BUKOVEL, UKRAINE - MARCH 9: The gloves and helmet of a snowboard coach rest on a pile of snow at a freestyle park on March 9, 2026 in Bukovel, Ukraine. The modern ski resort of Bukovel in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of the Carpathian Mountains of western Ukraine is one of Eastern Europe's largest at 540 acres, with 68 runs of varying difficulty. Located far from the front lines of the war and protected by the natural barrier of the mountains it has become more than a winter sports tourist spot for many Ukrainians. Families with children and friends are among those coming to the resort for a semblance of normal life. Ukrainian soldiers and veterans trade uniforms for ski jackets to spend a few hours on the slopes and sharing meals with friends and relatives. The atmosphere is not one of denial but of resilience: a reminder that life continues, even in wartime. (Photo by Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)