All-Ukrainian Adaptive Sports Competition “Sercevir Cup” Held in Chernihiv

On April 4–5, 2026, the city of Chernihiv hosted the All-Ukrainian Adaptive Sports Competition for wounded veterans — the “Sercevir Cup”.

The event brought together 327 participants from different regions of Ukraine. The competition aimed to support the physical and psychosocial rehabilitation of veterans, as well as promote their social reintegration through participation in adaptive sports.

The competition programme included a range of disciplines, including: repetition bench press (127 participants), team bench press (41), rowing machine (142), air bike (82), kettlebell snatch/press (103), table tennis (72), speed archery (91), pétanque (50), as well as the Yurii Kalmykov Shooting Tournament (124).

“The Sercevir Cup is about recovery through movement, about regaining confidence in one’s own abilities, and about building a community where everyone understands each other without unnecessary words. We see how participants change already during the competition — they become more confident, more open, and stronger. And this is the main achievement,” says Viktoriia Kalmykova, Head of the NGO “Veteran Community of Ukraine ‘Sercevir’”.

Participation in the competition also contributes to strengthening the psychological and emotional well-being of veterans, increasing their involvement in active social life, and creating opportunities for their further integration into communities.

For combatants and people with war-related disabilities, the organizers covered accommodation and meal expenses.

The “Sercevir Cup” is part of ongoing efforts aimed at supporting veterans, developing adaptive sports in Ukraine, and creating an inclusive environment within communities.

📌 The competition is organized by the NGO “Veteran Community of Ukraine ‘Sercevir’” with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine within the framework of the European Union and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) flagship partnership EU4Recovery and the project “Emergency Assistance to Conflict-Affected Population in Ukraine” (EACAP), implemented by Project HOPE Ukraine with the support of the American people through the Government of the United States of America.

The content of this material is the responsibility of the organizers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the partners and donors.