In a moment that quietly transcends competition, a 17-year-old student from Norway turned personal achievement into an act of solidarity. Instead of celebrating his victory with a reward, Skomantas Urbonas chose to give it away – entirely.
The young winner of Norway’s national math competition donated his full prize of 15,000 NOK (approximately €1,330) to support Ukraine, as reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, according to European Pravda.
His decision was not symbolic – it was deliberate. The entire amount was directed toward Ukraine’s defense forces and healthcare system, areas that continue to face immense strain.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared his words: “I have always heard that evil can only prevail when good people do nothing. That is why I felt that this achievement would have greater significance if it could contribute to Ukraine’s victory.”
The gesture drew recognition from Ukrainian officials. Ukraine’s ambassador to Norway, Oleksii Havrysh, personally accepted the donation and expressed his gratitude, highlighting the significance of such a principled act in the broader context of international support during the ongoing conflict.
Skomantas’s decision echoes a wider pattern of civilian-driven initiatives across Europe. During the winter energy crisis of 2025–2026, the Czech volunteer initiative “A Gift for Putin” mobilized support at remarkable speed, raising more than 5 million euros in just five days to provide generators for Kyiv. In December, the same initiative received an anonymous donation of 4 million euros, later distributed among multiple aid projects.
In Lithuania, the Radarom! campaign marked the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion by raising 4 million euros to fund robotic systems for Ukraine.