Participant in the regional contest “Young Person of the Year – 2026” “Leaders of Knowledge” category: Parienko Kirilo
Kirilo Parienko was born in Donetsk; due to the hostilities, he and his family first moved to the Bakhmut district, and in 2021 they relocated to Dnipro. He is the oldest of six children in a large family.
Kirill has been playing soccer since he was six. He played for the “UFK-Kryvbas” club, and since 2024 has been studying at the Dnipropetrovsk Professional College of Sports. Alongside his athletic training, he is pursuing a musical career: he sings, plays electric guitar, and drums. Under the stage name KIRO PARIENKO, he has released seven original songs on digital platforms, among which the track “Donbas Arena”- dedicated to memories of his hometown-holds a special place.
In 2025, Kirill made it into the top 15 finalists of the National Selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Throughout 2026, he won the Grand Prix and first prizes in more than 10 singing competitions, and advanced to the finals of the “Chervona Ruta” festival and the “Dity.HelpMusic” competition with the song “Majory.”
In May 2026, Kirill was awarded the Oleksandr Pol Scholarship, named after the mayor of Dnipro, for his contributions to youth initiatives and patriotic education. He also regularly performs at cultural events to support internally displaced persons and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.