Themes by tag: blackout

Prolonged blackouts have become an everyday reality for residents of frontline areas. That is why it is now especially crucial to have autonomous power sources that enable staying connected and operating vital devices, such as oxygen concentrators or anti-decubitus mattresses. Fight For Right helps people with disabilities obtain autonomous power sources. The organization constantly seeks resources to provide as many people as possible with essential equipment.

Journalists may arrange to speak with Fight For Right representatives in Kyiv and, if possible, individuals seeking alternative power sources.

Background: Fight For Right advocates for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the organization has opened a hotline: 0 800 30 66 33. The organization is involved in evacuating people with disabilities and provides targeted aid, psychological support, and legal consultations.

• blackout
• Kyiv

Currently, several hundred animals are being cared for at the Bat Rehabilitation Center in Kharkiv. However, volunteers explain that this is only the beginning of the winter season, and they expect to take in several thousand bats under their care, as they did last year. The bats are brought to the Center from various Ukrainian cities.

There, specialists help the animals survive the winter, a time when bats become vulnerable and require special conditions. Animals needing extra care are fed and treated.

Due to blackouts, the center purchased a generator and an EcoFlow unit because the refrigerators where the bats are kept require constant power.

Since the full-scale war began, the rehabilitation center has increased its operations. Specialists are now focused on bat conservation and scientific research.

Journalists can speak with the Bat Rehabilitation Center coordinator, biologist Alona Shulenko, online or in person in Kharkiv by prior arrangement.

• animals
• blackout
• volunteers
• Kharkiv

In Kramatorsk, less than 20 kilometers from the front line, The Aquarium. Amazing Fish exhibition space continues operating despite escalating danger. Founded by Roman and Iryna in 2020, the venue quickly built the largest collection of marine fish in the Donetsk region before the full-scale invasion upended daily life.

Visitors can still see a wide range of aquatic species, from tangs to flagfish, as well as an ocellate river stingray that has become one of the hall’s standout residents.

As fighting edges closer to the city, some residents fleeing Kramatorsk have entrusted their own fish to the aquarium. Frequent power outages, at times lasting up to two days, pose a serious threat to the animals, and the facility now relies on a donor-funded generator to keep its tanks running. The team says they need a second generator to balance the load and ensure the fish remain safe.

Roman and Iryna are also weighing whether to relocate their marine collection to a more secure location if conditions deteriorate further.

They are available for interviews both in person and online.

• animals
• blackout
• culture

There is a functioning exhibition hall “Aquarium. Amazing Fish” in Kramatorsk, 20 kilometers from the front line. The couple Roman and Iryna founded this exhibition center in 2020. Before the full-scale invasion, they had managed to bring together the largest collection of marine fish in Donetsk region.

Nowadays, visitors can see a wide variety of aquatic life in the Aquarium: from tangs to flagfish. There is also an ocellate river stingray. In addition, the Aquarium sheltered two turtles amidst the war (one was found in the city garden with one leg bitten off, and the other one’s aquarium cracked due to shelling).

As a result of blackouts, both marine and freshwater animals died in the exhibition center. And due to the proximity of “Aquarium. Amazing Fish” to the front line, the founders are thinking about whether they will have to evacuate all the marine inhabitants to safety.

Journalists have the opportunity to communicate with Iryna and Roman online or in person.

• animals
• blackout
• culture

Having an alternative source of electricity has become a matter of survival for people with disabilities in Ukraine. After all, this makes it possible to provide electricity for an oxygen concentrator, charge an electric wheelchair or connect an anti-bedsore mattress. Providing people with sources of alternative energy has become a priority for the Fight For Right NGO.

They are currently working on 30 requests trying to obtain large alternative power equipment, and such requests come in daily

By prior agreement, journalists have the opportunity to talk with representatives of the Fight For Right NGO in Kyiv and, if possible, with people who ask the NGO for alternative sources of electricity.

For reference: the Fight For Right NGO advocates for the observance of the rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the organization has started evacuating people with disabilities, providing assistance at their homes as well as psychological support and legal advice.

• blackout
• Kyiv

In the face of relentless Russian shelling that plunged Kharkiv into darkness, the Korniienko family’s bakery just months after launching their venture in January. Forced to flee to Valky in Kharkiv region, a town 50 kilometers away, now, every day, they make the arduous commute back to Kharkiv, braving the risks of war either by bus or hitchhiking.

Initially specializing in sourdough bread, baguettes, and kid-friendly marshmallows, the Korniienkos quickly adapted to meet surging demand amid the chaos of war. Within three months, their customer base doubled, prompting them to expand their menu with over 10 new bread varieties, constantly innovating to keep up with demand.

Yet, operating in a city under siege comes with its challenges. With power outages a daily occurrence, the family relies on an electric generator to keep their ovens running. Initially funded by grants, they now seek additional support to purchase a smaller oven that can run off the generator.

• blackout
• Kharkiv

Before the full-scale invasion, Daniel Bodu worked as a state auditor in Mykolaiv city in the south of Ukraine. He drew up energy performance certificates for buildings. After the russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Daniel Bodu almost lost his job, because energy efficiency was no longer a top priority for the front-line city, which was suffering from constant russian shelling. Daniel began to look for a new direction to apply his knowledge.

At first, he helped his friends working on production of power stations. In the winter of 2022, when russia began large-scale shelling of the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and everyone needed batteries and power banks, he decided to start his own production. Daniel received funding from a state grant, with which he bought equipment and materials. Then he started 3D printing power banks and power stations. He also hired two specialists and together with them developed several long-lasting power stations. Daniel donates his products to the Ukrainian military free of charge. Civilians can also buy his products.

• blackout
• Mykolaiv

A ‘point of invincibility’ has opened in St. Andrew’s Church in Kyiv. The Kyiv City Military Administration reports that the Point of Invincibility can accommodate several dozen people. It has Internet connection, is equipped with a powerful generator, industrial electric fan heater, medical supplies, hot drinks, and a small library. In addition, any visitor can receive spiritual support, namely, a talk to a priest.

For reference: St. Andrew’s Church is an 18th-century historical architectural monument of decorative art of world significance built in 1747-1762 in the Baroque style by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

• blackout
• religion
• Kyiv

The team of “Zemliachky” (Countrywomen) NGO is working on an animated series about life in occupied Mariupol based on the diary of a local resident named Natalia. The series is called “Mariupol. Military Chronicles of a Civilian.” The last episode was supposed to be released on February 24, the anniversary of the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, however, the process was significantly slowed down due to blackouts.

For reference: “Zemliachky” project was created by a TV presenter and journalist Ksenia Drahanyuk to tell the world about incredible Ukrainian women. After russia’s full-scale invasion, the project turned into an NGO with a volunteer headquarters that helps Ukrainian military women.

• blackout
• Kyiv

Employees of one of the beauty salons in Lviv region were providing hairdressing services, when the power went out. However, they figured that they could finish their work at an Invincibility Center. (There is even a video of how they serve a client who came to have her hair dyed).

The owner of the salon, Anna, says that the rescuers at the Invincibility Center were good to the guests: they treated them to tasty food and tea. She adds that in case of a force majeure with the power supply, she will have to come back to the tent set up by the State Emergency Service.

By the way, this beauty salon holds volunteer “Kindness Days.” Among other things, hairdressing services are provided free of charge to internally displaced persons. And in February, they plan to organize the same for the military.

For reference: Invincibility Centers are places set up during the war where people can stay warm, get access to water, electricity, internet, etc.

• blackout
• volunteers
• Lviv