Community unity is measured not by words, but by concrete actions, joint training sessions, mutual support, and a willingness to be there when needed. The communities of Bakhmut and Kropyvnytskyi are once again demonstrating this very unity, proving that distance is no barrier to Ukrainian sports.
Today, Bakhmut powerlifters live in different cities across Ukraine, but Kropyvnytskyi has become the city where they can train, grow, and feel at home. From March 16 to 29, this hospitable city hosted the third gathering of the Bakhmut athletes.
As part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities,” thanks to the coordinated cooperation of the Bakhmut and Kropyvnytskyi city councils, as well as with the support of the Kirovohrad Regional Powerlifting Federation “Kirovograd Region Powerlifting Federation” and its head, Yulia Bondarenko, athletes from the Bakhmut City Council’s Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 1 were given the opportunity to train free of charge at the Kropyvnytskyi City Council’s Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 4. This allows the athletes to maintain a high level of preparation for the Ukrainian, European, and World Championships.
The “shoulder-to-shoulder” principle works both ways. The people of Bakhmut did not remain on the sidelines of the host community’s life. During the Kirovohrad Oblast Open Classic Powerlifting Championship, our athletes traded their training gear for the uniforms of assistant referees. The athletes from Bakhmut professionally managed operations on the platform in one of the competition divisions, helping to organize a sporting celebration for all age groups in the Kirovohrad region.
This partnership is more than just sports. It’s an example of how communities support one another. Under the guidance of top-level coaches Serhii and Kateryna Liubchenko, the Bakhmut team continues its journey toward gold medals, feeling the reliable support of their friends from Kropyvnytskyi.
Thank you to everyone who stands with us! We are strong because we are together!
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council