«I was extremely high, because everyone on the field played with us. Everyone had the opportunity to feel what they could do. I scored my first goal and was happy like a child,» says veteran Taras Kovalyk, who took part in the second wheelchair basketball competition among veterans.
«I was extremely high, because everyone on the field played with us. Everyone had the opportunity to feel what they could do. I scored my first goal and was happy like a child,» says veteran Taras Kovalyk, who took part in the second wheelchair basketball competition among veterans.
Taras is one of 120 veterans who, in early May, took part in the all-Ukrainian «GART» wheelchair basketball competition, a project that demonstrates how sport can work as a real adaptation mechanism.
Then, in the very center of Lviv — on the court near the Powder Tower «Na Valakh» — spectators who came to watch an exhibition basketball match in wheelchairs were given the opportunity to sit in wheelchairs themselves and go to the court. Guests, including athletes, influencers, and random passers-by — wanted to try to throw the ball while sitting in a sports wheelchair. The veterans' competition was organized by the «Return Alive» initiative center together with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. The event was held with the support of the MATRA program of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, as well as the general partner of the IT company EPAM Ukraine.
Skeletonist Vladyslav Geraskevych, stand-up comedians Vadym Dzyunko, Oleg Luzanov and Bohdan Vakhnych, blogger Maria Pankiv arrived as invited guests, but quickly turned into participants. Spectators in the stands screamed, laughed, and cheered. Veterans received their share of support and dopamine, becoming heroes of an incredible sporting adventure for a few days.
The exhibition match is just the beginning of a big stage. Immediately after its completion, a 5-day training camp began — a specialized program aimed at restoring health, adaptation and socialization of participants through sports for veterans. And the result of the camp was the all-Ukrainian competitions. We tell you how it was.
Wheelchair basketball was created in 1946 as a rehabilitation tool for wounded World War II veterans in the United States. Over the past eighty years, a solid body of evidence has been accumulated: this sport improves muscle strength and endurance, reduces anxiety and depression, and builds social bonds. It’s not rehabilitation in the medical sense, it’s adaptation. Returning to civilian life through movement, team spirit, and excitement.
On May 4, 38 participants arrived at the camp. Most of them had never been in a sports wheelchair before — and in just a few days they were supposed to compete in the all-Ukrainian competitions.
The program is intensive: training under the guidance of experienced coaches and representatives of national veteran teams, classes under the supervision of physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists who were there for all five days.
But the organizers understood: just training is not enough. Between classes, the camp participants were offered archery, swimming, rowing on simulators, watching films, master classes, bocce tournaments. The veterans also had a separate trip to the historical and cultural complex «Tustan» — because adaptation through sports is not only about physical fitness, but also about returning to a full life.
Each participant could come with two family members or friends — the organizers provided them with free accommodation and meals. It is here — in this detail — that the whole idea of the project lies: to return to civilian life not alone, but together with loved ones.
And then the competitions took place. On May 9–10, experienced players from all over Ukraine joined the camp participants. For over 100 veterans, divided into 12 teams, the organizers provided two separate tournament brackets — for beginners and for experienced players, so that the conditions were equal and fair.
In the Pro category, the finals were held between «Titans Lviv» and «Free Warriors City» from Odessa. The Lviv team won. And in the amateur category, the team «Gart Vidvagy» won. The medals were presented by special guests — the children of the fallen heroes.
«Yesterday I tried wheelchair basketball for the first time — and it was just ‘wow’. And it’s not just about the emotions from the game, but also about how we interact and support each other. After an injury, it’s important not to lose yourself and find your circle of people. This event is exactly about that,» shares Andriy Kozupytsia from Sumy, who tried wheelchair basketball for the first time — and will go home with gold.
Before entering the arena, the veteran’s wife and son held a poster: «Dad, you’re the best.» «It was very energizing,» he says. They have already agreed with the guys: they will go to the next competition with the same team.
A year ago, the first competition brought together 8 teams and 66 participants. This year in Lviv — 12 teams and over 100 participants. «This is not just a number, these are over 100 specific examples of how adaptive sports are becoming a powerful tool on the path to recovery,» says Ihor Krytsak, head of the «GART» project of the «Return Alive» Initiative Center. The scale is growing not because the organizers are advertising more. But because the participants are returning and bringing others.
«The GART project is about building an effective mechanism for returning defenders to civilian life through the tools of sport,» says Krytsak. «Here, veterans feel the support of a comrade, the excitement of victory, and, most importantly, the support of the community. Veteran policy today is primarily about dignity and creating new opportunities for everyone who defended Ukraine.»
What Krytsak describes is confirmed by the numbers. The analytical department of «Return Alive» studied the impact of sports camps on participants — the «Circle of Your Own» study covered three camps and 98 veterans during 2025. The level of life satisfaction at the basketball camp increased from 7.9 to 8.5 points. The average level of distress decreased from 14 to 10.8. The share of those who consider themselves a happy person increased from 69% to 83%. The indicator of social isolation — «it is difficult to join a group of civilian friends» — decreased. 48% of participants had never done adaptive sports before the camp. After — 100% said that they plan to leave sports in their lives. Willingness to recommend participation to fellow veterans — 9.6 out of 10.
For these competitions to take place for the first time — a year ago in Kyiv — someone was needed to believe in the initiative. EPAM became one of the first IT companies to help «Return Alive» organize large-scale competitions — it allocated funds for the organization and purchase of special sports wheelchairs from Britain. This became an example: after the basketball tournament, it was possible to organize a rugby competition with new sponsors. In two years, EPAM has allocated almost UAH 5.5 million for veteran sports. And for the company, this is not an abstract corporate responsibility — it is personal. More than 600 of the company’s specialists are now in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. More than 90 have already returned and are working on their projects.
«We are familiar with the topic of veteran adaptation — some of our mobilized colleagues have already returned to work,» says Andriy Trofimov, head of the Western Ukrainian location of EPAM Ukraine. «We understand the value of projects that have a real impact on the lives of veterans. Veteran sports in Ukraine are just being formed — and we feel a responsibility to join in laying its foundations. This year, the number of participants has increased to 120. This is the best proof that together we are doing something that is really needed.»
Andriy Kozupytsia has already agreed with the guys about the next competitions. And «GART» is preparing another site for sports training.
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