The Ukrainian national team arrived at the Paralympics on Wednesday.

A journey that was greatly hampered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

- We traveled through and from Ukraine for many days.

We overcame many obstacles along the way.

Many in our team had to flee at the same time as it was bombed, says Valery Sushkevich at a press conference in Beijing.

Susjkevytj says that the team was divided when the war broke out.

Some were in Ukraine and some were outside the country's borders.

- It is a miracle that we have come here.

It's unbelievable that we are at the Paralympics because we were faced with a question every day: Is there a way to bring both parts of the team together and take us from Europe to Beijing ?, he says.

The 20 Ukrainian practitioners and nine guides arrived in Beijing on Wednesday.

Two days before the games are inaugurated, the first competitions start on Saturday.

That they are in place is of great importance, Susjkevytj believes.

- A great power wants to destroy my country, our country.

Our presence at the Paralympics is not just about being here, we are not just one of all the teams that have come here.

This is a sign that Ukraine is and will be a country.

It shows that Ukraine is alive.

Yesterday, the decision was made by the International Paralympic Committee not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paralympics.

- It was a very important decision, says Susjkevytj.

CLIP: Russian athletes compete in Paralympics (March 2)

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Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the Paralympics