Winter Invictus Games: A New Chapter for Veterans

Tonight at 23:00, the very first winter Invictus Games in history will commence in Whistler and Vancouver (Canada). The events will run until February 16.

We introduce another participant from Odesa. 
Ilya Pylypenko, a Ukrainian Armed Forces sailor and veteran. He was injured in September 2022 due to a tank explosion from a mine near Bilohirka in the Kherson region.

«I am currently working on developing the veterans' movement in Odesa. I enjoy life. I swim in the sea. I have started to appreciate the little things. Sometimes I feel like a child. After training, I joyfully dive into the sea, which is as delightful as being able to wash from a bottle after a week in a tank,» – shares Ilya Pylypenko.

At the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler - 2025, our compatriot will compete in the following events: wheelchair basketball, 100-meter run, 400-meter run, 50-meter freestyle swimming, 50-meter breaststroke swimming, and 100-meter freestyle swimming.

Follow the Ukrainian team’s performances from February 8 to 16 on the official page.

Watch the live broadcast of the Invictus Games 2025 on Suspilne Sport. 

The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler - 2025 will feature 550 participants from 25 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Romania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the USA.