Over UAH 2.5 Million Raised for the Needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine: Recruit Honor Run 2026 Charity Race Held in Kyiv
On June 28, 2026, the “Recruit Honor Run 2026” charity event was held for the fifth time at the Expocenter of Ukraine (VDNH) in Kyiv.
The event brought together more than 3,500 participants, including over 700 active-duty service members. A total of 23 teams took part in the race, representing various branches and services of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Runners from the United States, Canada, Japan, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries also joined the event. The general media partner was 1+1 media.
Traditionally, 100% of participants’ registration fees will be directed to support the Defense Forces of Ukraine. This year, the total amount of charitable contributions reached UAH 2,563,009. The funds will be distributed among five military units — the winners of the Recruit Cup:
- 1st place — Military Unit 3047, 38th Separate Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine — UAH 1,153,354
- 2nd place — Military Unit A1788, 8th Separate Special Purpose Regiment — UAH 640,752
- 3rd place — OMEGA Special Operations Center — UAH 384,451
- 4th place — KORD Cherkasy 1 — UAH 256,301
- 5th place — KORD Kyiv 2 — UAH 128,150
As part of the “Recruit Honor Run 2026,” a special “Make the Next Step” race was held. This symbolic 100-meter distance was completed by service members and veterans undergoing rehabilitation after severe injuries at the Next Step rehabilitation center in Irpin, as well as graduates of the Next Step and Superhumans rehabilitation centers.
During the “Recruit Honor Run 2026,” the “Alley of the Brave” was introduced for the first time — a memorial zone along the race course. Participants ran past hundreds of plaques featuring photographs, names, and callsigns of fallen Ukrainian Defenders, paying tribute to their memory.
“Today we have gathered here to honor the memory of people who proved with their lives that true strength is measured not by words, but by actions. The Recruit Honor Run is not just a sporting event. It is our gratitude and our remembrance. It is our promise that we will not forget those thanks to whom we have the opportunity today to live, work, raise children, and stand at the starting line under the Ukrainian flag. Each of us is running our own race today. But we are united by one goal — to carry forward the values for which our military heroes, the finest sons and daughters of Ukraine, fought and gave their lives. May every step today be a sign of respect. Every kilometer a sign of remembrance. And every finish line a reminder that we must be worthy of their sacrifice,” said Dmytro Chernytskyi, founder of Run Ukraine and a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The “Recruit Honor Run” was established in honor of military journalist and Major of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Oleksii “Recruit” Chubashev. The event was organized by Run Ukraine in cooperation with Oleksii’s wife, Yuliia Chubasheva.
“I am grateful to everyone who joins the race and completes their distance. I do not take it for granted. This year, the Alley of the Brave appeared on the course, and for me it carries special meaning. It is an honor for me to have the place and the opportunity to tell the stories of people who gave everything they had so that we could live and grow under the Ukrainian sky. Therefore, the least we can do is demonstrate our respect for them through our actions,” commented Yuliia Chubasheva, co-organizer of the Recruit Honor Run and wife of Oleksii Chubashev.
As part of the “Recruit Honor Run 2026,” individual races were held at 10 km and 5 km distances, as well as children’s races.
Among the notable personalities who took part in the event were track and field athlete, Olympic Games and World Championship silver medalist Iryna Lishchynska, TV hosts Oleksandr Pedan and Marichka Padalko, actor Valerii Velychko, and others.
10 km Overall Winners
Women:
- Alina Kovalenko — 38:23
- Sandra Vinter — 39:51
- Olena Basiuk — 40:23
Men:
- Artem Kazban — 31:30
- Anatolii Tonkonozhenko — 31:36
- Vasyl Koval — 31:38
5 km Overall Winners
Women:
- Mari Holota — 18:45
- Karina Yevtushenko — 19:41
- Yelyzaveta Moskalenko — 19:47
Men:
- Dmytro Ivanov — 15:22
- Volodymyr Kyrychenko — 17:12
- Oleksandr Sukhenko — 17:13
Official event website: recruitrun.runukraine.org
Organizer — Run Ukraine
Ideological Partner — Energoatom
Sports Partner — Puma
About the Organizations
Energoatom is Ukraine’s leading electricity producer and a key company ensuring the country’s energy stability. The company operates four nuclear power plants: Rivne NPP, South Ukraine NPP, Khmelnytskyi NPP, and Zaporizhzhia NPP (temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation). The company is among Ukraine’s largest employers, one of the country’s largest taxpayers, and systematically supports the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Run Ukraine is the organizer of Ukraine’s largest running events. Since 2010, the company has held more than 150 international competitions for runners and sports enthusiasts. Run Ukraine’s mission is to organize world-class mass participation sporting events and inspire and motivate people to take up running.
Remember that you can support Ukrainian defenders through trusted channels during these times.
