Seventeen-year-old Skomantas Urbonas, who secured first place in Norway’s national mathematics Olympiad, has chosen to donate his prize of 15,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately 68,000 Ukrainian hryvnias) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to bolster the country’s healthcare system.
This decision was announced via social media by the press service of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement regarding his donation, Urbonas remarked, “I have always heard that evil can only triumph when good people do nothing.” He further expressed that he believes his achievement would hold greater significance if it could contribute to Ukraine’s victory.
“That is why I felt that this achievement would mean more if it could aid Ukraine’s success,” he added.
Urbonas, whose name and social media presence suggest Lithuanian origins, has been residing in Norway for three years, along with his family. His relative, likely his father Mantas Urbonas, commented on Facebook that they moved to Norway due to his diplomatic role at the Lithuanian embassy.
According to information from Urbonas’s account on the scientific platform Wolfram Community, he previously earned a silver medal at the Norwegian Olympiad in 2025 and won the Lithuanian youth national mathematics Olympiad in 2024.
Skomantas Urbonas, a young mathematician from Lithuania residing in Norway, has donated his prize money from a national competition to support Ukraine. His gesture reflects a commitment to humanitarian causes amid ongoing challenges.