A team of veterans from the Kyiv region will represent Ukraine at the international sports event Strong Spirit’s Games taking place in Madrid.

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, along with her deputy Ruslan Prykhodko, held a meeting with the Ukrainian national team before their departure for the competition.

The team consists of 62 veterans who have endured the hardships of war and sustained injuries, yet have found new meaning in sports. Among them are five representatives from Kyiv region:

• Ruslan Marushchak (Obukhiv)
• Ruslan Sumin (Bohuslav)
• Eduard Kulakov (Irpin)
• Oleksii Mishchenko (Kryukivshchyna)
• Bohdan Butovych (Pereiaslav).

“This is a special pride for our region. Kyiv region proves once again that its veterans inspire with their spirit and resilience,” stated the head of KOVA Mykola Kalashnyk.

The Strong Spirit’s Games represent a pathway to recovery, belief in personal abilities, and evidence that Ukrainian warriors are unbeatable.

This event is being implemented by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in partnership with the Ukrainian Strongman Federation, World Strongman Federation, and NGO DAMARK as part of the Veterans Policy Strategy and the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine, initiated by the First Lady Olena Zelenska.