What is FTSU and technological sport?
FTSU develops sports disciplines in Ukraine where the result depends not only on an athlete’s physical fitness but also on their ability to work with technology, make quick decisions, and act precisely and cohesively.
Today the federation develops a whole range of directions: FPV drone racing with payload, CTF (cybersecurity), heavy and light air-drop, laser tag, mission execution on ground robotic complexes (GRC), drone racing, online drone racing, and robotic systems.
Each discipline has its own rules and objectives. In some, the pilot’s speed and reaction time are decisive; in others, it’s precision, tactics, technical preparation, and team coordination. In GRC competitions, athletes must complete assigned missions while operating ground robotic systems.
A separate area of FTSU’s work is holding competitions at various levels, training athletes and coaches, working with youth, and preparing Ukrainian teams for participation in international events.
The federation is also developing cooperation with universities, civil society organizations, and representatives of the technology sector. In particular, in 2026 FTSU signed a memorandum of cooperation with Uzhhorod National University, providing for joint work in education, national-patriotic upbringing, and the development of technological sport.
How FTSU developed
The Federation of Technological Sports of Ukraine was founded in 2023. Since then, FTSU has come a long way — from its first sporting initiatives and competitions to holding national tournaments, developing new disciplines, and forming a national team.
One of the federation’s main tasks from the very beginning has been to create clear rules and opportunities for athletes who choose technological disciplines, and to bring the various directions together into a single system of competition and preparation.
Today FTSU holds competitions, develops new disciplines, engages young people, works with partners, and creates opportunities for athletes who want to develop in technological sport.
The creation of Ukraine’s national team was the next step in this work. Now athletes developing in technological disciplines have the opportunity not only to compete at the national level but also to represent Ukraine at international events.
“For this camp, we gathered the best young people, the strongest athletes and coaches, as well as experts in the field of technological sport. It is important for us that the national team includes Ukraine’s true sporting and technological elite. We will keep doing this work so that our athletes develop, grow, improve their results and times, and ultimately represent Ukraine with dignity at international competitions,” says Artur Bulyhin, President of the Federation of Technological Sports of Ukraine.
Training, lectures, and plenty of practice
The program of the first camp was packed. Over the course of the camp, participants attended lectures, went through theoretical preparation, and spent most of their time in practical sessions.
Special attention was given to pilots: athletes practiced technique, precision, and speed in completing tasks, analyzed their results, and worked on their mistakes.
The lecture program was also an important part of the camp. Volodymyr Birchak — a historian, journalist, researcher, and military serviceman — spoke to the athletes. They discussed the history of Ukraine, the struggle for Ukrainian statehood, and the responsibility of everyone who represents Ukraine today.
For FTSU, this kind of preparation is no less important than training. Members of the national team must be ready not only to compete but also to serve as representatives of Ukraine on the international stage.
The All-Ukrainian tournament
One of the important stages of the camp was the All-Ukrainian tournament, held as part of the preparation program.
The athletes had the opportunity to test their skills directly under competition conditions — with clear regulations, limited time, and the need to perform for results.
Such events give coaches the opportunity to assess athletes’ level of preparation, identify strengths, and understand what the team needs to work on next.
For the national team, it was also a chance to gain competitive experience across different disciplines and see how theoretical and practical preparation performs under real tournament conditions.
Start of cooperation with the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation
During the camp, the Federation of Technological Sports of Ukraine also began cooperation with the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation.
For FTSU, this is a new area of partnership that will make it possible to combine sports training with educational and socially important initiatives.
The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation works to strengthen Ukrainian statehood, security, and international standing, supports educational, cultural, and awareness-raising projects, and also focuses on civic resilience, historical memory, and countering disinformation.
The very first joint effort was the work with the national team during the training camp.
“We see our key contribution to the cooperation with the Federation not only in supporting its programs, but also in strengthening them with a civic education component. This includes lectures and master classes on human rights, civic activism, countering disinformation, and historical memory. It is important for us that such programs not only develop young people’s practical skills but also contribute to shaping responsible citizenship and social resilience,” says Yaryna Yasynevych, Program Director of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation.
Thus, the first camp became not only the start of the national team’s joint preparation but also the beginning of a new partnership, in which sports training will be complemented by educational and awareness-raising programs.
The first camp of Ukraine’s national team was an important start for the team. Ahead lie new training sessions, competitions, selection, and preparation of athletes for international events.
FTSU will continue working on the development of technological sport in Ukraine, the preparation of athletes and teams, and the creation of new opportunities for those who want to develop in sport and technology.
Support for the project will be provided for the development of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation.
