Ukrainian military personnel who were seriously wounded at the front and are currently in Germany for treatment and rehabilitation were also able to attend the national team matches.
More than 300 Ukrainian veteransmilitary personnel undergoing rehabilitation, as well as families of fallen soldiers and football fans got the opportunity to support the national team Ukraine to Euro 2024 in stadiums in Germany.
This became possible thanks to the cooperation of the Ukrainian Football Association, the Energy of Victory of Ukraine charity foundation and the Heroes’ Tribune foundation, and the financial support of the German energy business.
Among those rooting for the national team is a 27-year-old girl. Her husband, Oleg “Ryba” Rybalchenko, died as a volunteer in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the shelling of Bakhmut by Russian artillery on December 21, 2022. Oleg was a devoted Dynamo fan and dreamed of meeting his childhood idol, the former striker of the Kyiv club, and now the head coach of the Ukrainian national team, Serhiy Rebrov.
“I am here to honor my husband. He always dreamed of being part of such an event. Football has always been his passion.” Now we suffer daily from Russian terror,” Anastasia said.
Ukrainian soldiers who were seriously wounded at the front and are currently in Germany undergoing treatment and rehabilitation were also able to attend the national team matches. In a wheelchair, on crutches, with amputations, but they loyally supported the blue and yellows at the stadiums.
Among them is 29-year-old Yuriy Sukhotin. On May 24, 2022, his column came under artillery fire. As a result of the injury, Yuriy’s left arm had to be amputated, and six weeks later he was evacuated along with other wounded. The veteran, originally from central Ukraine, has been living in Regensburg for two years.
“There are so many Ukrainians here now, everyone is in a good mood. What is happening here is very important for us. After all, football is a means of communication between the peoples of the free world, it has a great influence, as does music. In this way, we show the world that Ukraine is alive, that it is strong,” Yuriy shares his impressions.
“Football is a unifying sport. It heals, gives positive emotions, which are so important for Ukrainians during the war. We believe that football has a positive impact on the rehabilitation of the military, and the UAF has the potential to build a system of assistance to our veterans and Ukrainians who suffered from the war. Therefore, this cooperation is another important step towards this,” said UAF President Andriy Shevchenko.
Source: Sportarena
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