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Ukrainian veterans fight trauma in the Alps

January 30, 2026

14 Ukrainian ex-POWs join a week-long alpine retreat in Austria, combining mountain climbing and trauma therapy. Led by fellow veterans, the program helps soldiers and families heal from war, captivity, and separation.

https://p.dw.com/p/51STv

Fourteen Ukrainian former prisoners of war embark on a week-long retreat in the Austrian Alps to heal from the trauma of captivity and war. Hosted by the Mountain Seed Foundation, the program combines mountaineering with therapy, helping veterans and their families reconnect and rebuild. Participants share harrowing stories of survival, emotional numbness, and the long road to recovery. Through climbing and community, they rediscover strength, hope, and the bonds that war had strained. For some, it’s a first step toward feeling whole again.

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About the show

The DW Sports Life show logo is seen next to a composite image of a male athlete in a wheelchair, a female athlete holding up a skateboard and another female athlete flexing her right biceps

Sports Life — Overcoming Challenges with Sports

Everything we know about life can be found in sports: Success and failure, euphoria and despair. Sports Life tells stories from across the globe, where sports drives personal growth and changes lives.