On Friday, September 1, the annual charitable tournament "Cup of Independence" took place on the artificial fields of NTI named after V. Bannikov, which this year was dedicated to the Day of Memory of Ukraine's Defenders who gave their lives in the fight for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of our state.

The competitions brought together representatives of government bodies, law enforcement agencies, military personnel, politicians, and entrepreneurs for a charitable purpose to raise funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Six teams participated in the event.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

The teams competing for victory and honor were from the Security Service of Ukraine, State Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine "Gryphon", Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Union of Law Enforcement Officers of Ukraine, and Armed Forces of Ukraine FC "Army".

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

"“Thank you for choosing football and through this game supporting your sports attire, communicating, and together we are doing everything possible to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine win our great victory”" — addressed the football teams First Vice President of the UAF Vadim Kostyuchenko.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Participants in the "Cup of Independence" played matches under a round-robin system, playing five games each in two halves of 15 minutes.

As a result, third place went to the team of the Union of Law Enforcement Officers of Ukraine. Second place was taken by the Security Service of Ukraine's team. The champion, who won all matches and, in particular, defeated the final opponent with a score of 5-0, was the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine "Gryphon" team, whose players received the main trophy from the hands of First Vice Presidents of the UAF Oleg Protasov and Oleksiy Mykhaylichenko. The leaders of the national association also awarded medals and football gifts to the winners and participants.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Also, individual award winners were determined:

best goalkeeper — Igor Baydak (Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine "Gryphon");

best defender — Dmitry Djafarov (Armed Forces of Ukraine, FC "Army");

best forward — Bohdan Boyko (Union of Law Enforcement Officers of Ukraine);

best player — Oleksiy Kosin (Security Service of Ukraine).

Photo by Pavel Kubanov