On 29 August, Ukraine came together for the annual patriotic run ‘I Honour the Warriors, I Run for the Heroes of Ukraine’, dedicated to the Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Ukraine who died fighting for the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Donetsk region took part in the event, which was held for the ninth time in 2026, across many regions of the country. Regional venues were organised for participants in over 30 towns, whilst in a further 20 settlements, representatives of the region were brought together by local authorities. Internally displaced persons from the Donetsk region also joined the run in 32 countries around the world.
According to registration data, the total number of participants from the Donetsk region was around 11,500 people. Among them were representatives of local authorities and regional organisations, war veterans, serving military personnel, as well as family members of veterans, military personnel and fallen defenders of Ukraine. Participants chose between distances of 2 km, 5 km or 10 km, which they completed either individually or as part of organised groups.
In Dnipro, the run was joined by Ihor Boiko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Nataliia Tochilova, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration’s Department of Physical Culture and Sport; Inna Starostina, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration’s Department for Veterans’ Policy; and representatives of a number of communities in the Donetsk region and the region’s sporting community.
‘Today we are running in memory of our defenders – both men and women – who gave their lives for Ukraine. It is important that their courage, strength of spirit and resilience remain an example for future generations forever. I dedicate my run to military paramedic Inza Sokolovska, who was killed in August 2022 near Bakhmut. At the same time, together with the whole of Donetsk Oblast, I pay tribute to each and every one whose names the runners have pinned to their T-shirts today. “We remember our heroes and thank them for a free and independent Ukraine,” said Ihor Boiko.
Participants in the “I Honour the Soldiers, I Run for the Heroes of Ukraine” run, held at centrally organised venues for residents of the Donetsk region, received commemorative medals featuring the event’s symbol and that of the Donetsk region after crossing the finish line.
Once again, this patriotic run brought together thousands of Donetsk residents across Ukraine and the world around a shared aspiration – to honour the fallen heroes with dignity. Every name on a participant’s T-shirt served as a reminder of a specific person, their life story, courage and self-sacrifice. As long as we remember those who gave their lives for Ukraine, their heroism will live on in our hearts and deeds.