Themes by tag: culture

In a remarkable blend of art and healing, an organ built using fragments of enemy missiles that struck the Kyiv region is being used to aid the psychological and physical rehabilitation of wounded defenders. Over the next two months, musicians from the Lviv Organ Hall will conduct a series of master classes for patients at the Unbroken Ukraine’s National Rehabilitation Center. These sessions will allow participants to play this extraordinary instrument and learn about its history and mechanics.  

The organ, currently installed at the Lviv railway station, is the creation of Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova. It was developed as part of the Instrument project, a series of performances that brought together Ukrainian and international musicians. Over the course of two months, performers delivered their programs at the station every Friday and Saturday, using the organ as a centerpiece.  

For reference: The rehabilitation initiative for Ukraine’s wounded defenders is a joint effort supported by Ukrzaliznytsia, the Lviv Organ Hall, and the Lviv City Council. 

• casualties
• culture
• military
• psychological support
• Lviv

Andriy Stanko lost his eyesight as a child. A year ago, he became a mentor for blind people in an inclusive library in Lviv called Sensoteka. This inclusive space is equipped with everything needed for the visually impaired: the floors have tactile tiles with raised dots to help blind people navigate with a cane. The library also prints books in Braille.

Twice a week, Andriy visits Sensoteka, where he teaches digital literacy to blind people. His mentees include veterans who lost their sight on the front lines.

Using a specialized program called NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA), Andriy has already added accessibility features to a laptop, desktop computer, and two tablets in the inclusive space.

You can talk to Andriy both online and offline by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• Lviv

A groundbreaking initiative to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage will be showcased as representatives from leading Czech cultural institutions donate a state-of-the-art mobile safeguard vehicle the Ark 1 (Archa 1). This specialized workstation is designed to safeguard and restore library collections impacted by war. The Ark 1 features advanced tools for cleaning documents of dirt, mold, and fungi, as well as equipment for dehumidification, sterilization, and disinfection. It also aids in restoring documents damaged by fire, water, or improper storage. 

Coordinated in Ukraine by the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library, this project underscores international efforts to support Ukrainian culture during challenging times.

The event will include a demonstration of Ark 1’s practical applications and unveil future initiatives aimed at protecting Ukraine’s cultural legacy.

Participants:

– Halyna Hryhorenko, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine;

– Radek Pech, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ukraine;

– Michal Šedivý, Coordinator of the “Support for Ukrainian Culture” program;

– Oleh Serbin, Director General, Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine;

– Oksana Brui, President, Ukrainian Library Association.

Event registration is required.

• culture
• Kyiv

Launched in 2024, the “Strong 300” running club was created by wounded military members to support their fellow servicemen and women on a personal, one-to-one level. The club focuses on promoting adaptive sports while offering physical rehabilitation through running for veterans and their families. Beyond fitness, it aims to uplift the psychological well-being of Ukrainians and organizes running events for both veterans and active military personnel.

All members undergo comprehensive evaluations at a diagnostic center before beginning their training, which is held in both an athletics arena and outdoor settings.

Currently, the club consists of 10 members, some of whom are preparing to compete in veteran-specific distances at international races.

Journalists interested in covering the club’s training sessions in Kyiv can do so by prior arrangement.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On January 23, the draw and presentation of the songs of the finalists of the National Selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place at the Media Center Ukraine.

Participants:
– Tina Karol, singer, music producer of the National Selection for Eurovision 2025, Suspilne Movlennia (Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine);
– Oksana Skybinska, head of the Ukrainian delegation to Eurovision, Suspilne Movlennia (Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine);
– Herman Nenov, creative producer of the National Selection for Eurovision 2025, STARLIGHT PRODUCTION.

Moderators:
– Timur Miroshnychenko, commentator and presenter of Eurovision National Selections;
– Ann Tulieva, host of Eurovision vlogs.

During the event, the ten songs of the finalists will be presented and a draw will be held to determine the order of performances in the National Selection final.

Registration is required to attend this event.

• culture
• Kyiv

Dina Chmuzh witnessed the beginning of the full-scale invasion in her hometown of Kharkiv. Her father joined the Defense Forces, and Dina and her mother initially refused to leave the city. They eventually evacuated in March 2022, but returned to Kharkiv a few months later.

Since then, the artist has been writing poetry on the plywood used to replace windows and storefronts shattered by explosions. Dina has created about 20 murals with poems by Ukrainian poets. In the future, she hopes to incorporate verses by Lyubov Yakymchuk, Bohdan Kutsenko, and Yaryna Chornoguz into her murals.

You can contact Dina Chmuzh online or by appointment in Kharkiv.

• culture
• women
• Kharkiv

Oleksandr Miroshnikov, a 62-year-old master jeweler, has spent more than half his life crafting intricate designs. Recognized as an Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine and a full recipient of the prestigious Fabergé Memorial Foundation awards, Miroshnikov has taken on a unique challenge since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion—creating jewelry from titanium salvaged from russian missile wreckage.

The titanium, extracted from downed Kalibr and Kh-101 missiles provided by Ukrainian forces, is far more challenging to work with than gold or platinum, Miroshnikov says, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

His creations have found homes in museums and private collections across Ukraine, Europe, the United States, and the UAE, and they’re frequently featured at exhibitions. Currently, he is finishing a piece titled “Fleur de Fougère” (Fern Flower). 

Those interested in connecting with Oleksandr can meet him in Mykolaiv or the Lviv region, either in person or online, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• weapon
• Lviv

On January 21, Kyiv will host the opening of the exhibition “Tandem of Victory: Stories of Rescue, Life and Resilience”. The event aims to draw attention to the importance of supporting the mental health of veterans and victims of war through artistic practices and hippotherapy.

Key participants and projects of the exhibition:

Victory Center: A non-profit organization focused on the psycho-emotional recovery of veterans and children affected by war. They use hippovention (a model of therapeutic interaction between humans and horses) and hippotherapy. The center’s story is told through the personal experiences of its executive director, Nastia Popandopulos.

Palette of Courage: Halyna Morar, an artist, ATO veteran, and fighter in a volunteer battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard, explores internal transformations shaped by external influences. Her works are deeply rooted in Ukrainian traditions and wartime symbolism, calling for the preservation of identity and finding strength in difficult times. In Halyna’s paintings, war is portrayed as a challenging path to victory that brings transformation to both Ukraine and the world.

Social ranch “Horse Paradise” (Kseniia and Halyna): Horse Paradise is a social ranch that has become a sanctuary for horses rescued from the war. It combines therapeutic animal interactions with innovative methods of veteran rehabilitation, contributing to their psychological recovery.

• culture
• Kyiv

On January 17 the photo exhibition “Days of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Battle of Ilovaisk 2014” will be officially opened. Visitors can now view the photographs at the Museum of Kyiv Occupation.

The exhibition commemorates one of the most tragic events in Ukraine’s struggle against russia and honors those who were the first to defend the country in 2014. Visitors will see photographs that have become historical artifacts, taken by photographers who worked in the fiercest combat zones near Ilovaisk in the Donetsk oblast in August 2014. These photographers documented the battlefield positions of the Special Purpose Battalion “Donbas” of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The preservation of this photographic anthology is due to Maksym Dondyuk, Oleksandr Glyadyelov, Markiian Lyseiko, and Maksym Levin, who managed to survive the encirclement of Ilovaisk. Tragically, Maksym Levin was killed during the full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022 in the occupied Kyiv oblast while documenting russian war crimes.

The exhibition features more than 50 photographs – a fraction of the extensive collection depicting the Battle of Ilovaisk, from the events of August 10 to the “humanitarian corridor of death” on August 29, 2014.

For reference: The exhibition is organized by the NGO “‘Sarmat’ Military-Patriotic Association of Combatant”, the NGO “Invincible Mothers of Ukraine”, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, and the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

• culture
• military
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Since April 2023, the Cultural Forces—a group of military personnel with backgrounds in creative fields—has spearheaded the “Books to the Frontline” project, bringing a touch of home to soldiers stationed at the front. The initiative invites every Ukrainian to participate. At any bookstore displaying the “Gift a Book to the Front” poster, customers can purchase a book to be sent directly to the front lines. The bookstores then pass the books to the project team, which ensures their delivery. To date, more than 30,000 books have reached Ukrainian soldiers.  

Leading this effort is Andrii Ovcharuk, a sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before the war, Ovcharuk headed the Kyiv office of the Old Lion Publishing House. On February 24, 2022, he volunteered for military service despite having poor eyesight, joining the 101st Separate Brigade of the General Staff. Ovcharuk served in this role for two years before dedicating his efforts to this cultural initiative.  

Journalists interested in covering the project can meet with Ovcharuk and his team either online or in person in Kyiv. With prior arrangement, they can also witness the book sorting and shipment process firsthand.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv