Themes by tag: culture

For more than 32 years, Valentyna Hantseva has worked at the library in the village of Soldatske, Sumy Oblast. Just months before russia’s full-scale invasion, the library underwent a modern renovation and received new equipment. But when a russian airstrike hit the village center during the occupation, the library building was left in ruins. Only the roof and walls remained intact, while the blast wave devastated the interior.

Despite the occupation and the constant threat of russian aircraft overhead, Valentyna and her husband began salvaging books, hiding them in grain sacks to keep them safe. In total, she managed to rescue more than 1,000 volumes.

In April 2022, Ukrainian forces liberated the village. With support from a benefactor in Germany, the library was restored, and by the fall of 2022, Valentyna was able to reopen its doors to readers.

For reference: By April 11, 2022, then-Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that Ukraine had fully regained control of its state border in the Sumy region.

• culture
• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• women
• Sumy

Larysa Zahryva has devoted 25 years to education. She worked as a teacher, and in 2022 she became the head of the Center for the Provision of Social Services in Chernihiv Oblast. When the full-scale war broke out, the village of Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske, where Larysa lived and worked, was under occupation. For 37 days, she continued to go to work and take care of the elderly people who remained in the village. Larysa hid documents from the russians and was shot at five times. The occupiers came to her house in the middle of the night and interrogated Larysa’s husband.

After Ukraine retook Mykhailo-Kotsiubynskyi from russian occupation, Larysa successfully founded the University of the Third Age (U3A) with support from the United Nations Development Program. Today, several areas of study are already available for lifelong learners, including the Healthy Lifestyles Program, the Philosophy Program, and the Arts and Crafts Program Larysa also created a mobile social assistance project: A car with volunteers who help residents with household chores runs around Chernihiv. The University has also recently opened a resilience space where women, children, IDPs, and war victims can work individually with a psychologist or attend support groups.

For reference: By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces had completely liberated Chernihiv Oblast.

• culture
• occupation
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• women
• Chernihiv

With the start of the full-scale invasion, Anna Paikina left Odesa for abroad, fearing the possibility of enemy occupation. While in Spain, she switched from russian to Ukrainian and decided to return home in the spring of 2023. Anna wanted to promote Ukrainian culture in her hometown of Odesa.

First, she gathered like-minded people on social media who wanted to participate in traditional Ukrainian caroling. She then arranged with local restaurants and cafes to perform traditional Ukrainian songs.

This initiative soon grew into the “Legit” Ethnic Union. Many of its members are wives of soldiers waiting for their husbands to return from the front. In addition to promoting Ukrainian culture, “Legit” serves another purpose – helping its singers cope with their emotions and fears.

The band is now planning new performances in Odesa. Journalists can speak with Anna Paikina and the band members online or in person by prior arrangement.

• culture
• women
• Odesa

In the Lviv Oblast, mountain hiking trips are being organized for defenders undergoing rehabilitation, including veterans with prosthetic limbs. These therapeutic hikes are arranged by the charity foundation With an Angel on a Shoulder.

Recently, the defenders climbed Mount Makovytsia and Mount Smerichok in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The next hike is planned for mid-April.

Journalists can cover the mountain therapy by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

On March 14, the Ukrainian Volunteer Day, the First Chernihiv Veterans Theatre will perform the play “Hospital Rhapsody”. The author of the play is Yurii Vietkin, a veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war who lost his leg during an enemy shelling. The play is based on real events that took place in a ward of the Chernihiv military hospital in March 2022.

The premiere of “Hospital Rhapsody”, staged by the Chernihiv Veterans Theatre “Sercevir”, took place at the end of February. The cast consists entirely of veterans and military personnel — three of the actors are amputees, while two others have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Widows of fallen soldiers and director Anastasiia Kuzyk, the wife of a serving soldier, also took part in the performance.

The lead role is played by veteran Ruslan Ivanov, who has an amputated arm. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked as a production designer in a movie studio. He volunteered to defend Ukraine, fought in the Kyiv oblast and was wounded near Bakhmut in October 2023.

Guests from Poltava — partners involved in supporting veterans through the “Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities” project — attended the performance alongside Chernihiv residents. Poltava and Chernihiv had previously launched a joint initiative, the “Veteran Spaces Opportunity Map”, which helps returning soldiers find the psychological, legal, and social support they need.

Journalists will have the opportunity to interview the cast, attend the dress rehearsal, and cover the performance of “Hospital Rhapsody” on March 14.

Background: On April 6, 2022, the Ukrainian Defense Forces completely liberated the Chernihiv oblast from the russian occupiers.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Chernihiv

Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus was in danger from the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as he attempted to cross the Pacific Ocean alone. His journey was to honor Ukrainians who lost their lives in the war and to remind the world that support for Ukraine must not stop.

Aurimas had planned to row from San Diego, USA to Brisbane, Australia. However, the tropical cyclone disrupted his plans as he approached the Australian coast. On March 2, he was rescued by an Australian military vessel. Doctors on board examined him and found no serious injuries.

Journalists will have the opportunity to speak with Aurimas Mockus once he reaches shore. He is expected to arrive on March 7th.

Background information: Aurimas Mockus began his journey in October 2024 with the goal of rowing 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km) from the United States to Australia. If successful, he would have been the first person in history to row the distance alone in a rowing boat. In addition, if he had completed the journey in less than 159 days and 16 hours, he would have broken the Guinness World Record set in 2014.

• culture

Launched in the summer of 2023, the rehabilitation program at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Historical and Cultural Reserve has already welcomed 1,438 military personnel. Starting in 2025, the program has been expanded to include the families of fallen soldiers, families of prisoners of war, and former prisoners themselves. The rehabilitation takes place within the expansive grounds of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, aiming to restore participants by immersing them in Ukraine’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

The program unfolds in two stages. The first, a 10-day initiative, includes activities such as archaeological digs at ancient walls, a glassmaking workshop from the 11th and 12th centuries, and visits to the National Museum of History’s Treasury and the Museum of Books and Printing. Participants also engage in an icon painting workshop, explore the Upper and Lower Lavra territories, and take part in worship services. The second stage, “A Day at the Lavra for Military,” allows groups of veterans, led by a lecturer-guide, to experience a full day at the monastery. During their visit, they explore the site, attend guided tours, join in the Reserve’s activities, and visit local shrines.

To enhance the program’s scope, the team partners with independent cultural institutions, public initiatives, and individual artists. Contemporary artists, restorers, musicians, and folk artisans lead master classes and interactive sessions, offering the military not just a chance to observe but also to participate in the creative process.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

The Kyiv Hippodrome, in collaboration with the Kyiv Military Hub, invites combat veterans and service members to participate in free horseback riding lessons. The lessons take place outdoors or in an indoor arena and last 40 minutes. The initiative was launched last November. 74 veterans have already participated in the program.

Journalists can cover the session scheduled for March 4 in Kyiv, upon prior arrangement.

• animals
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On February 24, 2025, Ukraine.ua, Ukraine’s digital ecosystem for international audiences with over 3 million followers on major social media platforms, launched the global “Voices of Just Peace” campaign. The initiative aims to amplify the voices of Ukrainians to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The campaign aims to send a crucial message to the world: Ukrainians deeply desire an end to the war, but true and lasting peace can only be achieved if the world listens to their voices.

The initiative has already been supported by Oleksandr Teren, veteran, activist and Bachelor project contestant, the Ukrainian band TVORCHI, Anna October, designer and founder of the Anna October fashion brand, tennis player Marta Kostyuk, Zhan Beleniuk, wrestler and a three-time Olympic medalist, Viacheslav Yalov, guardian of four orphaned brothers and sisters, Khrystia Hranovska, founder of the project “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children”, scientists from Inscience, including marine microbiologist Mariia Pavlovska and astrophysicist Olena Kompaniiets, entrepreneurs, and military personnel.

Watch the campaign’s video manifesto: link

• culture

To mark the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion by russia, Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian postal service, has unveiled a unique set of three stamps featuring works by French street artist James Colomina. His artworks, created in Kyiv in August 2024, condemn the war and honor Ukraine’s resistance. Colomina is now the first French artist to have his works featured in Ukrposhta’s philatelic series.

The “ART vs. WAR” stamp series will be issued in a limited edition of 109,600 copies – a symbolic number representing the 1,096 days between the start of the war and the date of issue. It echoes Ukrposhta’s previous initiative in 2023, which put into circulation a postage stamp featuring a work by graffiti artist Banksy.

With this new philatelic project, Ukrposhta highlights the essential role of art in resistance and the preservation of collective memory. It serves as a reminder that culture and creativity remain powerful weapons in the fight for freedom and human dignity in times of war.

From February 24, 2025, the stamps will be available at Ukrposhta branches and the official online store: www.postmark.ukrposhta.ua, where international buyers can purchase them.

James Colomina is a French artist from Toulouse, known for his striking installations in public spaces. In June 2022, he created a sculpture of Vladimir Putin sitting on a toy tank and placed it in children’s parks in Paris, Barcelona, New York, London, Brussels, and Rome. In August 2024, Colomina visited Kyiv, where he installed six sculptures symbolizing hope, resilience, and international solidarity.

• culture