President Zelensky Awards Ukrainian Invictus Games Competitors With Service and Courage Medals

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has met with members of Ukraine’s national teams who competed at the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 and the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, recognising their extraordinary service and achievements through sport for recovery.

At the ceremony, 36 Ukrainian competitors were recognised for their achievements and were awarded the Order of Merit (3rd Degree), with others also receiving the Order of Courage (3rd Degree).

President Zelensky noted that the competitors exemplify unwavering faith and extraordinary strength saying “In the war, this was the strength of your wisdom and courage. Today, it is the strength of your will, your ability to overcome anything, any hardship, in the struggle for yourself, for the future, for life."

The President emphasized that Ukraine honours everyone who defended the country's independence at the cost of their health and life.

Those present observed a minute of silence in memory of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

"This event has special significance for the Unconquered Community. Each distinction is a token of respect for the journey our veterans and women walk. The path from injury and rehabilitation to representing Ukraine on an international level."

"Thanks to Vladimir Zelensky for his support and attention to veteran sports and the movement of the Invictus Games," the Ukrainian Team said on their Facebook page.

Supporting the Ukrainian wounded, injured or sick (WIS) service community forms a core part of the new strategy at the Invictus Games Foundation, with the Foundation providing support 'where the need is great'.

Ukraine is the first recipient of our new Signature Programme, launched last year, the Signature Programme will help deliver sports recovery access nationwide, including remote regions far from Kyiv and Lviv, train Ukrainian coaches through our Train the Trainer Programme to build sustainable, local recovery initiatives, fund specialist adaptive sports equipment and aid in the access of local sporting opportunities for all of Ukraine’s WIS community.

The demand for our support has never been greater and we are growing to meet that demand, as 89% of Ukrainian veterans saying that engaging with the Invictus Community was vital to their recovery.

You can learn more about our new strategy launched at the Invictus Horizons event here.

About Ukraine and the Invictus Games Foundation

Since 2016, the Invictus Games Foundation has partnered with Ukraine’s Ministries of Defence and Veterans Affairs to support their WIS community.

Ukraine first competed at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and has since participated at Sydney 2018, The Hague 2020, Düsseldorf 2023 and Vancouver Whistler 2025.