Vasyl Kostyuk continues to support Ukrainian karate: award ceremony for the winners of the Ukrainian Championships in Lviv
On 6–8 November, Lviv hosted the Ukrainian Karate Championships for cadets, juniors, under-21s and adults. The national championship brought together more than 600 athletes from 15 regions of Ukraine and served as a key stage in the selection process for the national and youth teams for 2027.
Among the guests of honour at the competition was Vasyl Kostyuk — a sponsor of the Ukrainian Karate Federation and a long-standing supporter of the development of the sport in Ukraine. He took part in the awards ceremony for the championship winners and medallists, commending the athletes on their results and achievements.
The tournament was attended by leading Ukrainian karatekas, including experienced members of the national team and young athletes who had recently won medals at the 2026 World Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland.
Among the winners of the national championships was 18-year-old Ulyana Baranova, who was crowned Ukrainian champion in the U21 age group. She had previously won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. World Championship medallists Mark Dorosh, Nikita Dmitrenko and Ivan Matsenko also claimed victories on the Lviv tatami.
As Dmitry Negaturov, head coach of the Ukrainian junior national team, noted, the high level of competition at the national championships is testament to the considerable potential of Ukrainian karate. Even athletes who have already won world-class honours must prove their readiness to compete for a place in the national team, as there are strong rivals in every weight category.
At the end of the championships, the Chernivtsi Oblast team achieved the best result in terms of the number of gold medals — 13 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals. Kyiv came second with 9 gold, 13 silver and 22 bronze medals. The Odesa region came third with 9 gold, 3 silver and 23 bronze medals.
The competition was held in memory of Andriy Khoroshko, Rostyslav Parkhomenko and Serhiy Ryabokon, members of the Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, who lost their lives whilst defending Ukraine’s independence.
Vasyl Kostyuk has been consistently supporting the development of Ukrainian karate for over three years. His support includes funding the Ukrainian junior national team, facilitating athletes’ participation in international tournaments and recognising their sporting achievements.
Recently, with the support of Vasyl Kostyuk, the Ukrainian national team took part in the World Junior Karate Championships in Poland, where the national team set a new medal record. Supporting athletes at various stages of their training and during international competitions remains a key component in the development of Ukrainian karate.
