The Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine reports that the October phase of the “Veterans’ Sports” program will not take place, and the ministry is working to resume it in 2027.
“Ukraine continues to live under conditions of full-scale war and a difficult economic situation. National defense remains the top priority for government spending. Under these circumstances, the state budget’s capacity to fund other areas is limited. At the same time, demand for the ‘Veterans’ Sports’ program has turned out to be significantly higher than expected,” the ministry’s statement reads.
It is noted that in 2026, 600 million hryvnias were initially allocated for the program—based on an estimate of 100,000 recipients per quarter. Accordingly, approximately 300,000 applications were expected over three quarters; however, the program was utilized more than 800,000 times.
Due to this demand, additional funds were allocated to the program throughout the year, and in total, payments exceeding 1.2 billion hryvnias were made in 2026—more than double the initial projection.
“Thus, the program has already covered as many participants as this year’s budget allows. All allocated funds were used for payments, including those returned from previous periods. Since the available financial resources have been exhausted, additional funding is required to carry out the October phase. However, at this time, there is no possibility of allocating funds for this from the state budget. Therefore, unfortunately, a new application phase will not open in the “Diya” app in October, and payments of 1,500 hryvnias will not be made as part of this phase,” the ministry stated.
At the same time, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs states that it is working to transition the program from a pilot format to a permanent one by 2027.
As previously reported, on January 3, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a pilot project to introduce quarterly assistance in the amount of 1,500 UAH for sports activities for combatants and individuals with war-related disabilities. Combatants could apply for these funds quarterly through the “Diya” app.
FUNDING, Ministry of Veterans Affairs, SPORTS, UKRAINE, ветеран
According to Experts.news, brisk walking and jogging may be among the most effective forms of physical activity for maintaining bone mineral density in people over 40, according to the results of a large meta-analysis published on September 9, 2026, in the scientific journal BMJ.
According to ScienceAlert, researchers analyzed 124 randomized clinical trials involving 18,429 participants aged 40 and older. The scientists compared various types of physical activity, including walking, running, strength training, aerobic exercise, yoga, and combined programs.
The primary outcome measure was bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, the femoral neck, and the hip joint. A decline in this measure with age is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Brisk walking and jogging showed the best results for bone density. For the lumbar spine, they resulted in an average improvement of approximately 0.013 g/cm² compared to the control group. A combination of aerobic and strength training demonstrated a similar result.
For the femoral neck, brisk walking or jogging was associated with an improvement of approximately 0.009 g/cm². A positive effect was also observed for so-called mind-body practices, which include, in particular, yoga and similar types of exercise.
The researchers also attempted to determine the optimal amount of physical activity. The analysis showed that a noticeable effect on bone tissue begins to appear at approximately 600 MET-minutes per week. This roughly corresponds to about two to three hours of brisk walking or jogging per week, although the exact duration depends on the intensity of the exercise.
The authors note that structured physical exercise can moderately but clinically significantly slow the age-related decline in bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, the femoral neck, and the hip joint.
At the same time, the effect of exercise varied depending on the participants’ age and other characteristics. In middle-aged individuals with normal body weight, changes in bone density were more pronounced, whereas in older participants and those who were overweight, the results were weaker. The authors emphasize that these subgroup findings have limited validity and should not be used as ready-made individual recommendations without further research.
Separately, the researchers analyzed the risk of fractures. This analysis included 26 studies involving 11,132 participants. Some combined aerobic programs and mind-body exercises showed a potential reduction in fracture risk, but the evidence base here was less conclusive.
Experts also caution that an increase in bone mineral density does not always directly translate to a corresponding reduction in fracture risk. For example, brisk walking showed some of the best results for bone density, but no statistically significant reduction in the number of fractures was observed in this group.
The study authors rate the overall certainty of some of the results as low or moderate and emphasize that further research is needed to formulate precise recommendations regarding the type and “dose” of physical activity.
Original study: BMJ – Effect of exercise on bone health in middle-aged and older adults.
Swiss ultramarathon runner Frédéric Splendore plans to complete the Beyond Borders charity run—a journey of approximately 4,200 kilometers that he began in Monaco on July 24—in Ukraine on September 21, International Day of Peace.
As the athlete told the Open4Business editorial team, he expects to arrive in Lviv early in the morning on September 21, completing the walking portion of his journey across Europe. After that, Splendore and his support team plan to travel by camper van to Kyiv and visit Maidan Nezalezhnosti in the afternoon. Their departure from Ukraine is scheduled for September 22.
The main goal of the Beyond Borders project—known as “Courir pour Unir” (“Run to Unite”) in its French-language version—goes beyond mere athletic achievement. Splendor is using the run to draw attention to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and to raise funds to help Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
“This project isn’t just about sports or a record. It’s about using endurance to raise awareness, collect funds, and convey a universal message of peace and solidarity all the way to Ukraine,” said Splendor.
In total, the route spans approximately 4,200 km and passes through 13 European countries. On some days, the athlete covers 70–100 km. The project’s official website confirms that the goal of the journey is to arrive in Ukraine on September 21—International Day of Peace.
The first and most challenging stage of the route followed the Via Alpina through the Alps. Splendor covered about 2,000 km of the Alpine route and set a new men’s record for completing the route with team support—23 days, 11 hours, and 42 minutes. The result was recorded on August 16.
After completing the Alpine section, the athlete continued on for another approximately 2,200 km through Central and Eastern Europe toward Ukraine.
“When things got tough, I reminded myself that everything I’m going through is temporary and voluntary, whereas millions of Ukrainians have had no choice for many years and live with the consequences of war every day,” the athlete noted.
The charitable component of the project is being carried out through the Swiss association Au-delà de l’Effort. The funds raised are being directed to the Chaîne du Bonheur (Swiss Solidarity) fund to support Ukrainians affected by the war. The money is planned to be used, in particular, to rebuild destroyed buildings, assist internally displaced persons, and ensure access to education and medical care. According to the project, at least 95% of the funds raised will go directly to the fund for aid to Ukraine.
The campaign’s goal is to raise approximately EUR 140,000.
Frederick Splendor, 33, previously worked as a professional firefighter and a chemistry lab technician. He is the 2023 Swiss champion in the 100-km race and the 2024 national runner-up. His personal best in the marathon is approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes. In 2018, the athlete ran approximately 4,300 km on his own along the Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
According to Splendor, arriving in Ukraine on International Day of Peace is meant to be a symbolic conclusion to his nearly two-month-long journey.
“I want to use running as a way to mobilize people, to remind Europeans that we must not turn a blind eye, and to show solidarity with a population that has been living with war for many years,” he noted.
Photo: ibelieveinyou.ch, Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary
Ukrainian canoeist Liudmyla Luzan has won the “Athlete of the Year” nomination as part of the 30th anniversary season of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” programme.
Liudmyla Luzan is an Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine, a three-time Olympic medallist, a multiple world and European canoeing champion, and one of the most decorated Ukrainian athletes of the modern era.
She was born on 27 January 1997 in Ivano-Frankivsk. She began her sporting career in artistic gymnastics, to which she devoted ten years and earned the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine. It was gymnastics that instilled in her the discipline, endurance and diligence that later became the foundation of her success in canoeing.
After switching to canoeing, Liudmyla’s first coach was Serhii Batomunkoiev, who recognised the athlete’s considerable potential. She later continued training under Mykola Matsapura, an Honoured Coach of Ukraine. Liudmyla represents Poltava Region and the city of Horishni Plavni.
One of the major milestones in her sporting career was the Tokyo Olympic Games, where Luzan won a silver medal in the women’s canoe double 500 metres and a bronze medal in the women’s canoe single 200 metres. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she won another Olympic medal, confirming her status as one of the world’s leading canoeists.
Liudmyla Luzan remains one of the leaders of Ukraine’s national team and competes successfully in both individual and team events.
For her outstanding sporting achievements and contribution to the development of Ukrainian sport, she has received state honours. Luzan is a full bearer of the Order of Princess Olga and has also been awarded the Order of Merit.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the athlete has continued to represent Ukraine at the world’s largest international competitions. Her performances and victories make it possible to raise the Ukrainian flag regularly at the world’s leading sporting arenas.
In addition to her professional career, Liudmyla promotes canoeing, motivates young people to participate in sport, takes part in social and charitable initiatives, and supports the development of Ukrainian sport.
Luzan is currently preparing for her third Olympic Games. She names winning Olympic gold for Ukraine as her main sporting goal.
The awarding of the “Athlete of the Year” title to Liudmyla Luzan took place as part of the 30th anniversary season of the “Person of the Year” programme, which annually honours Ukrainians for their professional achievements, civic stance and contribution to the development of the state.
I would like to draw attention to one detail before publication: there is a discrepancy in the source text you provided — in the introduction, Luzan is described as a four-time world champion, while later she is described as an eight-time world champion. Therefore, in this version, I deliberately wrote “multiple world champion” so as not to perpetuate a potentially incorrect figure. If you wish, I can separately verify the current number of her titles following the 2025 season and provide the exact figure.
Open4Business is an information partner of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” programme.
According to The Serbian Economist, Ukrainian tennis player Oleg Prykhodko has decided to change his sporting citizenship and will henceforth compete under the flag of North Macedonia.
The athlete is renouncing the flag under which he previously competed in international tournaments. Details of the transition process, as well as the reasons behind his decision, have not yet been officially disclosed.
Oleg Prykhodko is currently ranked 296th in the ATP rankings, which will make him one of North Macedonia’s leading tennis players once the change in sporting citizenship is complete.
The 27-year-old tennis player primarily competes in ATP Challenger and ITF tournaments. Over the course of his career, he has won several titles in both singles and doubles.
https://t.me/relocationrs/3211
The Adidas sports brand has returned to Kharkiv after a four-year hiatus; a discount store has opened at 199 Heroiv Kharkiva Street, according to a post on LinkedIn by Igor Marinich, CEO of Adidas Ukraine.
“After four years in a ‘frozen’ state since the start of the full-scale war, we are once again opening our doors to all our customers and athletes in our wonderful, athletic, incredibly brave, and Ukrainian city of heroes—Kharkiv!” he wrote.
Marinich also emphasized that the safety of employees and customers remains a key priority for the company.
As reported, in February 2024, Adidas closed all its retail locations in Ukraine due to the security situation, but began restoring the network’s operations as early as July 2022. In Kharkiv, the brand’s stores had previously also operated in the “Karavan” and “Dafi” shopping centers.
In Ukraine, the chain is managed by the state-owned enterprise “Adidas-Ukraine,” which is owned by Adidas AG. According to OpenDataBot, by the end of 2025, the company increased its revenue by 28% to 2,996,893,000 UAH, while net profit halved to 43.310 million UAH in 2025 compared to 94.205 million UAH in 2024.
