Support is a statement. A statement is a stance.

The Ukraine men’s national basketball team also reminded the world about prisoners of war during the FIBA World Cup 2027 pre-qualification games in Riga.

During the match, the Ukrainian team took to the court highlighting a critically important issue for Ukraine — the return of the defenders of Mariupol from russian captivity where they have been held for nearly four years.

The Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families thanks the team captain @slava5555 and the entire team for raising awareness about our prisoners on the international stage. Congratulations on the successful performance and finishing first in the group. We will be cheering for you at the FIBA World Cup 2027.

For the fourth year, @azovstalfamilies have been fighting for the return of their loved ones and raising awareness about all prisoners of war. The more time passes the harder it becomes to keep this issue in the public spotlight. We are here to unite efforts, inspire and support.

The manifesto of @azovstalfamilies has already appeared on the windows of the Makers café in Kharkiv — a reminder for both locals and visitors. It is a place to gather before actions, create posters and have a filter coffee afterward.

About the merch: it is another way to speak about prisoners of war while also generating funds for our projects as 100% of the profit is donated to support our work. This is not about items — it is about action, memory and support.