The charity event "Triumph of the Spirit. Grace of Dance" took place in Kyiv. The evening, held under the slogan "A Step That Changes Life," brought together veterans, defenders, government officials, public figures, and everyone who supports the recovery of military personnel after injuries. The main heroes of the event were war veterans who, after severe injuries and amputations, took to the dance floor, proving that the strength of spirit is capable of overcoming any circumstances, UNN reports.
Throughout the evening, guests had the opportunity to see dance performances by defenders who were protecting Ukraine at the front just yesterday, and today are overcoming new challenges through dance and internal transformation. Every movement on prosthetics became not just an element of a dance routine, but a symbol of resilience and the struggle to return to a full life. The audience did not hold back their emotions and applause.
Co-organizer of the event and Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Oksana Dmytriieva, emphasized that the project is primarily intended to help veterans regain faith in their own capabilities.
"'Triumph of the Spirit. Grace of Dance' is much more than a dance project or a single event. We are creating a space for support and recovery for veterans through movement, creativity, new skills, and community. Because rehabilitation is not only about physical recovery but also about returning to an active life, self-belief, and interaction with people. It is very valuable for us to see how participants, after injuries, amputations, or the difficult experience of war, discover new opportunities, take to the floor, and become an example of strength for others. That is why we believe such initiatives are needed in Ukraine today — as part of systemic support for veterans and their families, "
Currently, the project has taken another important step — a children's direction has been opened, as support, development, and a space for recovery are also needed by children, particularly those who have experienced the consequences of war.
According to her, dance has become a unique tool for physical and psychological rehabilitation for soldiers after severe injuries. It is through movement, rhythm, and interaction that a person learns to feel their own body again, find balance, and return to an active life.
Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine Denys Ulyutin emphasized during the event that resilience is one of the main traits of Ukrainian society.
"Our participants inspire all of us. They inspire us to support each other and continue fighting for Ukraine. Today's participants show that this is the first step toward a new book of life, "
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Serhiy Tymofieiev focused on the development of adaptive sports for veterans. According to him, 57 types of sports have already been adapted in Ukraine, and such initiatives help military personnel find new opportunities for development and recovery.
Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs Farkhad Farkhadov emphasized that the recovery of military personnel must become a shared task of the state and society.
"Every such step creates a new society. And our task as the state and communities is to create an adaptive, inclusive environment where veterans can find themselves in any field, "
The head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, Serhiy Byzov, was also present at the event. In an exclusive comment to UNN, he said that such projects are an extremely important component of the psychological rehabilitation of the military.
"This event signifies a return to life. Many military personnel today need not only medical but also psychological rehabilitation. This is rehabilitation through culture, through dance. This is a completely different kind of recovery, "
According to Byzov, it is of particular value that veterans often dance together with their wives or professional partners.
"Through dance, a veteran lives through their life, their path, and is reborn, "
He also spoke about the rehabilitation programs of the trade union health improvement system. According to him, based on "Ukrprofozdorovnytsia," veterans undergo medical and sanatorium-resort rehabilitation in various regions of Ukraine.
"To date, about 40,000 veterans and military personnel have already undergone rehabilitation, "
A particularly touching moment of the evening was the participation of 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv — a boy who survived a Russian missile strike on Vinnytsia, suffered numerous burns, and lost his mother. Despite the tragedy he endured, he continues to move forward, inspiring Ukrainians with his own strength of spirit.
The headliner of the event was singer Taras Topolia, who thanked the participants for their example of resilience.
"After physical and psychological trauma, not giving up but finding the strength to go forward is an act of courage. And by your movement forward, you inspire others, "
Among the project participants this evening were:
— Vlad Yeshchenko — project ambassador, a veteran who lost his sight and 75% of his hearing while performing a combat mission;
— Valentyn Oleksiienko — veteran, record holder of Ukraine, and participant in the "Movement of Life" project, who inspires other veterans to move forward through dance;
— Oleksandr Mamontov — a serviceman after a severe injury and amputation, who today combines the path of recovery with sports and dance;
— Yehor Babenko, who joined the large family of the "Triumph of the Spirit. Grace of Dance" project this year and received the signature statuette for the first time as a symbol of support and belonging to the community;
— veterans Pavlo Tovstyk and Serhiy Nazarenko, who inspire others by their example, motivate, and prove that even after injuries, it is possible to live a full, active life;
— Veterans and their wives: Artem and Olesia Moroz, Oleksandr and Nataliia Novichenkov, Dmytro and Olha Shcherbak, Ivan Voinov and Solomiia Smachylo, who spoke through dance about partnership, love, and support during recovery.
A separate emotional moment was the story of Artem Moroz — a veteran who, after losing both legs, became an example of strength and inspiration for many other military personnel. Due to a recent injury, Artem was unable to take to the floor with a new routine this time. However, the audience saw a video of his rehearsals and preparation for the performance — a reminder that the path to recovery is not always straight, but the main thing is to keep moving.
The charity evening "Triumph of the Spirit. Grace of Dance" demonstrated that even after the most difficult trials, a person is capable of taking a new step — that very step that changes life.