On the eve of Ukraine’s Independence Day, representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Third Army Corps, the “Khartiya” Corps, and the Security Service of Ukraine took part in the CyberWar Cup charity Counter-Strike 2 tournament. The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) served as the technical organizer of the competition.
The Ukrainian Esports Federation provided details on the results and the conduct of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, the Third Army Corps took first place. The team from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine came in second, “Khartiya” finished third, and the SBU came in fourth.
However, the competition’s results were only part of the CyberWar Cup’s objective. The tournament was held as part of a charity fundraiser with a total goal of 2 million hryvnias.
The funds are planned to be allocated to meet the needs of the units themselves. The Third Army Corps is raising funds for autonomous power sources, EcoFlow generators, and drone components. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is raising funds for vehicles, their repairs, and autonomous power sources. The “Khartiya” Corps is raising funds for drones, equipment for unmanned systems, and communications equipment. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is raising funds for EcoFlow units, drone detection devices, FPV equipment, and Starlink Mini devices.
Each team consisted of five service members. Media captains—bloggers and public figures—also joined the competition, helping to draw attention to the tournament and the charity fundraiser.
More Than Just a Competition
For military personnel, participating in such competitions is an opportunity to take a break from the intense work on the front lines for a while. UESF President Maksym Krippa noted that tournaments like these help soldiers take their minds off the daily reality of war, at least for a short time.
Federation CEO Andriy Gryshchenko specifically highlighted the atmosphere of the CyberWar Cup. According to him, a key feature of the tournament was the participation of representatives from various law enforcement agencies in a single esports arena. The soldiers’ own reactions, Gryshchenko said, demonstrated just how much they need this kind of morale-boosting break.
The charitable aspect of the CyberWar Cup went beyond simply raising funds. The event also succeeded in addressing an urgent transportation need for one of the General Intelligence Directorate’s units.
Between July 15 and August 15, the military lost three vehicles, which were damaged and destroyed during combat missions. Representatives of this unit also competed in the CyberWar Cup. The MK Foundation donated a vehicle to the military, which was necessary to restore their mobility.
The history of the CyberWar Cup began in March 2026. The first tournament was held with the participation of representatives from the First Line special forces unit. Subsequently, the competition evolved into a full-fledged charitable project that brings military personnel together through esports and fundraising for the needs of their units.
Military and veteran esports is one of the UESF’s specific areas of focus. The Federation views esports not only as a professional discipline but also as a way for service members to maintain teamwork, participate in competitions, and have the opportunity to relax.