Earlier this year, the country's 4x100 metres men's sprint relay team were provided accommodation, a training base, food and sports science prior to the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich.

The group will be larger this time - not only incorporating the relay team, but individual athletes too.

This partnership stems from the friendship between Cardiff Met performance coach Gareth Walton and Ukrainian sprint coach Sergiy Basenko, and is supported by a fellowship and scholarship fund from the university worth £400,000 ($484,000/€456,000).

It is part of a wider cooperation agreement between British and Ukrainian institutions, with 71 partnerships formed to date; with Cardiff Met matched with H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University.

Cardiff Met vice-chancellor Cara Aitchison said this was "an important outward demonstration of our support".

"It's amazing to see them grow and develop not only as sportsmen but as individuals, and to see what they're doing for their nation is phenomenal," Walton told the BBC.

"This showcases what Wales and Cardiff Met can offer in terms of facilities, coach development and a safe place for athletes to train and thrive.

"For me, the icing on the cake would be to get these guys to run at the Paris Olympics. 

"That would be an amazing achievement."

Due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, athletes in many cases have been forced to train abroad.

Meanwhile, athletes and officials from Russia and ally Belarus have been banned from participation at international competitions, based on the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.

Few sports have allowed them to compete neutrally, while only the International Boxing Association has brought the athletes back with flags and anthems.