As part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities,” the Bakhmut and Kropyvnytskyi territorial communities continue their collaboration in the field of sports, based on mutual support and assistance.
Since last year, Yulia Bondarenko, head of the Kirovohrad regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Powerlifting Federation of Ukraine,” has been supporting athletes from Bakhmut by providing sports facilities for their training in Kropyvnytskyi. Representatives of the Bakhmut community, for their part, are participating in organizing sports events in the partner community.
On September 20, 2026, Kropyvnytskyi hosted the Kirovohrad Oblast Open Classic Bench Press Tournament for amateur athletes and the Kropyvnytskyi City Open Classic Bench Press Championship for all age groups. The judging panel included Bakhmut residents Serhiy Lyubchenko and Kateryna Lyubchenko—first-category powerlifting judges.
During the awards ceremony, Dmytro Pikulyn was presented with certificates from the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Bakhmut City Council for his significant contribution to the development of physical culture and sports in the Bakhmut City Territorial Community and the Donetsk region.
The Bakhmut community thanks the Kropyvnytskyi community and everyone who supports Bakhmut athletes and helps ensure they can continue their training.
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council