Themes by tag: culture

Kyiv will host VR CyberBoxing competitions and training sessions at the “Active Country” festival. The event is open to veterans, active military personnel, people with disabilities (including wheelchair users, amputees, and those with combat injuries), and anyone interested in trying this innovative sport.

From June 13 to June 22, daily open training sessions will be held for all participants. Competitive CyberBoxing tournaments will follow on June 17 and 22.

Format: Full VR immersion (headset + simulator).

Accreditation is required to cover the event.

• culture
• Kyiv

Before russia launched its full-scale invasion, Yuliia Bondarenko and her fiancé lived in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. When russian forces seized control of the city in 2022, the couple endured three months of occupation. It wasn’t until May 2022 that Yuliia made the difficult decision to flee.

During the evacuation, she brought along her two cats, two dogs, and an additional animal rescued from a local shelter. The family eventually settled in Kryvyi Rih, where Yuliia began a new chapter, embroidering her first traditional shirt. Her husband was engaged in volunteer work, and that very shirt was offered as a gift in exchange for the largest donation. It ended up in the hands of a German supporter.

In addition to shirts, Yuliia began crafting traditional embroidered belt pouches, popularly known as “little pockets.” Each piece features embroidered images of animals, honoring and reflecting on the struggle of animals from the left bank of the Kherson region, many of whom were injured or killed during the ongoing fighting. All proceeds from the sales go toward supporting a local animal shelter and purchasing food for stray dogs and cats in Kherson.

She named the project Silence of the Steppe. Today, her embroidered shirts and pockets travel far beyond Kryvyi Rih, finding new homes not only across Ukraine but also abroad, particularly among displaced Ukrainians who cannot yet return.

Yuliia Bondarenko is available for interviews by appointment, both online and in person in Kryvyi Rih.

• animals
• culture
• occupation
• women
• Dnipro

On June 12, Kyiv will host a screening of Generation, a film by director Marisa Nikitiuk and the Voices of Children Foundation, followed by a discussion exploring the lives of a generation shaped by war. The event is titled “A Generation Growing Up in War: What Challenges Do Children Face Today and How Can We Support Them?”

Generation is a collaborative project between Nikitiuk and the Voices of Children Foundation that seeks to view the war through the eyes of its youngest witnesses and give them a voice to share their experiences. The film was created with 14 teenagers who faced evacuation, forced relocation within Ukraine and abroad, the loss of social connections, and the struggle to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, all while enduring life under russian occupation or on the frontlines.

Over five months, the teens participated in the “Storytelling in Film with Elements of Art Therapy” lab, working alongside a psychologist and learning scriptwriting under Nikitiuk’s guidance. Through this process, they processed their experiences and transformed them into personal stories on screen.

Speakers:

– Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder and Chair of the Board of the Voices of Children Foundation;

– Marysia Nikitiuk, screenwriter and director;

– Children featured in the film Generation. 

Moderator: Olha Birzul, journalist, editor, cultural manager, film program developer and curator, writer.

Organizers: NGO Docudays and the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation.

• casualties
• children
• culture
• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast had a population of roughly 50,000. At the time, every third household subscribed to Ridne Misto, a local newspaper with a circulation of 6,000 and a staff of seven, led by editor Maksym Zabielia.

Zabielia recalls sending the newspaper to print on February 23, 2022. The next day, the Kharkiv-based printing house stopped responding to messages. Since then, Ridne Misto has relied on the Kramatorsk Printing House, which stepped in and kept the paper going.

In early summer 2024, the editorial team was forced to leave Myrnohrad due to a mandatory evacuation order. In August, the newspaper’s office was destroyed by enemy shelling. Today, the relocated newsroom operates with a staff of four. The paper is no longer distributed in Myrnohrad, but volunteers continue delivering it to hubs for internally displaced people. Despite the setbacks, the team has no plans to stop printing. Zabielia says they feel a deep sense of responsibility to their readers.

Zabielia is available for interviews both online and in person, by prior arrangement, in Odesa or Kyiv.

For reference: Myrnohrad, located in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The city lies approximately one kilometer from the front line. As of late 2024, about 3,000 civilians remained in the area.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv
• Odesa
• evacuation

From June 11 to 13, Lviv will host the Lviv Urban Forum. This international event, now in its third year, will bring foreign and Ukrainian architects, urban planners, activists, and local government representatives together in Lviv. The event is expected to attract approximately 1,500 participants, including city mayors, architects, urban planners, students, community representatives, and interested citizens.

Amidst global challenges and war, this year’s forum will focus on the theme “Building Continuity”, exploring comprehensive urban planning and development approaches.

The intensive, three-day program will include urban excursions, workshops, book presentations, networking opportunities, and lectures and discussions with leading global practitioners.

International architects behind iconic European urban projects will speak at the event, including:

• Miroslav Šik, founder of the “analog architecture” concept; 
• Johannes Tovatt, the architect behind one of the largest modern urban projects, Aspern Seestadt in Vienna;
• Isabell Klunker, head of the Munich office of Max Dudler Architekten;
• Dr. Philippe Samyn, architect of the European Council Headquarters (EUROPA) building in Brussels
• Catherine Gall, author of the “15-minute City Model”

The full program of the event is available to journalists.

Background: The event is organized by the Department of Architecture of the Lviv City Council and the Ukrainian Urban Platform.

• culture
• Lviv

A Kyiv-based family of artists — Oleksandr Klymenko, Sonia Atlantova, and their son Herman — have spent nearly 11 years painting icons on wooden boards from ammunition crates used at the frontlines. Their project, “Icons on Ammo Boxes”, supports charitable initiatives, symbolizing the transformation of death (represented by the crates) into life (embodied by icons in Ukrainian culture).

Over the past year, the artists have centered their work on deported Ukrainian children, creating a Mother of God series to highlight their plight. In May 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gifted Pope Leo XIV their icon “Mother of God with Infant”, painted on a board from a crate brought from Izium, Kharkiv oblast — a town occupied by russian forces from March to September 2022.

The artists source wood from crates used in Izium, Bakhmut, Kherson, Mariupol, and Kyiv oblast, occasionally incorporating debris from destroyed roofs or vehicles. Their works are held by prominent figures, including King Charles III of the UK and several world leaders. Previous icons were also gifted to Pope Francis.

Journalists can interview the artists involved in the “Icons on Ammo Boxes” project, in Kyiv by prior agreement.

• culture
• Kyiv

Ivan Soroka enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine after russia launched its full-scale invasion. On February 24, the military enlistment office was recruiting soldiers for the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after the Black Zaporozhians — the unit Ivan joined. He defended the village of Moshchun in the Kyiv oblast before his unit was redeployed to the eastern front. 

In August 2022, an enemy mine exploded just steps away from him. His comrade was killed instantly, while Ivan lost his sight. “Who needs me blind?” was Ivan’s first thought when he regained consciousness. The answer came from his fiancée, Vladyslava, whom he had met online in April 2022. She visited the wounded soldier in the hospital. The couple had hoped that Ivan’s vision would return, but it never did. In September 2023, Ivan and Vladyslava were married.

Today, Ivan is confidently adapting to his new reality and striving for independence. He launched his own blog, where he explores unusual foods and drinks. He says he has discovered a new way to “see” — through taste, sound, and touch. Last year, Ivan joined the charity foundation “Let’s See The Victory”, where he supports fellow blind veterans and others who are adjusting to life without sight.

You can speak with Ivan Soroka online or meet him in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On May 29 the official transfer of artifacts from the russian-Ukrainian war to the War Museum’s collection will take place. The items will be personally handed over by Major Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a Hero of Ukraine. 

Approximately 200 objects will be added to the Museum’s collection. These include fragments of enemy UAVs, personal weapons of russian soldiers, military gear, armbands, and even medals. All artifacts were captured by Ukrainian troops during fierce battles for every inch of Ukrainian territory. These wartime trophies serve as powerful evidence of russia’s aggression. As part of the Museum’s exhibits, they will help educate future generations about the war, expose the true nature of the enemy, and honor the bravery of Ukraine’s defenders, who continue to repel the invaders with skill and courage.

During the event, Major Shyriaiev will share the origins and stories behind the transferred items. He will also speak about the unique features of the artifacts and provide insight into the combat history of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

• culture
• Kyiv

Veterans are invited to participate in the Kyiv City Para Powerlifting Championship, a competition for individuals with musculoskeletal and visual impairments. The event will take place on a weekend (exact date and time to be confirmed after registration).

Journalists can cover the event by prior arrangement. 

For reference: Para powerlifting is a form of powerlifting adapted for people with disabilities. It is an official Paralympic sport included in the Paralympic Games program.

• culture
• Kyiv

Media representatives are invited to a closed screening of the documentary “Home: Place of Power” on May 24 in Kyiv.

The film features heartbreaking yet heroic stories of individuals affected by russian aggression and portrays the daily efforts of volunteers from the Dobrobat construction battalion.

The heroes of the film and its creators will attend the screening. Journalists can arrange interviews with them in advance.

Accreditation is required to attend.

Background: The film was produced with support from 1+1 Media and the Kyivstar TV platform.

• casualties
• culture
• Kyiv