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.

The Invictus Games were founded in 2014 by Prince Harry. They bring together participants from around the world, proving that even after severe injuries, one can live actively, compete, and win. Hundreds of veterans from across the globe will gather to show that the strength of spirit surpasses the limits of the body.

Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2018. Since 2019, the national team has had a reliable partner — the “Come Back Alive” Foundation, which since 2024 has been developing its veteran-focused work through the CBA Initiatives Center, a civic organization within the Foundation.

Specialists from the CBA Initiatives Center help with athlete selection and training, and support the team through every stage — from application to final performance on the international stage. But their work extends beyond sports: it’s about building a comprehensive system of support for veterans returning from war.

Below are photos from Team Ukraine’s training camp in Bukovel. Photo: Invictus Games

The Invictus Games are much more than a sports competition. For participants, they open up key paths toward:

• Physical recovery
• Psychological rehabilitation
• Social reintegration

It’s a journey toward rediscovering one’s body, personal growth, and a new quality of life.

“Even in a new body, you can have a full and meaningful life. Sports become not just a necessity, but a source of joy,” — says Taras Kovalyk, Head of the Veteran Department at the CBA Initiatives Center.

For veterans who have sustained injuries, sport isn’t just leisure — it’s a condition for life.

“I have to stay physically active; otherwise, I’d become dependent on a hospital bed. I don’t want to spend my life only fighting the consequences of my injuries. I want to help my country — and sport allows me to stay in shape,” — shares Taras Kovalyk.

This approach reflects the principle the team lives by: “Nothing for veterans — without veterans.”

For the CBA Initiatives Center, Ukraine’s participation in the Invictus Games is more than just about sports — it’s a reminder to the world that a nation’s strength lies in its people.

The Center’s mission is to help create conditions within the state and society where adaptive sports become a normal and accessible part of rehabilitation for every veteran. Because the Invictus Games prove one powerful truth:

Victory is possible — even when life has to begin anew.