Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has wished Ukrainian athletes success and victories at the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

"I wish for all of your plans to come true. Now you're at a moment in your life that will create for you in sport the conditions for climbing the peak to which you aspire," the presidential press service quoted him as saying at a meeting with members of Ukraine's Olympic team in Sochi on Friday.

Yanukovych said that he would support the Ukrainian team.

"We will follow, support and help you so that you move forward powerfully," he said.

Acting Youth and Sports Minister Ravil Safiullin on behalf of athletes thanked the president for supporting sports in general and the Olympic team in particular. He noted that the state budget for 2014 envisages a nearly 20% increase in funding for sports in Ukraine.

Safiullin noted that during preparations for the Olympic Games the team had conducted all of the necessary preparation and training sessions.

"The state has fulfilled the commitments it assumed. UAH 109 million has been allocated over the last three years," he said.

President of the National Olympic Committee Serhiy Bubka noted that 43 athletes were representing Ukraine at the Olympic Games. He also thanked the president for supporting the sports and the Olympic movement.

The Ukrainian government established financial incentives for Olympic medalists. Acting Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov said earlier that athletes would get over UAH 1 million for a gold medal, UAH 680,000 for a silver and UAH 470,000 for a bronze.

Earlier, the government reported that bonuses for medals in Sochi remained the same as during the London Olympics in 2012: $125,000 for a gold medal, $80,000 for a silver and $55,000 for a bronze. However, the exchange rate has increased in recent days.