A diplomatic ceremony in Prague celebrated young Ukrainians who achieved top results in schools, sports and arts, revealing surprising personal stories and growing community ties.

The Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic hosted the third gathering of talented Ukrainian children who currently live in the Czech Republic and demonstrate successes in academics, sports, and the arts, representing Czech educational and sports institutions.

According to the diplomatic mission, between 2022 and 2025 the children have achieved various victories in education, sports, and the arts, highlighting their talents and support for Ukraine.

“Dear children, you are our today’s heroes and the finest ambassadors of all ages and peoples. You are promoting Ukraine here in the Czech Republic. People look at you and understand how talented, beautiful, and powerful the Ukrainian people are. Not only can your parents be proud of you, but all of Ukraine is proud of you today.”

– Vasyl Zvarych

The main focus of the meeting was on the fact that this format allows young Ukrainians to express gratitude to their Czech friends for the conditions they create for students and talented children, for the opportunities to study and develop their abilities in the host country.

Zvarych also thanked the parents for, despite everything, maintaining a connection with the homeland, culture, language, and traditions, raising the children in the appropriate spirit.

Zvarych handed out 44 acknowledgments and signed “diplomatic cards” with the inscription: “Wishing you new victories with Ukraine in your heart. Thank you, Vasyl Zvarych” and a badge – a symbol of the Ukrainian diplomatic service. These mementos were awarded to children and adolescents aged 8 to 18. They became prize-winners in sports competitions (football, hockey, taekwondo, karate, Greco-Roman wrestling, handball, beach volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, trampoline jumping), laureates of creative festivals (vocal, dance) and prize-winners of school Olympiads in various subjects (mathematics, English, Czech, literature, natural sciences, geography, history and ecology).

Children with their parents, mostly mothers, arrived from different corners of the Czech Republic and represent various regions of Ukraine. A significant portion of them ended up in the Czech Republic after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

At the Embassy they spoke with some guests: twins Artur and Damir Chizhovy – the youngest laureates, they are 8 years old, they arrived in Prague from Kyiv in the spring of 2022. They adapted to studies and now receive high marks, they especially love mathematics; as a result of the competition they became prize-winners at Curie School.

Among the oldest is Ihor Khobot, 18 years old. He also came at the start of the full-scale invasion from Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Learning the language was not easy, but new friends and teachers helped. The sports talents of the boy were noticed by coaches, and now he is a European champion and a winner of international kyokushin karate tournaments as part of the Senshi Gym club.

Natalia Melnyk, 11 years old. The girl moved from Novoyavorivsk, Lviv Oblast, on February 25, 2022 with her grandmother and brother. She is a prize-winner of the Pangea mathematical contest, representing one of the schools in the Prague 5 district of the Czech capital. Natalia dreams of becoming a teacher, to teach mathematics.

Kristian Kovtun, a year older, from Uzhhorod. He arrived in Brno in March 2022. Silver prize-winner of the final stage of school handball competitions as part of the ZŠ Čebín team and prize-winner of football tournaments in the Kuřim club.

The awarding ceremony of this format at the Embassy took place for the third time. If previously about fifteen families participated, this time the participation was higher.

This event confirms the activity of Ukrainian children in the Czech Republic and their ongoing connection with their homeland, as well as gratitude to Czech friends for the opportunities provided by educational and sports institutions.

A substantive summary of the event

The event underscores the importance of supporting the talented youth of the Ukrainian diaspora abroad and fosters the development of their abilities in the host country, while strengthening the friendship between Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Children receive recognition for their achievements and new opportunities for education and sport, which inspires them and their parents to new victories.