In northern Ukraine, young cross-country skiers and biathletes continue to train in a landscape marked by war, where the rhythm of practice is often interrupted by air raid sirens and the distant sound of explosions.
At a damaged Olympic training base on the outskirts of Chernihiv, children and teenagers glide through a forest scarred by shelling, concentrating on technique until alarms force them to abandon their skis and move calmly into underground shelters. What would be unthinkable elsewhere has become routine for about 350 young athletes who still train at the government-run Sports Ski Base of the Olympic Reserve.
The complex once symbolized Ukraine’s sporting promise. Today, its dormitories stand shattered, nearby land is unsafe due to unexploded ordnance, and much of the infrastructure bears visible blast damage. Yet fenced-off trails remain active, and coaches persist in guiding the next generation of athletes.
“We’ve adapted — even the children,” said veteran coach Mykola Vorchak. “It’s changed them psychologically. They’ve grown used to conditions no child should have to accept.”
Chernihiv, located roughly two hours north of Kyiv, lies along a route heavily targeted during Russia’s 2022 offensive. The city continues to face air attacks aimed at infrastructure, forcing sports facilities across Ukraine to shut down or relocate abroad. Many elite athletes now train outside the country, but this base remains operational despite the risks.
Temporary structures now serve as locker rooms and offices. In winter, athletes ski along snowy trails; during warmer months, they use roller skis on an asphalt track marked by shrapnel scars. Biathletes practice with laser rifles at electronic targets, jogging between drills as drones occasionally buzz overhead.
The site holds deep historical significance. It was here that Valentyna Tserbe-Nesina trained as a teenager before winning bronze at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games — Ukraine’s first Olympic medal as an independent nation. Visiting the base after the invasion, she found her former room destroyed and trophies burned amid the wreckage.
Despite the devastation, the spirit of defiance remains strong. Khrystyna Dmytrenko, a 26-year-old biathlete who previously served in a territorial defense unit, now trains at the site alongside teenagers. She is set to represent Ukraine at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
“Sport shows that Ukraine is strong,” Dmytrenko said. “Competing internationally is a way to show our unity and determination.”
Ukraine’s athletes prepare against a complicated Olympic backdrop. Russian competitors face strict restrictions following the invasion, and in some individual events, Ukrainian and Russian athletes may compete side by side. For many Ukrainians, continuing to train and compete is not just about sport — it is a statement of resilience.
Former Olympic biathlete Nina Lemesh says some children who began training at the Chernihiv base during wartime have already achieved international success in their age categories.
“This is an act of resistance,” she said. “These children are the future Olympians of Ukraine.”
As sirens echo through the forest and athletes return once more to their skis, the training base stands as a stark symbol of both loss and perseverance — where Olympic dreams survive amid ruins.
