25,000+ stories of personal victories: Ukrainians share things they are inspired by to keep fighting

Over 25,000 Ukrainians have already joined the Play for Ukraine project, sharing their personal victories. This campaign was initiated by Nova Post, and legendary tennis player Elina Svitolina became its ambassador. This project aims to unite people divided by borders and inspire them to acknowledge their accomplishments, even in the most challenging times. After all, every tiny success is part of a greater victory.

The stories shared by participants highlight the remarkable diversity of human accomplishments. These are both major life breakthroughs, such as starting your own business or getting a new profession abroad, and quiet but important victories, such as overcoming fear, learning new skills, or helping others in a difficult moment.

Here are some of them:

I'm a nurse in the intensive care unit. There was one patient in particular, an old woman admitted in critical condition. Everyone claimed she had almost no chance, but I decided to struggle to the end. I monitored her vitals daily, cared for her, and provided constant support. Once in the morning, she looked at me with her clear eyes and whispered quietly, “Thank you.” She began to recover and was eventually discharged. This small victory reminded me why I was there and gave me the strength to go on, not to give up.

Yuliia. Kyiv

My life is a series of victories – over myself, to find the strength to keep living; over the war, which could not break me; and over my studies, enabling me to master five languages and graduate with honors. My greatest joy is achieving victory over my mother’s cancer together with her. This inspires me to make new achievements. Still, the biggest victory I am waiting for is the victory of Ukraine.

Kateryna. Warsaw

When I came to Germany at the beginning of the full-scale war, my experience and despair became my greatest resource. I faced mistrust as a newcomer from a foreign country. Personal challenges and distance from my family put even more pressure, not to mention the seemingly endless bureaucracy. I studied hard, made every effort in projects, and was not afraid to assume responsibility. Two years later, I became a senior engineer at a large automotive company, a position that many people here take years to achieve. They saw me as a specialist who brought something unique to the workplace. I realized it was also a recognition of my country, which shaped me to be strong. This is my personal victory, and I will continue to represent my country with dignity, proving that Ukrainians are intelligent and highly professional.

Natalia. Berlin

Each participant will get a limited-edition red ball signed by Svitolina as a symbol of unity and the power of action. The authors of the two stories chosen by the tennis player will meet her in person.

To get in, share your victory story on https://playforukraine.novaposhta.ua, post it on social media with the hashtag #грайзаукраїнузНП, and get a unique souvenir at a Nova Post branch or parcel locker.

This project is underway in Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, which host the largest numbers of our compatriots: over 1.2 million in Germany and more than 800,000 in Poland.