Esports is helping Ukrainian war veterans, who "often feel out of place" when they return from the front line, to reintegrate into society, the head of Ukraine's Esport Commission has told AFP.

Denys Davydov, 43, speaks with authority as he also leads a commission on the development of rehabilitation programs for veterans through esports.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been wounded since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky told US broadcaster NBC in February the figure was close to 380,000.

Davydov says "rehabilitation is one of the most pressing and painful issues" in Ukraine and his programme includes both able-bodied and disabled veterans.

"When soldiers return from war or end up in hospitals, they often feel out of place.

"After years spent on the front lines, they lose the part of socialisation associated with everyday civilian life.

"Sport, and especially esports, can help them reintegrate into society."

Esports was particularly effective because it "allows competition regardless of obstacles or distances".

"On one hand, we offer........

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