Ukrainian Service Personnel Discover Recovery and Confidence Through Adaptive Snowsport

In Ukraine, wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans are rediscovering confidence, connection and purpose through an adaptive snowsport programme supported by the Invictus Games Foundation’s Signature Programme.

The programme was delivered in Ukraine with activity centred at Bukovel, in partnership with Bukovel Ski School and UK- and US-based charity Ukrainian Action.

The Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team (AFPST) led the delivery, training 18 Ukrainian instructors in adaptive Alpine skiing, snowboarding and Nordic disciplines.

Training included adaptive coaching techniques, safety, adaptive classification, coaching methodology and mental health first aid. Alongside this, 24 Ukrainian participants took part in on snow sessions, using winter sports as a tool for recovery, rehabilitation and confidence building.

Those 24 participants described the experience as life changing, noting that it not only helped them develop adaptive winter sports skills but also provided a powerful boost to their confidence and wellbeing.

“This is an incredible opportunity for veterans to understand that society needs us,” one participant said.

“It gave us the opportunity to make new friends, feelings and emotions,” with many participants having their first taste of snowsports through the activity.

“I learned to ride a snowboard. It’s a great opportunity to do sports,. I discovered cross country skiing and I plan to do it in the future,” another participant said.

The AFPST coaching team included four members of the wounded, injured and sick community, whose personal journeys, alongside their technical expertise, added a unique depth to the programme. Among them, Steve Arnold and Ben Gallagher guided participants through adaptive Alpine, Nordic, and snowboarding sessions, bringing both technical skill and lived experience to every lesson.

Many participants singled out the coaches for their expertise and support, describing them simply as “super.”

The Invictus Games Foundation’s support enabled both immediate participant engagement and long term impact.

By investing in local coaching capacity and sustainable delivery models, the Signature Programme is helping to establish community led recovery pathways in Ukraine.

The programme has laid the foundation for ongoing adaptive snowsport opportunities in Ukraine, ensuring recovery through sport continues beyond the initial delivery.