SET University Team Ranked in the Top 10 at the First Ukrainian Cybersecurity Championship

The competition took place on September 6–7 at the Ukrainian cyber range Unit Range operated by Cyber Unit Technologies – the Championship’s main technology partner. Thirty-three teams from 18 regions of Ukraine competed in CTF for two days, demonstrating focus, determination, and applied knowledge.

The winners of the Final were the team skif0perator from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Second place went to Snufkink from Lviv, and the bronze medal was claimed by ByteMe from Kyiv.

The top ten also included: 0xRivne (Rivne region), 0x57 (Kharkiv region), Netflix&Chill (Chernivtsi region), KyivShield (Kyiv region), Ghost in the shellcode (Mykolaiv region), milworms (Ternopil region), and WireOnFire (Zhytomyr region).

“We are proud that this is the world’s first Championship in Technological Sport in the CTF discipline. And the fact that the team representing Ukraine at the European Cybersecurity Challenge 2025 in Poland comes from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea once again proves that, despite all circumstances, Ukraine is united, unbreakable, and undefeated,” said Yevhen Vladimirov, Director of the Cybersecurity Center of the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, Head of the National Cyber Competition Committee of the Ukrainian Federation of Technological Sport (UTSF).

“Cybersecurity is not only a technical challenge, but a matter of national security, economic growth, and citizens’ trust. This event clearly demonstrates Ukraine’s determination to be a leader in this field even under the most difficult circumstances,” summed up Asier Santillán Luzuriaga, Head of the “European Integration, Governance and Rule of Law, Civil Society” Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

The winners received Master’s scholarships in Cyber Defence at SET University – an educational investment aimed at transforming sporting achievements into professional careers.

Discussions Shaping Cyber Policy

The Championship Final became not only a battleground for teams but also a hub for expert discussions on cybersecurity. Panel participants represented key government institutions, businesses, universities, and communities. Conversations went far beyond the sporting theme – addressing the country’s development, digital resilience, and human potential.

During the panel “Cybersecurity Development Through Sporting Competitions,” moderated by Vitalii Lavrov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports for Digital Transformation, speakers highlighted cyber sport as a component of national security.

“Today we saw that CTF cybersecurity competitions have matured into a full-fledged discipline of technological sport. We have high-level organization, strong representation from most regions, professional judging, and sporting intrigue. Most importantly, we have talented youth – the very reason we want to keep organizing events of this scale,” emphasized Vitalii Lavrov.

Speakers – Serhii Demediuk (Deputy Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, Deputy Head of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center), Brigadier General Oleksandr Potiiy (Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection), Oleksandr Fediyenko (Member of Parliament), Andrii Okayevych (Head of the Cybersecurity Situation Center, Security Service of Ukraine), and Yevhen Vladimirov (Head of the National Cyber Competition Committee, UTSF) – stressed that recognizing CTF as an official sport opens the way to systemic funding and the creation of cyber arenas – the equivalents of stadiums for cyber defenders.

Concrete proposals were voiced: regional bug bounty programs for testing regional state administrations’ systems, establishing the position of CISO in every government body, and launching a State Service of Special Communications League to foster professional development through competitions. The Ministry of Youth and Sports was also highlighted as a cybersecurity stakeholder responsible for developing human potential.

Business and Cyber Competitions: Partnership Beyond Sponsorship

At the panel “Cybersecurity in the Commercial Sector,” moderated by Yevhen Vladimirov, business leaders shared practical insights.

Taras Dzhamalov (General Manager, Lenovo Ukraine), Ihor Fedirko (Executive Director, Ukrainian Gun Owners Association), Maksym Petlovanyi (COO, Institute for Cyber Warfare Studies NGO), Eduard Karaush (Head of Information Security, Raiffeisen Bank), and Yevheniia Klepa (Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SET University) agreed that competition participants are job-ready immediately after tournaments – their skills proven under conditions close to real-life.

Business representatives emphasized that cooperation with cyber sport goes beyond sponsorship: it is an investment in the future of Ukraine’s digital resilience. Supporting such tournaments is not only corporate responsibility but also a contribution to youth development, noted Ihor Fedirko:

“Business security is about everyday habits: fewer unnecessary accesses, greater responsibility, a prepared team. Today we clearly heard the business stance: cooperation with cyber sport goes beyond sponsorship – it’s an investment in the future of Ukraine’s digital resilience. Our goal is simple: protection, continuity, and growth. That’s why we gather – to build an environment where sensitive data is secure, businesses run uninterrupted, and young talents become part of the cybersecurity system.”

Regions as a Source of New Cyber Defenders

The panel “Regional Cybersecurity,” moderated by Maksym Petlovanyi, demonstrated that local communities are where teams capable of strengthening national defense are formed.

Speakers included Yaroslav Kucher (Advisor to the Head of Zakarpattia Regional State Administration), Maksym Stoliarchuk (CDTO, Kyiv Regional State Administration), Dmytro Havryliak (Head of Digital Transformation, Development and Digitization Department, Mykolaiv RSA), Kostiantyn Lopushanskyi (CDTO, Zhytomyr RSA), and Nataliia Tokar (Head of Sport and Physical Activity Department, Vinnytsia RSA).

Regional CDTOs have already become drivers of selections and plan to hold regional championships in every oblast next year. The competitions uncovered new talent, and participants agreed on developing special support programs at the local level.

The role of communities and mentors was explored in the panel “The Role of Cyber Communities in Developing Technological Sport,” moderated by George Paparigas (Board Member, Institute for Cyber Warfare Studies NGO).

Speakers – Serhii Khariuk (CEO, AmonSul), Anton Korzhynskyi (BugStream), Andrii Hryshchenko (Communications Advisor, NAVI esports, Chair of the NOC of Ukraine Esports Commission), Vadym Tkachuk (Coach, 0xRivne), Mykhailo Sulim (Coach, BARRACUDA), and Serhii Babych (Coach, NUWM) – emphasized that communities, trainers, and mentors create the environment where future professionals grow. Cooperation mechanisms with UTSF were discussed, along with the idea of introducing awards for trainers and volunteers as additional motivation.

Women’s Leadership in Cybersecurity

Gender balance took center stage at the panel “Women’s Experience in Cybersecurity,” moderated by Ihor Malcheniuk (Director of the Cyber Defence Department, State Service of Special Communications).

Panelists included Nataliia Tkachuk (Head of Information and Cybersecurity Service, NSDC of Ukraine), Viktoriia Itskovych (Head of ICT Department, Kyiv City Administration), Anastasiia Ostrovska (Co-founder & CEO, Women’s Leadership and Strategic Initiatives Foundation), and Yevheniia Nakonechna (Head of State Cyber Defence Center, State Service of Special Communications).

Experts stressed that expanding opportunities for women in cybersecurity is critical for cultivating a new generation of leaders. Women already lead key areas in both government and private structures, and this experience should be scaled through national educational programs.

Education as the Foundation of Cyber Resilience

The final panel “Cybersecurity Education” gathered representatives of universities and educational initiatives: Alina Simonova (SET University), Oleh Haiduk (Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics), Trokhym Babych (Kyiv-Mohyla Academy), Oleksii Shatyrko (Kyiv School of Economics).

Moderated by Yevhen Vladimirov, the discussion concluded that education is the backbone of cyber resilience. The key focus was on integrating competitions into the educational process. From school to Master’s level, a unified educational track must be built to form the state’s talent pool. Particular attention was paid to building the Federation’s cyber infrastructure as a resource for institutions nationwide.

The Championship demonstrated that cyber competitions are more than sport. They are a new ecosystem where government, business, education, and communities converge. Ukraine is not only preparing the next generation of cyber defenders – it is shaping a national model of cyber resilience that could serve as an example for other countries.

Organizers: Federation of Technological Sports of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine

Under the auspices of: National Cybersecurity Coordination Center at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

With the support of: the EU4DigitalUA project, funded by the European Union and implemented by FIAP, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Counterintelligence Department for State Interests Protection in the Field of Information Security of the Security Service of Ukraine, SOC “A”

Partners: Ukrainian Gunsmiths Association, Cyber Unit Technologies, SET University, Institute for Cyber Warfare Studies (ICWR), Sheriff

General Sponsors: Raiffeisen Bank, Lenovo, WhiteBit

Official Sponsors: iIT Distribution, Vyriy

Community Partner: DC8044 — the largest cybersecurity community in Ukraine

Media Partners: Sport Business Media, Scroll, Speka