Three young residents of Kharkiv — Arthur, Ivan, and Kiril — became honored guests at the 2026 World Cup qualifier match between Ukraine and Iceland taking place today in Warsaw.

Last year, the boys sustained severe injuries as a result of a Russian missile strike on a sports field in the Saltivskyi district where they were playing football at that time.

As a reminder, on May 8, 2024, the enemy struck civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv. As a result of the attack, Arthur lost his foot, Ivan sustained serious leg injuries, and Kiril received hearing and lung damage. Despite the severe consequences, all three underwent a difficult and lengthy rehabilitation process.

After the tragedy, President of the Ukrainian Football Association Andriy Shevchenko personally met with the families of the boys in Kharkiv and offered assistance in their recovery. Now Arthur, Ivan, and Kiril are together again — and for the first time since what happened to them, they are attending a match of Ukraine's national team. Their visit to Warsaw has become a symbol of resilience, mental strength, and faith in life that Ukrainian youth demonstrate every day even under the most difficult conditions.