09.02.2026
The team from JSC Vinnytsiaoblenergo emerged as the winners of the VI Charity Football Tournament Energy Cup – Spring 2025, organized by Energy Club. This traditional event for Ukraine’s energy community brought together 12 teams from leading industry companies for a noble cause: raising funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Vinnytsiaoblenergo team demonstrated exceptional skill and cohesion, rightfully earning the tournament’s gold medals. However, the primary victory of the Energy Cup was the unwavering solidarity of power engineers in supporting Ukrainian defenders. All funds raised during the competition were used to purchase critical equipment for the legendary K-2 unit — the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s Unmanned Systems Battalion (currently reorganized as the 20th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade), under the command of Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel Kyrylo Veres.
Early this summer, Energy Club plans to host the Energy Cup 2026 football tournament, which will also support the K-2 unit.
For Vinnytsiaoblenergo, charity is an ongoing commitment. The company’s employees promote a healthy lifestyle and prove through their own example that sports unite people, according to Yurii Kasich, CEO of JSC Vinnytsiaoblenergo. The company’s trade union supports charitable events, employees who are directly performing combat missions, and the families of fallen heroes. Simultaneously, it provides essential aid to military units, including vehicles, Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, charging stations, computer equipment, and more.
The company supports Energy Club’s charitable initiatives, which prove that the industry community can be effective in its professional duties while maintaining a strong civic stance, the CEO emphasized.
— Mr. Kasich, why did your company decide to participate in last year’s Energy Cup? What is more important to you — sports, team spirit, or supporting the army?
— For JSC Vinnytsiaoblenergo, participating in the Energy Cup is primarily an opportunity to join a collective effort to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. While sports and team spirit are vital for building workforce cohesion, in our current reality, the primary motive remains helping our defenders. The Energy Cup combines all these values into one powerful initiative, which was the deciding factor for our participation.
— How do you evaluate the organization of the tournament and Energy Club’s initiative? What inspires you most about their work?
— The organization was at a high professional level — from logistics to the atmosphere of unity that was created. I am particularly inspired by Energy Club’s systematic and consistent approach to combining sports, corporate culture, and charity. It is an example of how an industry community can be both professionally efficient and civically strong.
— How is the Vinnytsiaoblenergo team formed? Is participation voluntary, or are there specific selection criteria?
— The team is formed on a voluntary basis. We support the initiative of employees who wish to represent the company at such events. At the same time, physical fitness, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility are crucial — as participants represent the entire collective of JSC Vinnytsiaoblenergo.
— How is the company currently helping the Armed Forces? How important is the support from energy workers, who are also “frontline fighters” today given the state of the power grid?
— Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Vinnytsiaoblenergo has systematically supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine both financially and materially, providing equipment and other necessary resources. Meanwhile, power engineers hold their own “frontline” every day, ensuring the stable operation of the energy system under constant threats and attacks. This support is critical because having light in homes, hospitals, and factories is also a component of our national defense capability.
— What impressions did you have after last year’s games? What was most memorable?
— The tournament left very strong and warm impressions. What stood out weren’t just the intense and emotional matches, but the sense of unity between teams from different companies, all brought together by a common goal. Energy Cup became an example of true teamwork — both on and off the field.
— What did this victory mean for the team and the company as a whole? Do you plan to continue participating in such competitions?
— The victory was a source of pride and inspiration for the entire team and staff. It proved once again that unity, mutual support, and shared values deliver results. We certainly plan to continue participating in such competitions and supporting Energy Club’s initiatives, especially those aimed at helping our defenders.
The Energy Cup has proven once again: a true team is formed not just for trophies, but above all for the future of Ukraine.
This year, teams from Ukrainian energy enterprises will return to the football pitch to demonstrate unity, teamwork, and the will to win. Given the state of the energy system and the situation in Ukraine, the Energy Cup 2026 will be truly symbolic. Energy workers for the front. Heroes for heroes. On the football field, they play for victory; in life, they play for the country. And this game continues until Ukraine’s ultimate victory.
