A memorial mini-football tournament in honor of the defender of Donetsk airport, Rusanl Boryvka of the 95th Separate Assault Brigade, took place today on the artificial fields of the V. Banikov NTK.

The tournament was attended by active-duty servicemen, veterans undergoing rehabilitation after returning from the front, and civilians who were forced to leave their homes in eastern and southern Ukraine due to Russian aggression. In total, there were four teams: FC "Patriot", "Friends and Brothers", "VPO", and "Army".

Photo by the UAF press service

The tournament was organized and held with the support of the Ukrainian Football Association, the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to Participants of Anti-Terrorist Operations "Kyiv Military Hub", and the corporation "Profi".

Photo by the UAF press service

According to the results of the semi-finals, the teams "Friends and Brothers", who defeated VPO 9-0, and "Army", which broke through the resistance of Patriot only after a penalty shootout (5-5 in regular time) - 3-1, won. In the decisive match, "Friends and Brothers" emerged victorious over "Army" with a score of 5-3.

Photo by the UAF press service

The UAF plans to continue cooperating with the Kyiv City Center for Rehabilitation and Assistance to Participants of ATO to support our soldiers.

Photo by the UAF press service

First Vice President of the Ukrainian Football Association Anatoliy Demianenko, who participated in the opening ceremony, shared his impressions from the tournament: "During such tournaments, you regret only one thing - that they are dedicated to heroes who have already passed away. This time it's about Rusanl Boryvka, who could have played on the field if there hadn't been a war... But it's great that his memory is honored by playing football!"

Photo by the UAF press service

We in the UAF always help organize such tournaments, we play matches with servicemen, and our defenders regularly play against veterans' teams. We understand very well that football helps our defenders forget about war for a short time. Such social support to soldiers was one of my priorities when I acted as president of the Association of Football Veterans in Ukraine.

In September last year, in difficult circumstances, I agreed to head this organization on an acting basis. At that time, I accepted and did everything I could to be useful. Now the situation has changed, so I decided to leave my position as head of AVFU. This decision was made for personal reasons. Currently, I continue to work at UAF and remain in football because football is my life."

Photo by the UAF press service

Rusanl Boryvka, in whose memory this tournament is dedicated, was a true patriot of Ukraine and an example of bravery. As a young man after completing his mandatory military service, he signed his first contract. He then had peacekeeping missions to Iraq. Rusanl had an active civic position and participated in the Revolution of Dignity. With the beginning of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, he went as a volunteer to the ATO zone, where along with his brothers-in-arms he fought through the most intense battles around Donetsk airport. During combat operations, he found time for his hobby - photography. His photos from the territory of the airfield were seen all over Ukraine. After demobilization, Rusanl helped his brothers-in-arms in rehabilitation after participating in the war, working at the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to Veterans of ATO under KMDA, actively engaged in sports, ran marathons, and participated in Defender Marches.

On February 24, 2022, he once again stood up for our homeland in the ranks of the 95th Separate Assault Brigade. During fierce battles for the city of Izium in Kharkiv region on April 30, 2022, Rusanl took his last battle...