- Title: War veterans travel from Kyiv to show 'Ukrainian soul' at Euros
- Date: 20th June 2024
- Summary: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (JUNE 20, 2024) (REUTERS) BUS FROM KYIV WITH UKRAINIAN WAR VETERANS ARRIVING IN DUESSELDORF VARIOUS OF WAR VETERANS GETTING OFF BUS VARIOUS OF WAR VETERANS STANDING IN FRONT OF BUS, SOME OF THEM COVERED IN UKRAINIAN FLAGS WAR VETERAN, VALENTYN OSTROVSKYI, FROM LVIV WHO WAS WOUNDED IN COMBAT AND HAD HIS LEG AMPUTATED WEARING T-SHIRT WITH WRITING READING
- Embargoed: 4th July 2024 16:34
- Keywords: EURO 2024 Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukraine soccer veteran
- Location: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY
- City: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001240820062024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of Ukrainian war veterans travelled all the way from Kyiv to Duesseldorf to "show the Ukrainian soul" through their support of their national team at the Euros. They arrived in Germany on Thursday afternoon (June 20), having spent over a day on the bus.
"We want to show the Ukrainian soul," said Valentyn Ostrovskyi, a war veteran from Lviv, who lost his left leg in combat. "Also, we want to scream and shout about the situation in Ukraine, especially about the prisoners," Ostrovskyi added.
Vilhelm Vitiuk, a prisoner of war who was released from captivity in April 2023, was excited to be in Germany to support the Ukrainian team. "But it would have been better if there were more of us here," he added. "Many of the boys are still in captivity, but I think they will be back soon and we will all come here again to watch Ukraine win."
The veterans' families and loved ones travelled with them in a separate bus, making the experience even more special.
Their trip to watch the Ukraine-Slovakia game was funded by Naftogaz, Ukraine's largest national oil and gas company, together with the Ukrainian Football Association and German energy companies - and such trips are planned for all three of Ukraine's group stage matches. The third one will be organised for those who have lost loved ones in the conflict.
"Ukraine has always loved football, and it is very important for us to be here," said Vladyslav Zhaivoronok, a prisoner of war who was released from captivity in June 2022. "It is very important for us to be involved in this one big European family."
(Production: Andreas Kranz, Erol Dogrudogan, Margaryta Chornokondratenko, Daria Shamonova) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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