Funding Halted for the Veterans' Sports Program
Due to depleted funding, the Ukrainian government suspended applications for the 'Veterans' Sports' program in October 2026. According to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, over 800,000 sessions were utilized by participants in the first three quarters of 2026, far surpassing the planned 300,000 users. Expenditures on the program this year exceeded 1.2 billion hryvnias, more than double the original budget. In response, the ministry aims to make the program a permanent fixture starting in 2027.
Kharkiv Club Introduces Suspended Memberships to Aid Veterans
In Kharkiv, the fitness club 'Body Culture' has introduced an innovative support system for veterans by offering suspended memberships. Club members can purchase passes on behalf of veterans, allowing them free access to training sessions during the program’s pause. Veteran subscriptions cost 1,500 hryvnias for 12 sessions or 1,000 hryvnias for 8 sessions. Additionally, the club has collected donations totaling 7,000 hryvnias, which are allocated to certificates for 12, 8, or 4 training sessions. Holders of combatant IDs or military cards receive a 25% discount on these memberships.
This initiative was proposed by regular club attendee Yuliana Lypovets, who said:
"I attend group workouts regularly, and when I learned the veterans' sports payments had been suspended, I approached the club to donate my own funds and set up suspended training sessions. There are active veteran groups here and our coach is a veteran too. Later, I made a post in case others wanted to join in."
The club also offers a weekly free wellness workout specifically for military personnel. Founder and coach of the NGO 'Unbreakable Kharkiv', Hanna Semenenko, expressed her support: "We care deeply because we love them. We all understand the times we live in and the pain they endure." She added, "We keep printed certificates for defenders at the reception, allowing them to attend any sessions free of charge."
Among the veterans attending the club is Yevhenii Didenko, who has a lower limb amputation. He leads an active lifestyle and regularly trains, noting: "Sports are essential for social reintegration after a serious injury, helping me feel whole and confident." Another participant, Volodymyr Borzakov, with an upper limb amputation, shared: "For me and my comrades, sports offer more than discipline—they help alleviate negative thoughts post-injury and improve both physical and mental health."
'Body Culture' has prior experience hosting free adaptive sports classes and the 'Healthy Back' program. All paid sessions are meticulously recorded in a separate club database to ensure transparency in the initiative’s funding.
Donation details:
- IBAN: UA683518230000026000500588074
- Recipient: Sole Proprietor Hanna Oleksandrivna Semenenko
- Recipient Code: 3645301889
- Bank: Kharkiv Regional Branch of JSC 'Oschadbank'
- SWIFT: 351823
- Purpose: Payment for sports services
The suspension of the 'Veterans' Sports' program threatens veterans’ access to critical physical and psychological rehabilitation through sport. The 'Body Culture' club’s suspended memberships represent a meaningful community-driven effort to bridge this gap until the program resumes permanently. This approach highlights the vital role of societal support in enhancing veterans' well-being and social reintegration.
As the funding for the 'Veterans' Sports' program faces a pause, it's essential to understand the broader implications of this decision. The program, initially set to launch in October 2026, has now been postponed to 2027. For more insights into the reasons behind this delay and what it means for veterans, read about the postponement of the veterans' sports initiative.