USUST student was awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd Class
Vladyslav Kapkanets, a first-year student at the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports of the SEI ‘PSAPCS’ USUST has been awarded a state honor Order of Courage, 3rd Class.
The award was presented on behalf of the President of Ukraine in recognition of his participation in the international Invictus Games and for his courage and strength of spirit.
The award ceremony took place in Kyiv on March 13, 2026, uniting male and female veterans who represented Ukraine on the international stage. The event honored the resilience, endurance, and unbreakable spirit of those recovering from the consequences of war, as well as the important role of sport in that process.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the participants honored the memory of the Heroes, those who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom, with a minute of silence. The event was attended by Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Natalia Kalmykova, Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine; her deputy Ruslan Prykhodko; and Veronika Buchelniukova, coordinator of the Invictus Games in Ukraine.
Vladyslav Kapkanets is a member of Ukraine’s national team, which took part in the Invictus Games 2025 from February 8 to 16. The Games are an international sporting event for active-duty servicemen and veterans who have been wounded or injured. The competition brings together participants from different countries and showcases their strength of spirit, endurance, and determination to recover. This year’s games were held in Canada and featured more than 550 wounded servicemen from 23 countries.
Ukraine’s national team has been participating in the Invictus Games since 2017 and has won more than 100 medals over that time. At the 2025 Games in Vancouver and Whistler, Ukrainian athletes won 32 medals, demonstrating a high level of preparation and remarkable resilience.
The recognition of the participants shows not only their sporting achievements, but also their personal courage, endurance, and the example they set for society. ForUSUST, this is a special source of pride, as one of the recipients is our student, who worthily represents both Ukraine and the university at the international level.
We congratulate Vladyslav Kapkanets on this high state honor and wish him continued success in both sports and studies.
