Donetsʹkyy Natsionalʹnyy Tekhnichnyy Universytet

Donetsk National Technical University is one of the leading and oldest higher education institutions in Ukraine, with a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and a strong reputation recognized both nationally and internationally.
Its history began in 1921 with the establishment of the Donetsk Mining Technical School. Within a short period, it was transformed into a higher education institution, first becoming the Donetsk Mining Institute and later the Donetsk Industrial Institute.
In 2014, following the outbreak of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, the university was forced to relocate. By order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and in order to ensure the safety of students and staff as well as the continued operation of the institution within the legal framework of Ukraine, DonNTU was transferred to the city of Krasnoarmiisk (now Pokrovsk). The university resumed its activities on the premises of its structural subdivision, the Industrial Institute.
With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, DonNTU was once again compelled to evacuate, this time to Lutsk. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of its academic and administrative staff, the university successfully relocated 60 tonnes of equipment, 25 laboratories, and hundreds of files containing essential documentation. The university’s primary goal remained unchanged: to protect its students and ensure the continuity of education.
28 August 2024 marked a new chapter in the university’s history. On that day, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine issued an order relocating DonNTU to the city of Drohobych.
The initiative received strong support from the Mayor of Drohobych and the City Council. This collaboration led to the idea of establishing Drohobych Science City, a science park aimed at fostering innovation, strengthening engineering education, and supporting the region’s technological development.

Denys Shylenko, the Acting Rector of DonNTU and an internally displaced academic leader, has firsthand experience of the challenges the university has faced since 2014. During the university’s time in Pokrovsk, he actively collaborated with DonNTU on projects focused on technical education and strategic community development. After the full-scale invasion began, he relocated with his family to Truskavets, where the concept of moving the university to Drohobych was developed. Today, as Acting Rector, he is committed to transforming DonNTU into an “Open Code University”—an institution that is open to its community, partnerships, student initiatives, and modern approaches to teaching and learning.
Since relocating to Drohobych, the university has been actively expanding student sports activities. It has established new sports clubs and regularly participates in national futsal competitions. DonNTU students also train and compete in national and international boxing tournaments.
Beginning next year, alongside the enrolment of new students, the university plans to establish a professional rugby team, further strengthening its sports programme.
The university is also actively developing Military Technological Sport, an innovative discipline that combines competitions across four domains: air, land, water, and cyberspace. Participants compete in operating drones and unmanned ground systems in disciplines including racing, interception, reconnaissance, remote target engagement, and complex mission scenarios.
The Military Technological Sports Federation of Ukraine has already been established and is responsible for the development of this emerging sport nationwide.
Military Technological Sport provides young engineers, programmers, drone operators, and data analysts with opportunities to develop practical skills in an innovative and competitive environment. Students of engineering and technical disciplines gain valuable hands-on experience with advanced technologies while enhancing teamwork and problem-solving skills.
This discipline also creates new opportunities for veterans, enabling them to apply their expertise by mentoring young people, participating in competitions, and testing innovative technologies.
In addition, DonNTU actively cooperates with the Lviv Regional Youth Sports School, which offers training in more than ten different sports, providing students with additional opportunities for athletic development and participation in competitive sports.