The intellectual shield of the state: young winners of All-Ukrainian and International Olympiads received awards from the President of Ukraine
On December 5, 2025, a solemn ceremony to award the President of Ukraine’s prizes took place in the interactive space of the Museum of Science. The event brought together talented young people, educators, and partners of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports, all sharing a common goal: to build the country’s intellectual capital. Despite the war, the state continues to invest in those who will rebuild and develop the country tomorrow.
This year, 94 young Ukrainians became laureates of the award: 33 winners of international Olympiads and 61 winners of all-Ukrainian competitions. The state reward is 100,000 hryvnias for international winners and 20,000 hryvnias for winners of the IV stage of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiads.
Forty schoolchildren and students from different parts of Ukraine received personal awards in Kyiv: 33 national winners and seven winners of international competitions in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, as well as the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) and the European Olympiad in Experimental Science (EOES).
‘As long as you are here, everything will be fine.’
Olga Budnyk, Advisor-Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. She emphasised the strategic importance of talented young people staying in Ukraine and realising their potential at home.
‘Your achievements are the result of hard work, multiplied by the challenges of wartime. Today, we are defending our country, and we are grateful to our defenders for the fact that we can be here. We want to see you as the people who will move this country forward, and we are confident that Ukraine needs precisely such young leaders. Social mobility is faster than ever before. What takes years abroad, young people in Ukraine achieve much earlier: they become founders of start-ups, government officials, and outstanding scientists. Study, invest time in yourselves, and develop Ukraine. As Vasyl Stus wrote: ‘As long as we are here, everything will be fine,’ said Olga Budnyk.
An ecosystem of support for superhumans
The Fund of the President of Ukraine not only provides financial support, but also builds community. Iryna Tulyakova, Head of the Council of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports, emphasised the concept of ‘empowering the strong’ in her speech.
‘The Fund has a motto: ‘Empowering talented people, strengthening Ukraine’. Your superpower is your intellect, but also the support you receive from others and give to each other. You already bear a great responsibility for the future. Remember: we are creating an environment in which you can grow and apply your knowledge. Use these opportunities to make the country better,’ Iryna Tulyakova addressed the young people.
The participants of the event were also greeted by partners of the Fund of the President of Ukraine. Olena Kvachevska, Acting Director of the National Centre ‘Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine’, spoke about expanding opportunities for young people, announcing the emergence of new areas of work for the MAS from 2026: artistic and aesthetic, patriotic, and tourism and local history.
Oleksiy Moroz, Head of Marketing and Communications Development at Sense Bank, a financial institution that systematically supports education and young people, greeted the participants of the event, emphasising that behind every talent there is hard work and the support of parents and teachers.
A community that changes the world
In addition to the official part, the event became a platform for networking. Participants joined a brainstorming session called ‘Table of Ideas: Building a Community’ in a ‘world café’ format, where they discussed their vision for the development of science and education. The day ended with a ‘Journey through the World of Science and Numbers’ — excursions to the Science and Mathematics museums.
The Fund of the President of Ukraine continues to work to ensure that Ukrainian youth feel the support of the state and have all the tools they need to develop in their homeland. The President of Ukraine’s awards for winners and prize-winners of national and international Olympiads are one of the key instruments of state support for talented students. Every year, they are awarded to dozens of schoolchildren who demonstrate the highest results in science and education.
We are systematically developing an ecosystem of opportunities for young people in Ukraine: awards and scholarships, double degree programmes with leading universities around the world, support for young scientists, and the participation of Ukrainian universities in international initiatives.
Even during a full-scale war, the state and its partners are investing in human capital: supporting Ukrainian talent is a strategic contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine, the preservation and return of knowledge to the country.
