Every great nation has its iconic figures. Taras Shevchenko is such a figure for us, Ukrainians. The Great Kobzar is a symbol of Ukrainians, a prophet and a genius, and at the same time a man among men.

Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs hosted the competition "Shevchenko Readings-2025" in honor of the memory of the poet Taras Shevchenko. It was attended by teams from the Educational and Research Institutes No. 1-5, Sumy branch and Kremenchuk Flight College, who competed in two nominations: "Recitation of Taras Shevchenko's work" and "Original genre".

The contestants' performances were evaluated by a competent jury, which included: the Head of Kamianets-Podilskyi district military administration of Khmelnytskyi region, Oleksandr ANURIEV, the Mayor of Kamianets-Podilskyi city, Mykhailo POSITKO, the Deputy Head of Kamianets-Podilskyi DPD of the Main Police Department in Khmelnytskyi region, Ihor BEZPALYI, the Chairman of the board of the football club "Epicenter" Fedir DANIV, the Head of the social and humanitarian work department, Olena SASHURINA, the Head of the service organization department, Vitalii TARASENKO, the Head of the food supply department of the material supply department, Serhii SUBOTA. The jury was chaired by the university's Vice-Rector, Serhii BORTNYK.

With a minute of silence, the attendees honored the bright memory, resilience, and heroic feat of the soldiers who fell while performing combat missions to protect the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as civilians who died as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The creative event began with the vocal composition "The Dnieper Roars and Groans Wide" performed by the Ukrainian Song Folk Choir "Smotrich".

In the nomination for the best recitation of Shevchenko's works, the following performed: 1st year cadet of the ERI No. 2 Valeria DZIAD with the poem "Days Pass, Nights Pass"; winner of the Petro Yatsyk International Competition of Ukrainian Language Experts, cadet of Kremenchuk Flight College Bohdan PUSHKAROV with the poem "And I Grew Up in a Foreign Land"; winner of the online student art competition "Creative Parallel", student Yana ZELENA with the ballad "Lily"; prize-winner of the Taras Shevchenko Olympiads and winner of the Petro Yatsyk International Ukrainian Language Competition, cadet Anastasia LIASHENKO with the poem "My Thoughts, My Thoughts" in English; cadet Anna MARIUKHA with the poem-message "To Osnovianenko"; prize-winner of the "IV Children's Literary Competition "Perodactyl"", the Taras Shevchenko International Language and Literary Competition of Schoolchildren and Students, participant of the 1st stage of the Small Academy of Sciences in Ukrainian literature, prize-winner of the competitions "Reading Leader" and "On the Paths of the Stonemason", cadet Nikita SHVETS with an excerpt from the poem "Caucasus"; student of the Sumy branch Anastasia MISHURA with the poem "Lament of Yaroslavna".

The head of the jury, Vice-Rector of the university Serhii BORTNYK vividly demonstrated his deep knowledge of the work of the Great Kobzar. His expressive performance of "Both Dead and Alive..." became for the contestants and all those present an example of mastery of declamation and a deep understanding of Ukrainian literature through the work of Taras Shevchenko.

In the nomination "Original Genre" creative performances were prepared by: cadet of Sumy branch Kateryna LISOVENKO, who performed a song based on lines from the poem "Kateryna" accompanied by guitar by cadet Yevheniia SEREDA; dance group of the ERI No. 4 performed the composition "I am the same to you"; creative team of Kremenchuk Flight College presented a song based on lines from the poem "Haydamaki"; The dance team of the ERI No. 5 performed the composition “Days Pass, Nights Pass”; the creative team of the ERI No. 2 prepared the composition “My Thoughts, My Thoughts”; the creative team of the ERI No. 3 performed the song “Fight – You Will Overcome”; the dance team of the ERI No. 1 presented the composition “My Thoughts, My Thoughts”.

Having evaluated the creative performances of the contestants, the jury determined the winners. In the nomination “Recitation of T. G. Shevchenko’s Works”, the first place went to the ERI No. 5, the second place to the ERI No. 3, and the third place to Kremenchuk Flight College.

In the nomination “Original Genre”, the first place was awarded to the ERI No. 2, the second place to the creative team of Kremenchuk Flight College, and the third place to the creative team of the ERI No. 5.

According to the total number of points, the places were distributed as follows: 1st place – ERI No. 2 (148 points), 2nd place – ERI No. 5 (147 points); 3rd place – Kremenchuk Flight College (144 points).

Diplomas were presented to the winners and laureates of the competition by the Vice-Rector of the university, Serhii BORTNYK, and the Head of Kamianets-Podilskyi Regional State Administration of Khmelnytskyi region, Oleksandr ANURIEV.

For a significant contribution to the national-patriotic education of university students, the popularization of Ukrainian culture and traditions, and the promotion of the creative and intellectual development of the younger generation as a guarantee of the successful future of the Ukrainian nation, the Vice-Rector of the university presented the gratitude of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs to:
- the Head of Kamianets-Podilskyi district state administration of Khmelnytskyi region, Oleksandr ANURIEV;