Themes by tag: culture

Before the full-scale invasion, Dariia and her husband were planning to buy their own home in the Kyiv oblast. Just as the couple was about to receive the keys to their new home, the great war began and an enemy shell landed near their house. The explosion damaged their new home, blowing out windows and shattering the roof and walls.

Dariia and her husband were forced back into renting. In addition, the woman lost her job, so she devoted all of her free time to decorating her temporary home. One day, she stumbled upon a video of crystal ornaments online. Inspired, she made her first piece and hung it in her window. As the sunlight danced through its prisms, the artisan came up with the name “sontselov” (meaning “sun catcher”). Soon after setting up a social media page, she received her first order. Today, Daria creates these luminous pieces with symbols of temporarily occupied cities — Mariupol, Berdiansk, Melitopol, Enerhodar. In three years, she’s made and sold more than 5,000 home decorations, eventually earning enough to buy a house with her husband.

You can speak with Dariia Terekhova both online and offline in the Kyiv oblast by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• women
• Kyiv

On May 9, the War Museum in Kyiv will open the exhibition project Memory. Dialogues, developed in partnership with the Berlin Karlshorst Museum and supported by the German Embassy in Ukraine. The event is timed to coincide with Europe Day.

The project is built around the family histories of three artists: Polina Kuznetsova (Ukraine), Eva Neidlinger (Germany), and Jenny Alten (Germany). The lives of their ancestors intersected in Ukraine during the Nazi occupation. Notably, the great-grandfather of director Eva Neidlinger, a Wehrmacht soldier, was stationed in Kharkiv, where artist Polina Kuznetsova’s grandmother lived through the war as a child.

Drawing on diaries, photographs, oral testimonies, and contemporary artistic reflections, the exhibition explores themes of personal and collective memory, the process of healing historical trauma, and reconciliation between nations. It invites dialogue across generations and cultures while encouraging new ways of preserving memory.

The exhibition culminates in the art installation Voices, part of Kuznetsova’s Black Earth project, created in collaboration with artist Andrii Skrypka.

Scheduled speakers at the opening ceremony include:

– Yurii Savchuk, Director General of the War Museum in Kyiv;

– Lisa Heike, First Secretary and Head of the Cultural Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine;

– Project curators: Yurii Horpynych and Maryna Bohush;

Project participants: Polina Kuznetsova (Ukraine), Eva Neidlinger (Germany), and Jenny Alten (Germany)

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

• culture
• Kyiv

On May 8, the Museum of War will host the opening of the exhibition project Our Victory, which explores Ukraine’s role in World War II. As part of the ceremony, the Flame of Glory will be lit to honor the memory of Ukrainians who fought against Nazism.

Participants include:

– Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine;

– Yurii Savchuk, Director General of the War Museum in Kyiv;

– Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine;

– Dimitris Sotiropoulos, Chairman of the Board and Bureau of the Observatory for the Teaching of History in Europe, Council of Europe

Musical program: Honored Academic Orchestra of Ukraine and the Exemplary Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

Background: The exhibition is located on the site of the former Alley of Hero Cities, a space originally designed to reinforce the Soviet narrative of the “Great Patriotic War.” In December 2024, the area was renovated, with Golden Stars and inscriptions removed. Now, Our Victory reclaims this space – challenging the propaganda myths of the Soviet totalitarian regime and transforming the alley into a place of historical reflection and tribute to the Ukrainians who fought in the ranks of the anti-Hitler coalition.

• culture
• Kyiv

The “Come Back Alive” Initiatives Center, in cooperation with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, is launching a new initiative — the first All-Ukrainian Wheelchair Basketball Championships for veterans and active military personnel. The event will be held on May 10-11 in Kyiv.

The format will combine wheelchair basketball competitions with festival entertainment. The event will last two days. On the first day, there will be eight preliminary games between veteran teams from different regions of Ukraine. The winners will advance to the playoffs, which will take place on the second day.

A large recreation area will be available throughout the event, featuring a food court, VR and PlayStation gaming stations, as well as a recovery area and a kids zone with master classes, relay races, board games and other activities. There will also be a special area where attendees can learn more about adaptive sports, including archery, rowing, table tennis, and more.

The purpose of the championships is to highlight the role of adaptive sports (specifically wheelchair basketball) in the rehabilitation of veterans and military personnel and to raise public awareness of this effective recovery tool.

Media accreditation is required to attend.

Background: The “Come Back Alive” Initiatives Center is a public organization dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s security and defense. It focuses on researching veterans and security policy, developing effective solutions, and advocating for their implementation in public policy. Currently, the Center operates two main programs: analytical and veteran-focused, promoting a culture of rehabilitation for veterans and military personnel through adaptive sports after injury, trauma, or illness.

• culture
• Kyiv

Amnesty International Ukraine, in cooperation with the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, is launching an open-air photo exhibition entitled “Deafening Silence”, dedicated to the stories of Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families. The exhibition is based on extensive research into the rights abuses of POWs held by russia. The opening will be on May 9.

This project is part of an international campaign to raise awareness of violations of international humanitarian law and to strengthen the protection of prisoners of war by mobilizing civil society.

The purpose of the event is to highlight systematic violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the russian federation, to support initiatives aimed at protecting their rights, and to raise global awareness of these humanitarian challenges.

Media accreditation is required to attend.

• culture
• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Mykola Velychko from Khmelnytskyi oblast became interested in pottery even before the full-scale invasion. He planned to open a pottery residency next to his workshop. The website of the residency was supposed to be launched on February 24, 2022. However, the full-scale war began and Mykola joined the military.

In the summer of 2023 he returned home and decided to revive the residency project — but now for active soldiers and veterans, giving them a place to recover after the frontlines. Mykola started making and selling mugs and investing the proceeds in the construction of the residence. Now he is finishing the construction and still needs to buy furniture and equipment.

This summer, Mykola plans to start pottery classes with soldiers who come to the residency.

You can contact Mykola Velychko online or offline in Khmelnytskyi oblast by prior arrangement.

• culture
• military
• Khmelnytskyi

At the beginning of the full-scale war, members of the Kyiv Municipal Cruising Yacht Club made trench candles and wove camouflage nets. Later, together with warfighters, they designed special medical stretchers using sailcloth as a material, which is durable, waterproof and resistant to friction. The stretchers are now manufactured on a regular basis: they are lightweight and compact.  

Many club members joined this initiative. Sailcloth is provided by sailors from yacht clubs all over Ukraine. Sailors from Poland and Slovenia have also sent their sails for the production of stretchers.

By prior arrangement, journalists can speak with club members and cover their work in Kyiv.

For reference: Kyiv Municipal Cruising Yacht Club is the oldest active yacht club in the capital (a non-profit sailing organization).

As a reminder, the club has launched a free sailing course for military personnel and veterans. Journalists can cover the practical training.

• culture
• volunteers
• Kyiv

After the beginning of the full-scale war, Viktoriia lost her job and turned to working with clay. The young woman created numerous pieces, including tableware. Her work caught the attention of a company that was looking for a craftswoman to make platters. The key feature of these plates is their pins, which help to secure food so that it can be cut with just one hand.

Viktoriia studied the necessary information, consulted with an occupational therapist, and created her first inclusive plate. Today, she donates her creations to restaurants, hospitals, and veterans who have lost an arm in combat. She doesn’t charge the military for her work – instead, her social media followers cover the cost.

You can contact Viktoriia Beliavska online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman has addressed the President of the United States in a song. The musical piece was published on his Facebook page with the caption: “My appeal to Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, to help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace.”

The song, performed in English, is set to video footage showing the aftermath of Russian strikes on Ukraine, including the April 24 attack on Kyiv that killed 13 people and injured nearly 90.

“You are the one the whole world is watching, your every move, everything you do. Don’t let the line between good and evil be blurred. The light will always rise, the darkness will not prevail. Donald Trump, it’s time to fight in the name of light,” the lyrics say.

Journalists can arrange an online interview with Moshe Azman in advance.

For reference: Moshe Reuven Azman serves as the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine. Recently, he hosted Pastor Mark Burns – often described as Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor – during his visit to Ukraine, including stops in Bucha and Irpin. In September 2024, a memorial service was held for Matityahu (Anton Samborsky), the Chief Rabbi’s adopted son, who was killed in the war.

• culture
• religion

The Kiev Municipal Cruising Yacht Club is implementing a rehabilitation initiative for military personnel and veterans – a free sailing course combining theoretical and practical training.

Recently, the first practical session of the sailing course took place. The participants prepared their training boat, refreshed their theoretical knowledge and the terminology they learned during the last two months. The next day, they set sail for their first wind-powered voyage.

Journalists are welcome to cover the next practical session in Kyiv upon prior arrangement.

Background: Kiev Municipal Cruising Yacht Club is the oldest active yacht club in the capital (a non-profit sailing organization).

• culture
• military
• Kyiv