The event was attended by representatives of regional authorities, athletes, DSUIA cadets, and students of the Dnipro Lyceum of security orientation and national-patriotic education named after O. Hostishchev of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the beginning of the meeting, all those present honored the memory of the fallen defenders with a minute of silence.
The event was opened by the Acting Rector of the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Ihor Mahdalyna.
The opening remarks were delivered by the moderator of the event, Assistant to the Rector of DSUIA for Gender Issues, Doctor of Law, Professor, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine Larysa Nalyvaiko. Together with her, the meeting was co-moderated by the Head of the Department for Culture and Sports of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, Chair of the “Women in Sport” Commission of the regional branch of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region, Liliia Hyrenko.
Serhii Ryzhenko — Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, Director General of the Mechnikov Dnipropetrovsk Regional Hospital, the main medical hub of the region, and Head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional branch of the NGO “Shooting Federation of Ukraine” — spoke to the participants about his activities in sports and public life.
Serhii Ryzhenko also expressed gratitude to all DSUIA donors for their active participation in blood donation at the Mechnikov Hospital and presented Ihor Mahdalyna with a certificate of appreciation.
Dina Miftakhutdinova, an Olympic medalist, member of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, coach of Olympic champions, Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, PhD in Physical Education and Sports, Director of the Regional Olympic Training Center, as well as Oleksii Vilyvanyi, Honored Coach of Ukraine, senior coach-teacher of the shooting department at Kryvyi Rih Youth Sports School No. 7 and the Regional Olympic Training Center, coach of winners and prize-winners of Ukrainian, European, and World Championships and Cups in shooting, also shared insights into their coaching work. Oleksii Vilyvanyi is currently an active serviceman.
In addition, cadets and lyceum students had the opportunity to communicate with Vilena Bevz, a member of the national shooting team of Ukraine, multiple winner and prize-winner of the Championships and Cups of Ukraine (2021–2025), silver medalist in the team event at the European Championship, bronze medalist in the team event at the World Junior Championship 2021, silver medalist in the team and bronze medalist individually at the European Junior Championship, participant of the World Championship 2022, silver medalist of the European Junior Championship 2023, winner and silver medalist of the European Championship 2024, participant of the World Cup 2025, and bronze medalist of the European Championship;
Maksym Himon — International Master of Sports of Ukraine, multiple winner and prize-winner of the Championships and Cups of Ukraine (2024–2026), silver medalist of the World Junior Championship 2024, silver and bronze medalist of the European Junior Championship 2025, silver medalist of the Junior World Cup 2025, and silver medalist in the team event at the European Championship in air rifle shooting;
Viktoriia Rybovalova — member of the national shooting team of Ukraine, multiple winner and prize-winner of the Championships and Cups of Ukraine (2018–2025), World Champion 2022 in the team event, World Champion and silver medalist of the World Championship 2023 in the team event, European Champion and silver medalist both individually and in the team events at the European Championships 2024 and 2025, and three-time European Champion in air rifle shooting 2026.
Those present learned about the sports journeys of the participants and what inspires them to continue their sports careers and improve their skills.
Such events contribute to motivating cadets and lyceum students to engage in sports, fostering leadership qualities, discipline, and willpower, as well as strengthening the connection between education, sports, and patriotic upbringing of future defenders of Ukraine.
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