Themes by tag: culture
This is the first initiative in Ukraine where the principles and ideas of UNSCR 1325 have been reinterpreted through art. The event will feature paintings created during a series of artistic breakfasts by representatives from the government, diplomatic corps, civil society, and international partners.
Each group of participants was assigned a specific clause of the resolution and created an artistic interpretation of its meaning — focusing on the role of women in peacebuilding, security, recovery, and national decision-making.
These paintings will be displayed in the Cabinet of Ministers and other government institutions to convey the values of the UN “Women, Peace, Security” agenda through the language of art, reach decision-makers, and strengthen the dialogue on women’s participation in national recovery and security processes.
Participants:
- Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine;
- Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy;
- Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine;
- Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine;
- Alle Dorhout, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ukraine;
- Nataliia Karbovska, Director of Strategic Development at the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.
Key topics:
- Why is discussing the implementation of UNSCR 1325 critical while Ukraine counters full-scale aggression and shapes its recovery architecture?
- What results has Ukraine achieved in nine years of implementing its National Action Plan on 1325, and how has this impacted women’s participation in security and recovery decision-making processes?
- How has the partnership between the state, civil society, and international organizations created a distinctive Ukrainian model for implementing 1325 — from the national level to regional coalitions?
- In what ways will further integration of the “Women, Peace, Security” principles help ensure community resilience, territorial recovery, strong institutions, and a comprehensive security approach after the war?
- How can art be used as an innovative tool for dialogue, diplomacy, and advocacy to strengthen the “Women, Peace, Security” agenda and engage new audiences, particularly decision-makers at the national and local levels?
Accreditation is required for the event. For security reasons, the location will be provided after accreditation is confirmed.
On November 6, Lviv will host a special pre-premiere showing of the play “Alone”. The play tells the profound story of a severely wounded defender’s journey to adapt to his injury and civilian life.
The play’s author, Mykhailo Fatieiev, is a veteran and a soldier of the 103rd Lviv Territorial Defense Brigade who received treatment at the UNBROKEN Center. He wrote “Alone” earlier this year during his rehabilitation after sustaining a gunshot wound to the spine. Drawing from his experience, Fatieiev explores the inner world of someone who has endured war, loss, and severe injury.
The play will be performed by three UNBROKEN Center patients. In addition to the author himself, two other severely wounded defenders, Oleksii Stoliar and Ruslan Kukhta, will take the stage. They are joined by rehabilitation center mentor Viktoriia Khemych and two professional theater actors with personal experience in the military.
Journalists are invited to attend the pre-premiere of “Alone”. Accreditation is required for the event. Journalists will also have the opportunity to attend the official premiere performances on November 7 and 8.
On November 4, Kyiv will host a meeting with Swedish volunteers Caroline Nordengrip and Christopher Forsback, who took up arms to defend Ukraine against russia’s full-scale invasion. Caroline Nordengrip, a former member of the Swedish Parliament with a 15-year career in politics, joined Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura.” Serving under the call sign “Alex,” she not only defended the country but also trained members of the Ukrainian Forces of Ukraine.
Christopher Forsback, who goes by the call sign “Chris,” previously worked in forestry before volunteering to fight with the same brigade. He took part in combat operations against russian forces, helped clear mines from Ukrainian territory, and sustained serious injuries during his service.
During the event, the two volunteers will share their stories, from their peaceful lives in Sweden to the realities of war on Ukraine’s front lines, and present several personal items to the War Museum’s collection.
For reference: The meeting is part of the For Freedom project, a joint initiative of the Kyiv War Museum and the Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation. The project honors international volunteers who have stood up alongside Ukrainians for the defense of the country’s independence and global freedom. It highlights the scope of international solidarity with Ukraine, from military and humanitarian support to the personal decisions of foreign citizens to join its armed forces.
Journalists are required to register to attend the event.
On November 6, 2025, the Museum of War will host an event dedicated to honoring the contribution of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada to the Allied victory in World War II and to the defense of Ukraine against the ongoing full-scale russian aggression.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association will posthumously present the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal to the family of Hryhorii Tsekhmistrenko, a Canadian of Ukrainian descent who joined the Defense Forces of Ukraine and, while serving as a soldier of the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, heroically gave his life rescuing his comrades in the battles for Bakhmut on January 15, 2023.
The Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal was established by a resolution of the XXVII Triennial Congress of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Winnipeg in the fall of 2022. It honors Canadian citizens who were killed or wounded in combat while serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and defending the freedom of our nation during the ongoing russian-Ukrainian war.
A screening of the documentary film “A Canadian War Story”, created by the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, will take place. Spanning continents and generations, the film weaves together first-person testimonies and archival materials, telling the story of the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora on the frontlines of the Second World War. The screening is held with the support of the Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Journalists are required to register for the event.
Dmytro Dokunov, a native of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s Kherson region, once built his career in television after studying in Odesa. Seeking a quieter life, he and his wife moved to a village in the Odesa region to be closer to nature. But their peace was shattered when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, prompting Dmytro to enlist in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
He served in the airborne assault troops and later commanded a reconnaissance company, taking part in fierce battles for Kherson, Bakhmut, and Soledar. Twice wounded and suffering multiple concussions, Dokunov endured the brutality of war while holding onto his long-time passion for videography. Even at the front, he continued filming, capturing raw moments of combat and resilience. His wartime documentary, shot amid the hostilities, is now set to premiere at a European film festival.
During his recovery, Dokunov began envisioning a space where veterans could heal both physically and emotionally. That idea became Toloka – a rehabilitation retreat he founded in a village in the Odesa region. As he describes it, Toloka is a place where people can face their inner fears, listen to silence, and find the strength to move forward.
The project received financial backing from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, enabling Dmytro to turn his vision into reality. Today, he helps fellow veterans adjust to civilian life, offering support and community to those who share the scars of war.
Those who wish to connect with Dmytro Dokunov can reach him either online or in person at Toloka, located in the village of Konceba in the Odesa region, by prior arrangement.
The project “Light of the Unbroken,” created by YARMICH and Azov.Support, was presented in Kyiv. The project launched a special service that adapts classic clothing for military personnel who have lost limbs. This initiative aims to provide veterans with comfort, style, dignity, and confidence — foundational elements for psychological recovery after war.
The classic menswear brand has partnered with the Azov.Support initiative, which helps veterans with their physical and social rehabilitation. Together, they have developed a format combining individual tailoring, deep empathy, and an engineering approach.
Thanks to this service, military personnel can receive a free personal consultation with specialists who consider all physiological particularities, including prosthetics, changes in body shape, and limited mobility. YARMICH designers then create a custom cut to ensure comfort and a natural fit. Suits, shirts, and coats are sewn from elegant yet functional fabrics that are soft yet hold their shape and classic yet practical. The result is clothing that allows you to look in the mirror with pride once again.
The first Light of the Unbroken ambassadors are Pavlo, whose call sign is “Pakhom,” and Stanislav “Morti” Ryzhenkov. Pavlo is a fighter in the 12th “Azov” Brigade, and Stanislav is an “Azov” veteran and the Commissioner for Veterans’ Affairs in Kyiv.
YARMICH and Azov.Support plan to expand the project to reach more veterans in various Ukrainian cities. Future plans include creating an open partnership program for brands that wish to contribute by providing fabrics, supporting adaptation services, or assisting with logistics.
By prior arrangement, journalists have the opportunity to cover the project and speak with brand representatives and veterans.
Folklorist Yaryna Sizyk, animation director Mariia Ozirna, and the Kherson Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko have launched a project dedicated to the paintings stolen by russians during the occupation of the city. According to the museum staff estimates, the occupiers looted approximately ten thousand works of art.
The project’s goal is to attempt to recreate what the Russians took away. To date, the team has managed to “reproduce” a painting by Mykhailo Bryansky (1830-1908), “Portrait of a Girl in an Embroidered Dress”. The painting was not simply repainted but was modernized and animated. Ukrainian model and singer Daria Astafieva helped “bring it to life”; the artists transformed her into the girl in the embroidered dress from the stolen canvas. For the animation, the team used a shirt that Inna Mykutska, a tour guide from Kherson, embroidered during the occupation.
The team has also recreated the oil painting “Cossacks in the Steppe” by Serhii Vasylkivsky (1854-1917). Servicemen Roman “Dobriak” Kolesnyk and Stanislav “Ref” Zorii of the Armed Forces of Ukraine participated in the reproduction of this artwork. Yaryna and Mariia added the Ukrainian folk song “Oh, There Beyond the Seas…” performed by the band Shchuka-Ryba to this animation.
The project founders are currently working on further recreations.
Yaryna Sizyk and Mariia Ozirna are available for interviews with journalists in Kyiv.
Background: Kherson was occupied by russian forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion (March 1, 2022). The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the city from russian troops on November 11, 2022. The occupiers continue to shell the city regularly.
Oleksandr Zhavnenko is 36 years old. When the full-scale invasion began, he supported the Ukrainian army as a volunteer. In 2023, he was mobilized and joined the ranks of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov”, serving as a drone operator.
In October 2024, Oleksandr sustained severe injuries that resulted in the loss of both his legs. After undergoing rehabilitation, he dreamed of dancing with his wife again, this time with prosthetic legs. The couple had first fallen in love in a dance studio years earlier.
While recovering, Oleksandr participated in a business course for patients of the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv, organized by the ReStart project: “From an Idea to a Veteran-Owned Business”. After completing the course, he developed a business plan, applied for a state grant, and secured funding to open his own dance studio. Named Yavir Dance Space, the studio officially opened in Lviv on October 18.
Oleksandr is available for interviews, both online and in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.
A new collection by designer Fedor Vozianov titled DIY will be unveiled at Lviv Fashion Week on October 25. The collection features adaptive, comfortable, and stylish clothing with innovative fasteners and functional details. It is designed to be inclusive of all people, regardless of their physical abilities or gender.
Patients and a mentor from the UNBROKEN Center will model this inclusive collection. Taking to the runway will be:
- Yevhen Shvab: A veteran and former police officer from the Zhytomyr oblast who voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, lost a leg at the front, and battled depression. He is now training to become a psychotherapist to help other severely wounded defenders overcome their trauma.
- Viktoriia Khemych: A Lviv resident who lost a leg after being hit by a bus on a pedestrian crossing. After completing her rehabilitation, she joined the UNBROKEN team as a mentor. Viktoria has previously participated in several fashion shows, including walking alongside Yevhen Shvab at Berlin Fashion Week.
- Viktor Meshcheriakov: A musician and soldier from the Ivano-Frankivsk region who lost an arm due to a severe combat injury. He is now mastering a high-tech bionic prosthesis and has returned to creating music.
Members of the press are invited to attend the show. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to speak with designer Fedor Vozianov, the models, and representatives of the UNBROKEN team.
Accreditation for the event is required.
Pastry chef Anna Voskoboinyk and her husband first discovered their passion for desserts while living in Italy. After returning to Kherson, they opened an ice cream stand that gradually expanded into a small chain. In 2019, Anna entered a competition to create a dessert that would embody the spirit of her hometown.
She spent months experimenting, drawing on childhood memories and personal associations with Kherson, until she finally crafted a cake that captured the city’s essence. The creation, aptly named the “Kherson” cake, brought Anna widespread recognition and put her confectionery on the map.
The outbreak of war, however, forced her to leave her hometown. The couple chose to rebuild their business in Vinnytsia, bringing the Kherson cake with them. Today, it is a beloved dessert across Ukraine and has even gained popularity abroad, often purchased as a gift to carry a piece of home.
Anna Voskoboinyk is available to meet and discuss her creations, either online or in person in Vinnytsia, by prior arrangement.
For reference: Kherson fell under russian occupation at the onset of the full-scale invasion on March 1, 2022. It wasn’t until November 11, 2022, that the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated the city from russian control. Despite this liberation, the occupiers persist in regularly shelling the city.
