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Ukrainian Veterans Finish 42-km Paris Marathon in Wheelchairs on Easter
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian war veterans completed the full 42-kilometer Paris Marathon in wheelchairs on April 12, marking Easter with a demonstration of resilience and recovery through sport.
This was reported by Suspilne Lviv on April 13, citing First Medical Association of Lviv.
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According to the report, the Ukrainian team included veterans Oles Protsiv, Volodymyr Saveliev, Mykhailo Varvarych, Unbroken Center mentor Pavlo Kozak, internally displaced miner Ivan Batrak from Pokrovsk, as well as Bohdan Koshulab and Andrii Tarasiuk. All of them are members of the Titans Lviv wheelchair basketball club, which recently won silver medals at the Titan Cup, one of the largest wheelchair basketball tournaments.
Batrak sustained injuries after a strike hit his home, while others in the group are undergoing rehabilitation following combat-related injuries.
Reflecting on the race, participant Volodymyr Saveliev said the support from Ukrainians in Paris played a significant role in motivating the team.
“When we saw how many Ukrainians came to support us, I was impressed. I was energized by that support. It made me want to keep moving forward even more,” he said, according to Suspilne Lviv.
The team’s participation was part of the “Wounded Warrior” initiative, which focuses on the rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian veterans through sports.
The participation of Ukrainian veterans in international sporting events also reflects a broader effort to promote inclusion and recovery through sport.
Earlier this year, Ukraine received its first-ever UEFA Grassroots Gold Award, with the Ukrainian Association of Football’s “League of the Mighty” initiative recognized in the Best Disability Initiative category for the 2025/26 cycle.
The UEFA Grassroots Awards honor projects that advance inclusion and community engagement in football, with the disability category highlighting programs that expand opportunities for people with disabilities. The award ceremony took place on March 31 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where Olena Balbek, Director of Strategic Development and Sustainability at the Ukrainian Association of Football, accepted the prize.
“For the first time in Ukraine’s history, we are receiving a UEFA Grassroots Gold Award—and I wish the reason for this project had never existed,” Balbek said.
The achievements of Ukrainian veterans in sport continue to extend beyond Europe. Ukrainian veteran Ivan Artyukh, representing the Luhansk region, recently won four gold medals at the Air Force and Marine Corps Trials held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
According to Suspilne Donbas, Artyukh secured first place in all the swimming events he entered, including the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, and 50-meter breaststroke, completing a clean sweep of the disciplines.
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