A team of Ukrainian and Slovak athletes set out from Kyiv to Košice as part of the Peace Run charity initiative, which aims to draw the attention of the European public to the ongoing war in Ukraine and support children affected by it.
The run began in Kyiv on September 24. According to the Slovak news agency TASR, citing one of the project’s organizers, Eduard Burash, the athletes will cover the approximately 1,000-kilometer route in a relay format. A total of 25 participants took the starting line in Kyiv, and Ukrainian and Slovak runners will take turns along the route.
Initially, the core of the project team consisted of five Ukrainian and five Slovak athletes. On their way to Slovakia, the participants will visit seven regional centers in Ukraine, including Uzhhorod.
Organizers expect the athletes to arrive in Košice on October 2. According to the official program for “Days of Ukraine 2026” in Košice, the Peace Run finish will be one of the event’s central sporting highlights.
The “Veterans’ Mile” holds a special place in the program; it will take place on October 3 in Košice City Park. Ukrainian war veterans will join the event, including servicemen who have suffered severe physical injuries, as well as participants with visual impairments. Representatives of the diplomatic corps are also expected to attend.
The final stage of the initiative will be the participation of Ukrainian athletes in the 103rd International Peace Marathon in Košice on October 4. The main marathon and the relay race will start at 9:00 a.m., and the half-marathon at 10:30 a.m.
The Košice Peace Marathon is considered one of the oldest marathons in Europe. The first race took place in 1924, and in 2026, the event will be held for the 103rd time.
The “Peace Run” is part of the 11th “Days of Ukraine” in Košice, which will take place October 1–4. The organizers have designated peace and an end to the war in Ukraine as the main theme of this year’s events. The project is being implemented by the FEMAN association in collaboration with partners from Ukraine and Slovakia, with financial support from the Slovak Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
As part of the Peace Run, a charity fundraiser is also being held to help children affected by the war.
Information about the project and the fundraiser: Peace Run Kyiv – Košice
