Media Center Ukraine Producer Department

On the fourth anniversary of the terrible tragedy that occurred at the Mariupol Drama Theater, journalists are invited to attend memorial events and honor the memory of the civilian and military victims.

In particular, a prayer service will be held in Kyiv on March 15. On March 16, memorial events honoring those killed at the Mariupol Drama Theater will take place in various cities across Ukraine: Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kalush, Kamensk, Kremenchuk, Kropyvnytskyi, Poltava, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Rivne, Ternopil, Uzhhorod, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernivtsi.

For reference: On March 16, 2022, russian occupiers dropped aerial bombs on the Mariupol Drama Theater. The word “CHILDREN,” written in large letters and clearly visible from the sky, did not stop them. Hundreds of Mariupol families were taking shelter in the theater. Hundreds of innocent people were killed that day, including children.

The russian occupation authorities restored the building, permanently destroying any possibility of conducting a fair investigation into the deaths at the Drama Theater.

• children
• dead
• russian crimes
• Dnipro
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Odesa

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

Before the full-scale invasion, brothers Ruslan and Valery Pelekhaty lived ordinary lives. Valery worked at the post office, and Ruslan was a barista. He dreamed of opening his own coffee shop, but the war put all his plans on hold.

From the very first days of the russian full-scale invasion, both brothers were already at the military registration office. Due to the long lines of people eager to enlist, only Valerii was able to join the army; Ruslan was asked to stay with his family.

After a year of service, Valery died from shrapnel wounds. His brother’s death completely devastated Ruslan—they had been the closest of friends their entire lives. Looking through their shared photos, Ruslan decided to open a coffee shop in Valery’s honor, making his photo the centerpiece of the interior. Today, the “Remember” coffee shop in Ternopil has become not only a symbol of remembrance for his brother and a defender of Ukraine, but also a place of support for other soldiers.

Ruslan Pelekhaty is available for interviews online or in person in Ternopil, by prior arrangement.

• dead
• military
• Ternopil

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