On May 8, a trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Donetsk Regional State Administration, the Regional Military Administration, the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, the Regional Military Administration, and the public organization “Chess Federation of Ukraine.”
The signing ceremony was attended by Ihor Boiko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Oksana Sakrier, Deputy Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration; and Oleksandr Martynkov, member of the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian Chess Federation and First Vice President of the Donetsk Regional Chess Federation.
“1,126 kilometers—that is the distance that today connects Chernivtsi and Kramatorsk, which is rightfully considered the chess capital of Donetsk Oblast. It was there that the Oleksandr Momot Donetsk Regional Chess Club was founded, which has nurtured a whole galaxy of outstanding athletes, including world champion Ruslan Ponomariov. Despite the war, forced relocation, and all the challenges of the present, chess players from Donetsk Oblast continue to train and compete at various levels. “The signing of this memorandum is another important step toward uniting our efforts to support children, youth, and the development of the chess movement. I am convinced that our cooperation will yield significant results and contribute to the implementation of new sports initiatives,” noted Ihor Boiko.
As a token of gratitude for their support and partnership, Ihor Boiko presented Oksana Sakrier and Oleksandr Martynkov with commemorative awards from the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Regional Military Administration.
The meeting culminated symbolically with the first moves on the chessboard, which Ihor Boiko and Oksana Sakrier made to represent the unity of the two regions and their commitment to long-term cooperation for the development of chess in Ukraine.
The memorandum opens up new opportunities for children and youth from the Donetsk region and other regions affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war. In particular, it provides for the organization of friendly matches, training camps, physical education and sports events, and chess competitions.
Special attention will be given to the professional development of specialists: regular exchanges of experience between coaches and sports judges from the Donetsk and Chernivtsi regions are planned, as well as joint seminars and master classes with the support of the NGO “Chess Federation of Ukraine.”