Media Center Ukraine Producer Department

David Plaster is a former US military medic. After retiring from service, he traveled to more than 100 countries. In 2012, he decided to settle in Ukraine. In 2014, during the Revolution of Dignity, David treated the wounded on the Maidan.

Following the outbreak of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), David trained Ukrainian service members in tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and prepared instructors to pass on these crucial skills. Back then, a language barrier hindered David’s work, as he had to communicate through gestures with those who did not speak English. Today, the veteran is already fluent in Ukrainian.

Additionally, in 2014, he founded the “Anomaly” non-governmental organization, which provides humanitarian aid, conducts training sessions in both tactical medicine and English, and supports veterans and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each month, the NGO’s team trains between 400 and 800 people in tactical medicine.

Interviews and conversations with David Plaster can be arranged both online and in-person in Kyiv, subject to prior agreement.

• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

To raise awareness for the defenders of “Azovstal” and other service members still held in enemy captivity, peaceful rallies are planned across 29 cities.

On June 13, events will take place in Okhtyrka, Svitlovodsk, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Bila Tserkva, Ostroh, Lviv, and Dnipro.

On June 14, rallies are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Dolynska, Poltava, Lozova, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Rivne, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The events are organized by the families of the Mariupol Garrison prisoners of war. Released Ukrainian POWs themselves frequently join these solidarity actions.

• military
• prisoners

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

On June 15, the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) will host a new “Defence Talks” panel discussion in Kyiv, focusing on the future of Ukrainian defence exports and Ukraine’s strategic positioning within the global arms market.

In recent years, the global defence market has been undergoing a massive transformation. russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has reshaped manufacturing approaches, the pace of technological innovation, and cooperation between state entities and private defense manufacturers. Nations worldwide are increasingly investing in unmanned systems, robotic complexes, software, autonomous solutions, and novel formats of defence partnerships. Real combat experience has emerged as a cornerstone of global competitiveness.

Under these circumstances, Ukraine finds itself in a unique position: while the state remains one of the world’s largest consumers of military equipment, Ukrainian manufacturers have developed cutting-edge technologies and operational practices that are already drawing significant interest from international partners.

In April, Ukraine launched the “Drone Deal” framework — a cooperation format that entails not only the export of Ukrainian-made armaments but also the joint development of new technologies and the transfer of Ukrainian battlefield expertise. The first agreement has already been signed with Lithuania, and work with other European partners is ongoing.

The Defence Talks session will explore the development of Ukraine’s arms export market, the solutions and technologies Ukrainian manufacturers can offer to global partners, and the requirements for making this cooperation systematic and mutually beneficial. Panelists will also discuss how to maintain a sustainable balance between frontline requirements, domestic manufacturing growth, and Ukraine’s integration into the global defence architecture. Special emphasis will be placed on the practical experience of Ukrainian enterprises and military units, which already commands international attention.

Speakers include:

• Denys Svyatokum — Board Member and Head of the International Cooperation Committee of the “Defence” Association of Ukrainian Employers;
• Anastasia Mishkina — Managing Director of the Technological Forces of Ukraine;
• Anton Melnyk — Representative of the “Mits” (Might) Defence Fund and Co-founder of the Techcosystem business alliance;
• Yaroslav Honchar — Co-founder and Chairman of the “Aerorozvidka” NGO;
• Oleksandr Kopyl — F-Drones;
• Oleksandr Yabchanka — Head of the Robotic Complexes Service of the “Da Vinci Wolves” Battalion.

Moderator: Tetiana Nikolaenko, Senior Researcher at NAKO and Deputy Head of the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Event Language: Ukrainian with simultaneous English translation. For security reasons, the exact venue will be disclosed exclusively to registered participants.

Background Information: “Defence Talks” is a signature discussion series by NAKO that brings together state officials, defence industry representatives, civil society leaders, the diplomatic corps, and media professionals to address key trends and challenges within Ukraine’s security and defence sector.

The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s resilience against internal and external threats in sectors critical to national security through independent research, robust advocacy, and public awareness initiatives.

• Kyiv

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

For the second consecutive year, Odesa will host “On the Wave” (Na Khvyli) — a large-scale sports competition for veterans and active-duty servicemembers. For many participants, these games will serve as an entry point into adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball, archery, boccia, and indoor rowing.

The event’s primary mission is to bring defenders together for a few summer days within a supportive community, providing effective tools for physical rehabilitation, psychological decompression, and reintegration into active civilian life.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with representatives from the Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Odesa Regional State Administration, leadership from the “Free Warriors” NGO, and the Invictus Games team in Ukraine. Media representatives will also have designated slots to interview veterans overcoming the consequences of severe battlefield injuries.

The event will take place on June 21 in Odesa. Due to security protocols, the precise venue and schedule will be provided solely to accredited media outlets. Media accreditation remains open until June 19.

Background Information: The event is organized by the Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and the “Free Warriors” Non-Governmental Organization, in cooperation with the Odesa Regional State Administration, under the framework of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The Stratcom Ukraine Center for Strategic Communications (the “Invictus Games” project in Ukraine) joins as a co-organizer under the regional initiative “Invictus Day in Your City”, supported by the Invictus Games Foundation.

• culture
• Odesa

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.