In August 2026, Paradox Sports joined Ukrainian partners for five days of adaptive climbing training in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kamianets-Podilskyi. Thirty-five people took part in some or all of the training, including Veterans with disabilities, climbing instructors, and leaders of Veterans’ programs.

The week was a beginning. We are working with our partners to plan additional training and help Ukrainian organizations obtain the adaptive climbing equipment they need to grow local programs.

Razom for Ukraine brought partners together and invited Paradox to share what we have learned through nearly 20 years of adaptive climbing. Ukrainian instructors and Veterans with disabilities practiced in a climbing gym and then took those skills outdoors to the rock.

The training covered disability awareness, disability related medical concerns, adaptive instruction, specialized climbing and belay systems, and ways to welcome climbers with a wide range of injuries and experiences. Participants tried techniques they could adapt for their own communities. Throughout the week, the climbers’ goals, choices, and knowledge of their own needs guided the process.

Read Climbing Together in Ukraine for the full account and photos from the training.

Ukraine is facing an extraordinary and growing need for rehabilitation, reintegration, and community-based support for Veterans with disabilities. A recent New York Times article, citing the Superhumans Center in Ukraine, reported that there are now estimated to be at least 100,000 amputees in the country. The article also highlighted the growing role of sports in helping wounded soldiers rebuild strength, confidence, and connection.

Ukraine’s Veterans and climbing communities are creating opportunities for connection amid an ongoing war. Climbing offers a shared challenge: people solve problems, build trust, and support one another on and off the wall. Ukrainian instructors and organizations are best placed to shape programs that fit their communities and continue over time.

Paradox’s role is to share practical skills, support local leaders, and stay engaged as the work grows.

We are working with Razom and our Ukrainian partners to plan additional adaptive climbing training. One goal is to help develop a network of Ukrainian instructors who can teach these skills and support programs across the country.

Equipment is part of that effort. We are helping partners identify and obtain adaptive climbing gear so trained instructors can put their skills to use and welcome more climbers. The Petzl Foundation provided more than $6,000 in equipment for the first training and future programs in Ukraine.

Your gift can support future training, equipment, and the work of getting resources to Ukrainian partners.

The Petzl Foundation: The Petzl Foundation, founded in 2005, supports non-profit organizations through financial and equipment grants, in France and worldwide. The mission of the Petzl Foundation is to support or initiate projects that serve the public interest. These projects shall seek a harmonious balance between human activities in the mountains and the vertical world relative to their impact on our natural, cultural, and economic environments. The Petzl Foundation:

• Encourages education in risk management techniques designed to prevent accidents,
• Promotes the conservation of ecosystems that have difficult or vertical access,
• Contributes to best practices in the vertical world by gaining new knowledge.

The North Face: The North Face, founded in 1966 in San Francisco, is a premier outdoor product brand specializing in technical outerwear, apparel, footwear, and equipment. Owned by VF Corporation, the company drives innovation to inspire global exploration and withstand the most extreme environments. The North Face’s Universal Collection, developed with input from Paradox athletes, is Inclusive outdoor equipment packed with accessible innovations. Equipment from this collection was donated to Ukrainian adaptive athletes as part of this program.

Alex Kosseff
Executive Director
Paradox Sports
alex@paradoxsports.org
+1 406.570.6880

Images: Header: 2026 Ukraine Training, Photo: Tristan Blommer, https://www.instagram.com/tblom.photo/; Ukrainian Veteran with pack from The North Face, Photo: Petros; Adaptive Climber on Paradox training in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine; Photo: Anastasiia Kubert, https://www.instagram.com/kubert_photo/