Themes by tag: casualties

The Doctors for Heroes charity project is dedicated to helping both military personnel and civilians by performing facial and head reconstructive surgeries following severe injuries. To date, the initiative has enrolled 240 soldiers and two civilians in its program.

Through a collaboration of surgeons and bioengineers, all medical services are provided free of charge to patients. However, the reconstruction of lost skull bones requires the creation of specialized implants. The Doctors for Heroes Charity Foundation funds the production of these implants for each participant. It raises donations from philanthropists, organizes case support throughout treatment, and ensures that funds are used responsibly and effectively.

The project is also expanding into the field of eye prosthetics and ecto prosthetics.

By prior arrangement, journalists are welcome to speak with the project’s organizers, doctors, and patients in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, 29-year-old Mykola Petrovskyi lived with his father and grandmother in Kherson. Mykola is disabled — after a car accident, part of his left foot was amputated and he now wears a prosthesis.

When Kherson was occupied by russian forces, Mykola became a volunteer, helping people in the city. One day, russian security forces abducted him from his home.

In September 2023, the so-called “Supreme Court of Crimea” sentenced Mykola Petrovskyi to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony, falsely accusing him of “espionage”.

Letters from Mykola reveal that he was tortured in captivity, beaten, denied proper medical care, which is crucial for a person with a disability, and starved.

Read his full story here.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Mykola’s mother (online) and with his lawyer and human rights experts in Kyiv (in person).

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• volunteers

Tetiana Skyba, a 66-year-old preschool teacher, is a resident of Hostomel and the head of a homeowners’ association that manages two apartment buildings. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she opened all the basement shelters in the buildings and placed wooden pallets so that people would have a place to hide. More than a hundred people took refuge there, including a two-month-old baby. Tetiana and her neighbors cooked food in her apartment. When the utilities were cut off, they cooked outside. Her husband was injured by a blast.

On March 5, russian occupiers stormed the buildings and took up residence inside, forcing civilians to remain in the basements. Some residents later decided to evacuate and moved to another neighborhood, but they couldn’t leave the town. The occupiers ordered them to return and tried to deport them to Belarus. However, none of the residents agreed.

A few days later, Tetiana managed to escape. When she returned to Hostomel in April 2022, she saw a horrible scene — her building and the one across the street each had three direct hits. Their roofs were destroyed, and there was no electricity, water, or gas. Tetiana’s own apartment was so badly damaged that she had to stay in someone else’s home when she returned.

Along with other residents, Tetiana began restoring the buildings. She recalls that even her former preschool students came to help. By the end of 2022, the roof of her building had been repaired. Later, a European charity helped restore the roof of the second building and replace broken windows. Just a few days ago, the last broken window in the damaged house was finally replaced with a new glass unit.

By prior arrangement, journalists can meet with Tetiana in Hostomel, Kyiv oblast.

Background: February 24, 2025, marks three years since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

• casualties
• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Ihor Shyshko, a resident of Kharkiv, joined the Defense Forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion,  although he had the opportunity to refuse to serve because he is a father of many children.

In March 2022, he was captured by russian forces. During 801 days of captivity, he endured torture, beatings, and starvation. He lost over 50 kilograms. In May 2024, Ihor was finally released in a prisoner exchange and returned home.

After his release, he founded a support center for soldiers returning from captivity or suffering from injuries.

The main goal of the “Shoulder to Shoulder” center is to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life. The center provides psychological and legal assistance, as well as various engagement programs to help veterans find new career paths in civilian life.

You can contact Ihor Shyshko either online or in person by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• psychological support
• russian crimes

Before russia’s full-scale invasion outbreak, 58-year-old Halyna Hlobchasta was a math and physics teacher and served as the village elder of the Krasnorichenske community in Luhansk Oblast. But her life changed dramatically in late February 2022, when russian forces occupied her village, Makiivka.

On March 12, Halyna was abducted. Her captors took her to a local school and demanded to know where she had hidden weapons. When she refused, they beat her and subjected her to electric shocks. Eventually, she was released—but only under the condition that she would gather intelligence on her fellow villagers and report back to the occupiers.

The next day, Halyna and her husband made the difficult decision to flee, leaving behind everything, including money and documents. They managed to reach Dnipro, while her blind mother remained in the occupied territory until a neighbor later helped her escape to Kharkiv.

Now living in Lviv, Halyna has undergone extensive rehabilitation after enduring torture and displacement. Despite everything, she remains hopeful that one day she will return to her home village.

Those wishing to speak with Halyna can arrange a meeting with her in person or online.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• women
• Lviv

Peaceful events are planned in 25 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On February 8, rallies will be held in Ochyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Poltava, Dnipro, Zaporizhia and Pavlohrad.

On February 9, peaceful actions are scheduled in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Korosten, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Ostroh, Obukhiv, Berdychiv, Chernivtsi and Kropyvnytskyi.

The events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison. The rallies are often attended by Ukrainians who have been released from captivity.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

A dog-assisted therapy program to help rehabilitate both military personnel and civilians is currently underway at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. For two weeks, police dogs from the Dog Training Center of the Main Department of the National Police in the Kyiv oblast will work with patients at the center.

The dogs Vanda, Bentley, Ares and Polia worked during the de-occupation of the Kyiv oblast. They were used to search for saboteurs and looters and in demining operations.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, these trained assistance dogs have been actively working in hospitals across the Kyiv region and other areas, providing emotional support to patients. They have undergone special certification and are trained to assist in rehabilitation. Patients can play with, feed and pet the dogs as part of their therapy. The specialists who run the program use unique methods that combine psychological techniques and canine assisted therapy to help patients recover.

Journalists interested in covering these sessions in Lviv next week can arrange access by prior arrangement.

• animals
• casualties
• psychological support
• Lviv

Volodymyr Dovhan, a veteran of the ATO, has been working with clay since 1991. Together with his wife, Oksana, he runs an artisan pottery studio in the Kyiv region. In late 2022, the couple received financial support from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation through the VARTO 2.0 program. With this funding, they expanded their workshop in 2023 to host rehabilitation sessions for wounded soldiers.

At the pottery wheel, veterans craft everything from bowls to sculptures. Beyond the creative process, clay therapy helps them, as one veteran put it, “regain their sense of self.”

Looking ahead, the couple plans to establish an art residency where veterans can not only practice pottery but also stay for a period of time.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Volodymyr and Oksana in advance and, if possible, cover the workshops.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Peaceful rallies are set to take place in 27 cities across Ukraine to honor and advocate for the defenders of Azovstal and other military personnel still held in enemy captivity.

On February 1, events will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Pavlysh, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Bila Tserkva, Obukhiv, Lviv, and Pavlohrad.

The following day, February 2, actions will unfold in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Ovruch, Korosten, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Rivne, Berdychiv, Dolyna, Shostka, Brovary, Odesa, Chernivtsi, and Kropyvnytskyi.

These events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Often, Ukrainians who have been released from captivity also join in solidarity.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Artem Kychko, a war veteran and holder of the Order “For Courage” of the III degree, has dedicated himself to supporting his fellow military personnel and veterans. A 4th Dan Black Belt in taekwondo and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu Purple Belt, Kychko is also a multiple-time Ukrainian champion and vice-world champion in taekwondo.

Thanks to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, Kychko received vital support for the reconstruction of a sports club in Kyiv. His vision for the club is clear: to create a space where military personnel, veterans, and individuals with disabilities can benefit from rehabilitation and recovery services through sports.

Currently, Artem is focused on equipping the club with inclusive restrooms, ensuring accessibility for all who come to train and recover.

For context, over the past three years, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation has backed more than 322 veteran-led business projects, totaling UAH 431.7 million in support. Additionally, around 44,000 individuals have benefited from the services provided by the Foundation’s Crisis and Legal Support Hotline.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv