Ukraine are among 20 nations participating at the Invictus Games, an event for military personnel who have been injured while on duty.

The nation is represented by 19 competitors at The Hague in the Netherlands.

Ukraine's Minister for Veterans Affairs, Yuliia Laputina, said the Games was an opportunity for the delegation to enhance support for the nation.

"When the question arose that we need to go to the Games, it was a challenge for our guys, because they wanted to defend the state," Laputina said.

"But we also understood that these competitions in The Hague are also our front - international sports diplomacy. 

"And this is not only a display of sports results, but also the development of cooperation, communication between teams from leading countries. 

"And our team left with inspiration. 

"Before the competition, the guys had a conversation with the President, who also inspired them to good results and stories about the truth in Ukraine."

Invictus Games founder Prince Harry of the British royal family praised the bravery of the Ukrainian team during the Opening Ceremony on Saturday (April 16).

"You said, you came to be on this global stage, not simply to show your strength, but to tell your truth - the truth, of what is happening in your country," Prince Harry said.

"You know we stand with you, the world is united with you, and still you deserve more.

"My hope is that this event creates opportunities of how we as a global community can better show up for you."

Ihor Bezkaravainyi, a member of the team and former Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs, told Forces News he hopes their participation can increase support heading to the nation.

"We had one mission when we started preparing to compete," said Bezkaravainyi, who was injured in an explosion of in the Donetsk region in 2015.

"Now our mission is to say to the whole world about unbroken Ukraine.

"Ukrainians need more and more and more weapons because the Russian army is a big army.

"We fight with one of the biggest armies in the world.

"We understand it is our fight, but we need support and new weapons."

Ukraine have won seven medals to date at the Games, including three gold, two silver and two bronze.

The Games will take place until Friday (April 22).

The Invictus Games Foundation confirmed in the build-up to the event that four members of the Invictus community in Ukraine had died in the conflict.

Serhii Karaivan, Dmytro Oliynyk, Vladimir Motelchuk and Sergey Smilin had either participated at the Games or been trialists.

The organisation said the quartet were extremely active in the international Invictus community.

Russia;s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24.

The civilian death toll has exceeded 2,000, according to the United Nations.

It reports that at least 2,072 civilians have been killed as of April 18, but believes the actual figure is far higher.

More than 4.8 million Ukrainian refugees have left the country.