran Community
Most veterans return to civilian life because they have sustained injuries, wounds, or developed health conditions. Physical activity, including adaptive sports, can become a source of support, comfort, and an effective path toward recovery.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Why Ukraine Needs an Adaptive Sports Map — Explained Through “Our People Are Here,” a Project by the CBA Initiatives Center
The CBA Initiatives Center has launched “Our People Are Here” — a digital platform designed to help veterans, service members, and their families find support through physical activity.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Archery and Boccia: CBA Initiatives Center Co-Organizes Adaptive Sports Training for Soldiers at Irpin Military Hospital
The CBA Initiatives Center co-organized an adaptive sports training session for soldiers undergoing treatment at the Irpin Military Hospital. For the session, the veteran department provided equipment and invited qualified coaches to lead the activities.
-
Article
-
Analytical department
-
Veteran department
CBA Initiatives Center Hosts Panel Discussion: Government Representatives Discuss the Role of Adaptive Sports in Veterans’ Lives
On January 23, 2025, in Kyiv, the team of CBA Initiatives Center presented the research study “The Joy of Movement: How Adaptive Sports Help Veterans Recover.” The study, authored by analyst Yaroslava Bratus, examined the impact of physical activity on the psychological and physical health of veterans.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
The Ukrainian Team Heads to the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada
The Ukrainian team of veterans has departed for Canada, where the Winter Invictus Games 2025 will kick off on February 8 in Vancouver and Whistler. This is the first-ever edition of the Games to feature winter sports, including biathlon, alpine skiing, skeleton, curling, and snowboarding.
-
Article
-
Analytical department
-
Veteran department
Physically, Psychologically, and Beyond: How Adaptive Sports Improve Life After Injury
The Russian-Ukrainian war continues. It is a challenge for everyone—civilians and military alike. Especially for those veterans returning to civilian life after injuries, wounds, or illnesses. For them, a difficult path begins—and adaptive sports can play an important role along the way. Have you heard about it?
-
Article
-
Veteran department
Ukrainian Veterans Prepare for the Invictus Games: Why It Matters for the Country
Right now, the Ukrainian national team is preparing for the Invictus Games — an international competition for service members and veterans who have been wounded or injured during their military service. This year, the Games will take place from February 8 to 16 in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
When Body and Spirit Find Balance Again: How Adaptive Sports Support Recovery
War leaves behind not only physical wounds but psychological ones as well. Thousands of Ukrainian veterans return to civilian life carrying experiences that require long-term rehabilitation — and later, recovery. One of the most effective tools for that second stage is adaptive sports — a combination of physical activity and community that helps restore both body and soul.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
Adaptive Sports, Analytics, and New Partnerships: The Come Back Alive Initiative Center Summarizes 2024
The year 2024 was a period of active development and expansion of collaborations, particularly international ones, for the Come Back Alive Initiative Center. The first public events, new projects, and the development of adaptive sports in Ukraine became the main milestones of the year.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
News
The CBA Initiatives Center took part in the largest popular science conference INSCIENCE: recap
The popular science conference and deep tech exhibition INSCIENCE CONFERENCE 2024 took place in Kyiv.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
Air Force and Marine Corps Trials
-
Yaroslava Bratus
How adaptive sports training camps affect the lives of veterans and servicemen
Adaptive sports for the veterans is an opportunity not only to demonstrate sports skills and win a medal, but also to join a community of those with similar experiences.
-
Article
-
Veteran department
-
Спортивні Амбасадори
-
Yaroslava Bratus
Organizing competitions and visiting rehabilitation centers: how the sports ambassadors project changed the lives of its participants
In May-October 2023, the CBA Initiatives Center, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, in partnership with the NGO Games Invictus Ukraine, implemented the Sports Ambassadors project.