Participant of the regional competition “Young Person of the Year - 2025” in the nomination “Heart devoted to Donetsk region” Yelyzaveta MORENKO
My name is Elizaveta Morenko. I am 22 years old. I am from Bakhmut, a city that will always remain in my heart, even though I was forced to leave it because of the war. I was born and raised in Bakhmut, and took my first steps in sports, social activities, and volunteering. This city has shaped me as a person with a strong inner core, dedication, and faith in Ukraine and its future.
When the full-scale invasion began, I stayed in Bakhmut for a few more months, helping with volunteer initiatives, weaving camouflage nets, and trying to be useful to my community. At the same time, I continued my training and education as much as possible. In May 2022, I was forced to leave, but the connection with Donetsk region never broke.
Today, I continue to actively help the people of Bakhmut by joining the initiatives of the Bakhmut Hub in Kyiv. My involvement is in organizing events, hosting events and supporting volunteer initiatives. We regularly organize workshops, sports events and demonstrations for children from Bakhmut, Mariupol and other frontline areas. For us, these meetings are much more than just sports - they are about support, unity, and rays of faith in ourselves and in invincible Ukraine.
I have been playing sports for 10+ years. My life is inextricably linked to competitions, traveling, training, but most importantly, representing Ukraine on the world stage.
I am an international master of sports in sumo, a member of the Ukrainian national sumo team, world champion in 2023-2024, vice-champion of the World Martial Arts Games, European champion among youth and adults since 2015, winner of European Cups, champion of many international and national tournaments.
I also compete in such sports as sambo, beach wrestling, belt wrestling, beach sambo, and Ukrainian Spas. I have successes in these sports: in sambo, I am the winner of the Ukrainian championship and a medalist of the international tournament, in beach wrestling, I am the European champion and vice-champion of the World Championship, in belt wrestling, I am a multiple champion of Ukraine and the champion of the international tournament in 2025.
My titles: Master of Sports of International Class in Sumo, vice-champion of the World Beach Wrestling Championships (2021), prize-winner and champion of Ukraine in Alysh belt wrestling (2021-2025), champion of the Alysh International Wrestling Tournament (2025), multiple champion and prize-winner of the World Sumo Championships among youth and adults since 2018, European Beach Wrestling Champion (2020), multiple champion and medalist of European Championships and European Cups, intercontinental sumo competitions since 2015, winner of numerous national competitions.
I am proud to glorify Ukraine in the international arena and show the world the strength of our nation through my work.
I also administer the page of the Ukrainian Sumo Federation - I design, edit videos, create posts, and cover sports events. It is important for me that young people see that sport can be modern, beautiful, and inspiring.
In addition to sports, I am active in public life. I participated in the VII Regional Youth Forum "Let's Change the Country Together. Free and Independent", where we discussed issues of mental health, digital security, European integration, joined patriotic, educational and sports events, and honored the memory of the fallen defenders of the country together with representatives of different communities of Donetsk region.
Communicating with veterans and youth leaders inspired me to continue my active work for the youth of Donetsk region.
Another area of my activity is animal volunteering. I help shelters and cooperated with the Patron-Pet center, where I walked and socialized animals. I also take in animals for overstaying and walk dogs in my free time. For me, this activity is a way to show care, love and responsibility, as well as to support those who need it most - both four-legged animals and their owners.
I believe that every step - sporting, social, volunteer - brings us closer to victory and the restoration of our native land. Donetsk region is not only about the land, it is about people, spirit and resilience. And my heart is forever with it.