MainНовиниValor of the Unconquered: Veterans from Across Ukraine Compete in Inclusive Strongman Event in Horodenka, Ivano-Frankivsk Region
Valor of the Unconquered: Veterans from Across Ukraine Compete in Inclusive Strongman Event in Horodenka, Ivano-Frankivsk Region
On March 23, the inclusive competition, Team Cup of Ukraine Among Strongman Veterans – Valor of the Unconquered, took place in the city of Horodenka, Ivano-Frankivsk Region.
Approximately 100 strongmen — active-duty military personnel and veterans from various regions of Ukraine — participated in the event. The competition featured rowing on the Concept-2 machine for both 100 meters and 100 seconds, along with a strongman relay that included weightlifting over a bar, bench presses, and deadlifts.
Vasyl Virastiuk, the world strongman champion, was the main judge of the competition. “This day proved that our defenders can be role models not only on the battlefield but also in sports competitions.
For the past three years, our Federation has organized competitions for veterans as part of a structured tournament calendar. This year, 15 events are scheduled — 12 of which serve as ranking and qualifying rounds for participation in the Strong Spirit’s Games, an international tournament for veterans. The national selection finals will take place in September in Bukovel, where a team of 60 veterans will be formed to represent Ukraine at prestigious international competitions. We extend our gratitude to our strategic and long-standing partner, MHP, with whom we have planned five events this season — the first being today’s competition in Horodenka.”
The event was organized by the Western Hub of MHP in collaboration with the Strongman Federation of Ukraine and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. It was part of the MHP Standing Together program, which provides vital support to active-duty military personnel and veterans. The news agency Galka served as the event’s official media partner.
The MHP Standing Together program is designed to assist company employees and residents of communities where MHP enterprises operate. Providing comprehensive support to our military personnel, veterans, and their families is a responsibility we hold dear. Several participants in the competition were employees of our enterprises who had returned from service. We stood by them during the war, and we continue to support them through initiatives focused on physical and psychological rehabilitation, workplace adaptation, and job creation as needed. Currently, more than 2,600 MHP employees are in service remaining on the front lines, while over 750 veterans are employed across our enterprises.
The MHP Standing Together program, under which the event was held, has been in operation at MHP for over two years. Its goal is comprehensive support for military personnel, veterans, and their families. Currently, this program is focused on promoting the development of veteran communities.
“For a decade, the MHP–Gromadi Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with MHP, has been dedicated to revitalizing and developing Ukrainian communities, including those in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region. Through joint efforts with international and Ukrainian donors, we implement infrastructure, medical, educational, and cultural projects. Since the onset of the full-scale war, our initiatives under the MHP Standing Together program have focused on supporting people in frontline territories, active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. We are actively fostering sports initiatives — including FC Probiy —developing veteran spaces, establishing adaptive sports clubs, and organizing large-scale events that inspire and unite. One such event, Victory of the Unconquered, stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, self-belief, and unwavering strength of spirit.”
Veteran Andriy Vitruk, a resident of Yampil in the Khmelnytskyi Region and an employee at MHP’s Yampil grain elevator, participated in the Victory of the Unconquered for the first time. In 2022, he joined the defense of Ukraine, serving in combat operations in Donetsk Region — specifically in Pisky and Pervomaiskyi—as part of the Khortytsia battalion.
“Last year, I attended the Valor of the Unconquered veterans’ competition in Ternopil as a spectator, and I was deeply impressed by the atmosphere of the tournament. So, we gathered three teams at the grain elevator and came to Horodenka to compete. We participated in rowing on a 100-meter simulator, achieving a team result of 60.3 seconds — not an exceptional score, but a solid effort for beginners in the sport. Most importantly, we gained incredible experiences, connected with fellow veterans, and felt the energy of the spectators.”
The winners of the veterans’ Invastrong tournament were the Nothing is Impossible team from Rivne. In the “military” category, the men’s team of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk emerged victorious, while among women, the trio from the Special Purpose Police Department “Liut” secured the win.
In the 100-meter team rowing competition, the male veterans’ title went to Nothing is Impossible from Rivne, and in the women’s category, The Unconquered from Kryvyi Rih claimed victory. Among military teams, the fastest rowers were the athletes from the National Guard of Ukraine Training Center in Ivano-Frankivsk, while the Liut women’s team achieved a remarkable double gold.
At the award ceremony, the strongmen who won in their athletic disciplines, received medals and gifts, with all participants receiving commemorative gift sets from MHP.
Beyond the competitions, Valor of the Unconquered featured a charitable fundraiser in support of the 77th Separate Battalion of the 102nd Separate Brigade of the TDF, named after Dmytro Vitovsky. Fans contributed donations in exchange for goulash cooked over an open fire and delicacies from MHP brands. The fundraiser continues among MHP employees until the end of the week, with organizers set to announce the results soon.