Themes by tag: culture

How can we ensure that the destruction of Ukrainian monuments, museums and artifacts by the russian federation does not go unpunished? How can we collect evidence of crimes against cultural heritage so that it becomes part of the indictments in international tribunals?

These topics were addressed by participants of a four-day training in Kyiv: museum workers, investigators, prosecutors, military personnel, scientists, representatives of the public sector and journalists. Among the trainers were representatives from 7 countries (USA, UK, Sweden, France, Mauritius, Netherlands and Ukraine), including prosecutors who have worked with the International Criminal Court to prosecute those responsible for crimes against cultural heritage in Mali, Bosnia and other countries.

The press conference, which will be held in Kyiv on April 11, will summarize the results of the training, outline the main challenges and the steps necessary to achieve justice.

Participants of the press conference:

• Nataraj Muneesamy, Assistant Attorney General of Mauritius, expert in international criminal law; 
• Andrea Cayley, Coordinator of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) in Ukraine, Head of the Cultural Heritage Group; 
• Ankie Petersen, Staff Officer for Cultural Property Protection, NL Armed Forces, member of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) in Ukraine;
• Anna Neistat, Legal Director of The Docket initiative (Clooney Foundation for Justice’s initiative to hold perpetrators of international crimes accountable); 
• Ihor Poshyvailo, Co-founder of the Agency for Cultural Resilience (ACURE), Director General of the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On April 11, Kyiv will host the opening of BODY/FRAGILITY, a contemporary art exhibition that stands as a statement of resilience following the destruction of part of the Mykhailo Boichuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design by a russian missile last year.

Media representatives are invited to attend the exhibition’s launch at the Academy’s gallery. The project explores the vulnerability of human existence in times of war and emerges as a symbolic act of endurance in the face of devastation.

The opening ceremony will include a symbolic performance held on the very grounds of the academy’s destroyed building.

The exhibition features works by prominent Ukrainian artists, leading faculty members, talented students of the Academy, and alumni of the Contemporary Art Practices course. All proceeds from the sale of the artworks will be directed toward the restoration of the section of the Academy damaged in the missile strike.

For reference: On March 25, 2024, a russian missile hit the Mykhailo Boichuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design, destroying part of the institution.

• culture
• russian crimes

From April 9 to 20, the Kyiv History Museum will host In Memoriam: Reality Through Art, an exposition by French artist Fanny Lechevalier. The project brings together art, documentary storytelling, and charitable outreach.

Using the technique of photomontage, Lechevalier overlays images captured by war correspondents onto reproductions of classic European paintings. The resulting compositions are visually arresting and prompt viewers to reconsider the ongoing tragedy unfolding on Europe’s borders.

The exhibition serves several purposes:

– To create a newsworthy event to draw international attention to the war in Ukraine and mobilize additional support;

– To share the personal stories of those affected by the conflict, offering European audiences a more accurate understanding of life during wartime in Ukraine;

– To highlight the European Union’s support and solidarity with Ukraine;

– To raise funds for the development of an educational and rehabilitation hub.

A special media preview will take place on April 8, where journalists will have the opportunity to speak with the artist.

Accreditation is required to attend.

For reference: The exhibition is organized by Ukraine’s Solidarity Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to rebuilding the country and assisting those impacted by the war.

• culture
• Kyiv

On April 9, the Kyiv History Museum will host the unveiling of ORIGAMI for UKRAINE, a expansive art exhibition featuring a striking display of 5,000 origami birds adorning the museum’s facade. The work was created by Belgian designer Charles Kaisin, known for his collaborations with global brands such as Hermès, Rolls-Royce, Cartier, and Ice-Watch.

Each bird is crafted from metallized paper that reflects sunlight, symbolizing the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their enduring hope for peace.

The grand opening will take place with the participation of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Brussels Mayor Philippe Close. The installation will remain on display in Kyiv for 90 days.

The project was initially launched in Brussels as a charitable initiative aimed at raising funds for the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the Kyiv’s Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Center. So far, the initiative has raised approximately 50,000 euros, which will go toward purchasing vital medical equipment and supplies.

• culture
• Kyiv

The company “Skeiron” was founded in 2016 by a team of like-minded people in Lviv. The main goal of the project is to preserve and promote cultural heritage through digitization. The team digitizes significant Ukrainian monuments, both preserved and lost. They believe that this will help to restore these landmarks in the future.

During their work, the specialists have managed to digitize and recreate over 200 structures, including monuments destroyed during the war. In particular, the company has digitized in 3D format the Mariupol Drama Theater, which was destroyed by russia.

You can communicate with representatives of the “Skeiron” team both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Lviv

On April 3, Kyiv will host the Ukrainian premiere of Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk, a powerful documentary offering an unfiltered glimpse into the war in Ukraine through the lens of a foreign volunteer. The R. T. Weatherman Foundation and the War Museum in Kyiv are behind this exclusive screening.

The film is the work of Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta, a foreign volunteer who joined the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in 2022, participating in three major military operations. Among them was a daring crossing of the Dnipro River aimed at recapturing the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. Gino also fought near Kupiansk, where he sustained severe injuries. His life was saved by Thomas ‘Tommy Gun’ Harris, a fellow soldier whose bravery inspired Gino to create this documentary. After undergoing rehabilitation, Gino returned to Ukraine to document the war’s harsh realities from the perspective of those fighting for freedom and independence.

Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk has already garnered international acclaim, earning multiple awards and accolades at prestigious film festivals.

Following the screening, viewers will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with director Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta and Thomas Harris’s father, who will join the conversation online.

Journalists are required to obtain accreditation to cover the event.

For reference: The R. T. Weatherman Foundation, recognized globally for its support of Ukraine, is organizing the screening as part of its extensive FOR FREEDOM project. This initiative, featuring a documentary exhibition running until the end of May at the Motherland Monument, seeks to highlight the struggle of foreign volunteers fighting for freedom. The film’s premiere marks a crucial effort to share the truth about the war and underscore the vital role international volunteers continue to play.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On April 12, Kyiv will host a unique event – the “Steel Guard” festival. Combining a medieval combat sports tournament, veteran inclusivity, and family-friendly cultural activities, the festival aims to support veterans and promote the historical and sports movement.

As part of the festival, two medieval combat tournaments will be held:

• The tournament for novice veterans, “Knights of the New Era”, where anyone interested – regardless of experience, physical condition or level of preparation – can enter the arena. Men and women can participate, including those with amputations or in wheelchairs. All participants will receive the necessary equipment and support from instructors. There is a rule of equal opportunity – the fights will take place in a safe format focused on rehabilitation and community building.
• The professional “KyivGrad Cup” tournament in full steel armor will be the spectacular part of the event, where experienced fighters will show their skills.

Additional Activities during the festival will include workshops (calligraphy, chainmail weaving, and more) and medieval board games (entertainment for the whole family in the style of ancient strategies).

Background: The organizers of the event are Kyiv Military Hub, BuhurtSich and the NGO Historical Patriotic Society Kyivgrad. The festival is supported by the Kyiv City State Administration and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Lviv will officially launch its year as the European Youth Capital 2025 with a grand opening ceremony on April 5. The city earned this prestigious title after competing against dozens of European contenders, marking the first time in Ukraine’s history that a Ukrainian city has achieved such recognition.

The event is expected to draw young people from across the country, along with speakers from various sectors, influential opinion leaders, and prominent Ukrainian musicians.

For reference: The European Youth Capital title is granted annually to one European city through a competitive process aimed at empowering youth engagement and participation. Lviv secured the designation on its fourth attempt, having reached the finals twice before ultimately claiming the honor in 2022.

Holding this title offers Lviv valuable opportunities, including enhanced international recognition, the establishment of new partnerships, and a stronger platform for young voices in local governance. As the 17th city to receive this distinction, Lviv will welcome guests from across Europe throughout 2025.

• culture
• Lviv

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Olha Tolsta and her mother have been caring for cats abandoned by their owners in the northern Saltivka district of Kharkiv. To pay for the care of such a large number of animals, Olha began making traditional Ukrainian jewelry. Over the past three years, she has earned and spent more than 250,000 hryvnia on the animals.

In addition to feeding the cats, Olha and her mother try to take care of their health and find them new homes. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, they have managed to sterilize 30 cats and rehome another 30.

You can talk to Olha Tolsta either online or in person by prior arrangement.

• animals
• culture
• volunteers
• women
• Kharkiv

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