Volodymyr Zelenskyy Presented Awards to Winners and Medalists of the Hand-to-Hand Combat Cup of the President of Ukraine, Featuring Representatives of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces
Today, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the annual Hand-to-Hand Combat Cup of the President of Ukraine, attended the final competition in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, and presented awards to the tournament’s winners and medalists.
The final brought together representatives of the Security Service of the President of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and the State Bureau of Investigation. They competed in seven weight classes in the Full Contact division. The winners were: Heorhii Konovalchuk (SSPU) in the up-to-60 kg category; Serhii Volokha (SSPU), up to 65 kg; Artem Vivsianyi (SBGS), up to 70 kg; Ivan Kurelaru (NGU), up to 75 kg; Danylo Meshcherin (SSPU), up to 80 kg; Maksym Shylo (SSPU), up to 90 kg; and Dmytro Berezhnyi (SSPU), over 90 kg. In the team standings, the SSPU took first place, the DIU took second, and the NGU took third. In the Demonstration of Technique division, Andrii Savenko (DIU) took first place, Ruslan Parinov (NPU) took second, and Yevhen Nozhenko (NGU) took third.
“This is an important tournament and an important sport – one that helps improve the skills of everyone who defends Ukraine, our country, our people, our freedom, of course, and our values. Regardless of this year’s results, every one of you is a winner, without a doubt – a winner in spirit and through your actions. Because year after year, day after day, in your service – and through your service to Ukraine – you overcome fear and pain, overcome war and death,” the Head of State emphasized in his address to the tournament participants.
Overall, the event brought together 127 athletes from eleven institutions competing in several divisions: Full Contact, Self-Defense Technique Demonstration, and Adaptive Sport. They represented military formations, law enforcement agencies, and emergency services. This year, for the first time, an adaptive hand-to-hand combat competition was also held for veterans and warriors who had been wounded while defending Ukraine against Russian aggression. Serhii Pozniak (NPU) took first place, Dmytro Poteria (NGU) took second, and Serhii Laievskyi (AFU) took third.
“I want to thank all of you who took part. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, including its branches – the Land Forces and Airborne Assault Forces – as well as the National Guard, the State Emergency Service, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the State Security Administration, the Security Service of the President of Ukraine, the Border Guard Service, the Judicial Protection Service, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the National Police of Ukraine – I thank you all. Thank you to all the participants, and our sincere congratulations to all the winners,” the President said.