Nizhny Novgorod veterans of the special military operation received equipment for sled hockey.

      At the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund, uniforms were presented to the sled hockey players from the veteran team of the Special Military Operation "Storm." Creating conditions for veterans of the Special Military Operation to engage in sports is carried out in accordance with the goals and objectives of the state program "Sports of Russia."

      The sled hockey uniform kit includes everything necessary for the game: helmets, sticks, gloves, and much more. The items are packed in a large bag, which allows veterans with disabilities to comfortably transport their equipment.

      The initiative to expand the list of rehabilitation technical means to include equipment for adaptive hockey was proposed by the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund in the fall of 2024. The central office of the fund supported this idea. Now, sled hockey uniforms are issued as a technical rehabilitation means to veterans with disabilities across the country.

      "Thanks to an active lifestyle, veterans of the Special Military Operation adapt to peaceful life more quickly. We see our heroes' desire to engage in sports — all conditions for adaptive sports have been created in the region. The sled hockey team 'Storm' is one of the first adaptive sports teams in the region consisting of veterans of the Special Military Operation. It is joyful to see that they want to improve and enhance their results, and our uniforms will certainly help them in this," said Ekaterina Generalova, head of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund.

      Let us remind you that the veteran sled hockey team "Storm" was created in the Nizhny Novgorod region under the leadership of Dmitry Dronov, president of the Adaptive Hockey Federation. The team has several victories in competitions of various scales. In the 2025/2026 season, "Storm" took third place in the first stage of the amateur sled hockey league and also won the "Tournament of Three" held in Kazan.

      "The uniform provided by the fund will definitely help us on our way to new victories. We do not interrupt our training process, we are preparing for new games and new victories. The bag contains everything necessary — from arm guards to training sweaters, the bag helps transport the equipment as comfortably as possible, and the sleds themselves are of excellent quality," shared veteran Sergey Kharinov.

      Let us remind you that the state program "Sports of Russia" was launched in 2025 to make sports more popular and improve the quality of life for people. Thanks to the program, more opportunities for sports activities are emerging: stadiums and exercise areas with equipment are being built, sports mass events are being held, and the All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Complex "Ready for Labor and Defense" has been revived. In addition, children's sports, various areas of adaptive sports, and the resocialization of veterans of the Special Military Operation are being developed.

      The state fund "Defenders of the Fatherland" was established by the decree of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Its main goal is to provide personal support to veterans of the Special Military Operation and the families of heroes. Specialists and social coordinators of the fund assist defenders not only with medical and social rehabilitation but also with retraining and employment, provide legal support, adapt housing to the needs of the disabled, and ensure long-term home care. The fund is headed by State Secretary — Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Anna Tsivileva. The fund's branches operate in all regions of Russia.

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information.

      Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.