Rinat Akhmetov Supports Vadym Svyrydenko’s Inclusive Project: UAH 8.6 Million to Be Allocated for a Veterans’ Petanque Arena and a Special Vehicle
24.09.2026
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A public inclusive IRON WARRIORS PETANQUE ARENA for veterans will be created at VDNH, while Vadym Svyrydenko’s team has already received a special vehicle for joint trips to training sessions and competitions. Rinat Akhmetov decided to support Vadym Svyrydenko’s initiative and allocate UAH 8.6 million to implement the project as part of the “Wonders” program.
On September 23, Vadym Svyrydenko — a veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Rehabilitation of Combatants, and the project’s initiator — gathered with his team at the site of the future IRON WARRIORS PETANQUE ARENA at VDNH. The veterans played petanque, and the event also featured the project for the future space and the presentation of a vehicle from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation to the team.
Vadym Svyrydenko took up the defense of Ukraine in 2014. After sustaining a very serious injury, he lost all four limbs and underwent a lengthy recovery. Sport became an important part of his return to an active life. Later, Vadym began developing veterans’ petanque as a sporting discipline and brought a team together around it.
According to his vision, the IRON WARRIORS PETANQUE ARENA is to become a large-scale, inclusive, and accessible space for veterans, where they will be able to train regularly, gather together, and take part in competitions. The arena project is designed to comply with international standards, which in the future will make it possible to hold international-level competitions here.
“Our idea is to create a center for the development of veterans’ petanque based at this arena. It is an accessible sport that veterans with different injuries and physical abilities can take part in. We want the venue to become an example of an inclusive sports space where veterans can train regularly, participate in competitions, and develop this area in Ukraine,” said Natalia Yemchenko, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
“For us, this arena will become a place where veterans can gather together, communicate, train, and compete. Petanque helps relieve psychological stress, take their minds off their injuries, and feel the support of their fellow servicemen. I would like to thank Rinat Leonidovych Akhmetov and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for supporting our initiative, for not forgetting veterans, and for creating opportunities for us to recover and lead active lives,” said Vadym Svyrydenko.
The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation coordinates the implementation of the project and cooperation with partners. Its task is to provide the necessary resources so that Vadym Svyrydenko’s idea can become a real opportunity for other veterans to engage in sports, recover from their injuries, and return to an active life. The experience of veterans who will train at the arena is also being taken into account during its design.
“When Vadym Svyrydenko approached us, Rinat Akhmetov personally decided to support his initiative. After all, it is about giving veterans an opportunity to recover through sport, meet, come together, and build communities. The vehicle will help the team get to training sessions and competitions together, while the inclusive arena will become a permanent space for veterans from different cities across Ukraine to train,” said Kseniia Sukhova, General Director of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
Petanque is a sport that combines tactics, precision, and teamwork. It is accessible to people of different ages and levels of physical fitness, making it possible to involve, among others, veterans recovering from injuries.
VDNH became a project partner and provided the site for the future IRON WARRIORS PETANQUE ARENA. The arena will become an extension of the Urban Park’s sports infrastructure and is expected to open later this year.
