Zaporizhstal employee and veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war Oleksandr Yermakov led a military team to victory at the 2026 Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Cup charity chess tournament.
The competition took place in Kyiv and brought together teams of servicemen, schoolgirls, Members of Parliament, university rectors, and representatives of local communities. The purpose of the tournament was to raise funds in support of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.
Oleksandr YERMAKOV has many years of experience in chess and holds the position of Vice President of Zaporizhzhia Regional Chess Federation. He is a winner of corporate chess tournaments and a three-time Ukrainian champion among combat veterans. Before the war, he worked at Zaporizhstal, and in 2015 he took up the defence of Ukraine in the ATO zone in Donbas. Following the launch of the full-scale invasion, he served as a Chief Sergeant of a howitzer within the 60th Mechanised Brigade and subsequently in the 47th Brigade. Following his service, he returned to his home enterprise, where he is currently employed as a Rolling Stock Inspector in the Railway Transport Department and actively participates in the enterprise’s and the company’s veteran initiatives.
“Zaporizhstal has developed a strong veteran community – we are united not only by our work, but also by our shared combat experience. For this reason, we spend a great deal of time together: we take part in sporting events, engage with young people, participate in community clean-up initiatives, and join health and recreational programmes, as well as shared leisure activities. This further strengthens our cohesion, providing a sense of support and the assurance that one is not alone. And this is truly of great value,” Oleksandr shares.
The ‘Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Cup 2026’ tournament was conducted in a rapid format under the Swiss system over five rounds. At the chessboards, Oleksandr Yermakov and the other participants demonstrated not only sporting skill, but also composure, strategic thinking, and strength of character The team of veterans and combatants, led by Oleksandr, scored 21.5 points and took first place.
“We won a prize of 10,000 hryvnias and unanimously decided to donate these funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Other prize-winners of the tournament followed our example. The cup was ultimately awarded to the Institute of Defence, where one of our players – Deputy Head of the Institute, Colonel Dmytro Shevchenko – is employed. It will be placed in a place of honour in the hall of sporting glory,” Oleksandr Yermakov noted.
The awards ceremony was conducted by Olympic champion and First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sport, Zhan Beleniuk, together with representatives of the Chess Federation of Ukraine and Kyiv Chess Federation.
The organisers of the tournament noted that the victory of the Ukrainian servicemen was particularly symbolic, as they demonstrate strength of spirit not only on the battlefield, but also in peaceful intellectual competition.
