Григорій Козловський 
Every day, fierce battles continue on Ukrainian soil, where our defenders are bravely fighting for Ukraine’s independence and freedom. The military equipment and weapons used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine play an important role in this conflict.
Although today all attention is focused on the U.S. military support for Ukraine, our benefactors and patrons are not lagging behind. Thus, on the Day of the Defender of Ukraine, FC Ruh and its founder, a well-known Lviv businessman and philanthropist Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy, joined a charity football tournament organized to raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The competition raised over UAH 300 thousand for drones for the military.
“Under no circumstances can we allow American support for Ukraine to be cut short. I sincerely believe that the United States will maintain its commitment to the Ukrainian people and ensure that we get the support we need to help Ukraine at this critical time. Ukraine’s resilience, courage and determination have inspired the world. And tournaments like today’s are not only additional drones for the Ukrainian military, but also moral support and a tribute to the fallen who died defending our land,” said the founder of FC Ruh. Григорій Петрович Козловський.
Oleh Shpur, Executive Director of the Foundation for Assistance to Ukraine “Movement to the Future”, said that the Movement responded to the proposal of the Western Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine to hold an event on the Day of Defenders of Ukraine.
“We decided to support this initiative to raise funds for the military who defend our country’s borders. At the same time, the border guards were able to compete with each other, have a good time and enjoy themselves,” said Shpur.
In total, 9 teams from different border guard detachments of the SBGS took part in the competition. The teams played in a 6×6 format (5 field players + goalkeeper), and according to the tournament rules, each team had one football star. In addition, the event was hosted by well-known TV presenter Andriy Bednyakov. The event was attended by the head of the Lviv Regional Department Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the Volyn Regional Department Yuriy Pohulyayko and the head of the Western Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service, Major General Viktor Babiuk.
Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, noted that border guards are always the first to meet the enemy at the border and fight. He emphasized the importance of this tournament being dedicated not only to the memory of the defenders, but also to benefit the soldiers and allow them to purchase such extremely important drones.
In addition to the tournament itself, a charity auction was held, and among the lots were Andrey Pyatov’s gloves with his autograph and a soccer ball with the autographs of football stars. As a result, FC Ruh and its founder, Hryhoriy Kozlovsky, managed to raise more than UAH 300,000 for drones for the military. But the ultimate goal is half a million hryvnias. Anyone can join in to help the military. To do this, you need to donate to the “Drones for the border” collection by following the link.
This is not the first such charity tournament organized by Lviv philanthropist Hryhoriy Kozlovsky and the Yellow and Blacks. Thus, at the beginning of the year, on January 28, FC Ruh held the first large-scale charity tournament in three sports with the participation of show business stars, e-sports, comedians, bloggers and other public figures at the Emily Sport Arena in the Emily Resort complex and FC Ruh Academy. The event raised funds for wings for the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Leleka-1000 drones, Matrice 300 RTK, R-18 (or Punisher) attack drones, generators, and Ecoflow. We managed to raise almost 550 thousand hryvnias. In addition, Polish friends donated 1 million hryvnias, which was used to purchase an R-18 attack drone and 5 powerful generators for the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade Magura.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy added: “FC Ruh has helped and will continue to help with drones, anti-aircraft guns and other necessary equipment to bring the day of Victory over Russian evil closer.”
