On March 26 in Valencia, ahead of the Ukraine–Sweden match, the players were led onto the field by children of Ukrainian defenders who have been awarded state honors. Behind each name is a personal story of service, courage, and the fight for the country.
“I led Illia Zabarnyi onto the field before the match, and we sang the national anthem of Ukraine together. At that moment, I felt proud,” said Dmytro Melashchenko, 11.
Dmytro’s father, a captain in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, continues to serve. He demonstrated exceptional bravery during battles in the Donetsk region, personally taking part in assault operations and leading the defense of strategic positions. He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (2024).
“I really loved the emotions -the excitement, the fear, but at the same time the joy. I led Vladyslav Vanatonto the field and even managed to shake hands with Heorhii Sudakov and Oleksandr Zubkov! It was an incredible experience,” said Oleksandr Litun, 9.
Oleksandr’s father, Andrii Litun, a lieutenant colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was killed in March 2022 while holding back the enemy’s advance and ensuring the withdrawal of his unit. He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (2022, posthumously).
“I led Anatolii Trubin onto the field. I was shaking all over, like I was full of adrenaline. Only when I got back to the locker room did I relax. But I felt proud to stand next to him,” said Artem Koliada, 11.
Artem’s father, Mykhailo Koliada, was killed on February 13, 2024, during fighting in the Luhansk region. His name is included in the Book of Memory of those who died for Ukraine. He was awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class (posthumously).
Valencia gave the children many unforgettable experiences: attending the national team’s open training session, visiting the oceanarium, and touring the city. But the most important was the atmosphere of a major international match -something that cannot be replicated anywhere else. The sincere, powerful emotions of walking onto the pitch of a 20,000-seat stadium with the national team are memories the children will carry for a lifetime.
This initiative was made possible through the joint efforts of the Ukrainian Association of Football, the Central Directorate for Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.
“The Ukrainian Association of Football uses international matches as a platform to draw attention to the war in Ukraine. Despite the restrictions set by UEFA and FIFA regulations, the UAF engages all available formats of interaction. In particular, during home matches, most of the player escort quota is given to children affected by the war. This gives them the opportunity to take part in the matchday experience on the field alongside the players and become part of the stadium event,” said Olena Balbek, Director of Strategic Development and Sustainability at the UAF and CEO of the UAF Foundation.
“Supporting the families of our servicemen and women is not a one-time effort but a systematic and consistent mission of the Central Directorate for Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This event was implemented as part of the nationwide social project ‘My Country – My Team,’ aimed at uniting the sports community, society, and the military around supporting the children of Ukraine’s defenders. At the same time, such initiatives, carried out with partners, help remind the world of the true cost of Ukraine’s freedom,” said Colonel Oleksandr Kutkov, Head of the Directorate.
“We strive to ensure that these children and their families feel care, attention, and support from society. Initiatives like this help give children meaningful moments of joy while also expressing gratitude to those who gave the most valuable thing -their lives for our country,” said Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
If you want, I can adapt this into a press release version for international media or UEFA-level communication -slightly more formal and structured.
Благодійна організація “Благодійний фонд “Фундація УАФ” є неприбутковою, недержавною організацією, засновником якою виступає Громадська Спілка “Українська Асоціація Футболу”
Політика конфіденційності
