Themes by tag: culture
On May 15, Kyiv’s War Museum will host a public discussion titled “Chingene in Crimean Tatar Lists — From Rescue to Deportation: Little-Known Stories of Crimea’s Roma.”
The discussion will focus on the dramatic history of the Chingene — Crimean Roma (literally translated from Crimean Tatar as “Gypsies”) who were partially assimilated with the Crimean Tatars, or Qirimli. The Chingene are considered guardians of the Crimean Tatar musical tradition.
During the Nazi occupation of Crimea and the genocide of the Roma, many Chingene identified themselves as Qirimli, while Crimean Tatars in turn tried to save them by including them on Crimean Tatar registration lists. After the soviet reoccupation of Crimea, those same lists were used on May 18, 1944, to deport the Chingene alongside Crimean Tatars to Central Asia, the Urals and Siberia.
After they were later allowed to return to their historical homeland, many Chingene came back to Ukraine together with Crimean Tatars and continued preserving Crimea’s musical traditions by performing at weddings and ethnic celebrations within the Qirimli community.
The discussion will explore the history of the Chingene, the origins of the parallel name “Daifa,” and the differences between Chingene and Krymy Roma communities. Speakers include Romani studies scholar Natalia Zinevych, ethnologist Oleksandr Rybalko and researcher of Romani culture and literature Yanush Panchenko. The discussion will be moderated by Roman Kabachii, a researcher at the War Museum.
Kyiv Military Hub, together with the Kyiv Hippodrome, holds horse riding classes twice a week for Ukrainian defenders and veterans.
Each session lasts 40 minutes — enough time to learn basic riding skills, enjoy the experience and simply recharge.
Equine-assisted therapy for veterans includes:
- physical impact, as the horse transmits rhythmic movement impulses to the rider, activating muscles and the vestibular system;
- psychological and emotional support, as interaction with animals — even without riding — helps reduce stress, alleviate depression and support emotional recovery.
By prior arrangement, journalists are welcome to attend and cover the classes held in Kyiv.
Background: Since the initiative was launched, more than 2,000 defenders, veterans and their family members have taken part in the classes.
On April 30, 2026, the Academic Council of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy officially approved a two-year master’s program titled “Russian Studies: Challenges to International Security” — a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ukraine combining international relations, security studies and postcolonial theory.
russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine exposed a major gap: the world lacks specialists who truly understand the logic of the russian regime rather than merely observing its actions. The new Kyiv-Mohyla Academy program is designed as a comprehensive response to that challenge. It aims to train analysts capable not only of tracking the kremlin’s moves, but also understanding their internal logic, anticipating consequences and effectively countering russian influence on the international stage.
The program is offered within the field of international relations and combines two dimensions that are usually studied separately: security analysis — including the regime, military, foreign policy and international law — and critical research into how russia legitimizes aggression through culture, propaganda, colonial myths and identity manipulation.
Over the course of two years, students will acquire competencies necessary for work in think tanks, government institutions, international organizations and reputable media outlets, including:
- understanding the logic of an authoritarian regime and how russia’s power structure shapes its conduct in war;
- analyzing russian foreign policy as a strategic system with specific goals, instruments and vulnerabilities;
- deconstructing imperial narratives and mechanisms of “soft power”;
- applying postcolonial analysis to russia and understanding the position of peoples historically subjugated by it;
- practical OSINT skills, including the collection, verification and analysis of open-source data;
- understanding international law in the context of armed conflict and aggression.
The teaching staff includes leading international scholars specializing in russia, Ukrainian analysts and experts with practical experience in security and intelligence.
On May 9-10, Kyiv will host the premiere of the Veterans Theater production “Wake Up, Head” (“Razduplis, Galava”).
The sound therapy performance, based on the play “Razduplis, Galava,” tells a story of personal transformation possible only on the edge of life and death. It explores the search for inner support when all external sources of stability have become too fragile to rely on. The production also reflects on what a person turns to and longs for when both their inner and outer worlds descend into chaos — and on the path toward the divine.
The sound therapy and meditative performance seeks to immerse the audience in an open state of consciousness and reach the deepest corners of the soul through words and sound. The sound healing practice used in the production employs instruments that directly interact with the nervous system and can significantly improve emotional well-being. In times of war, healing and recovery have become necessities that should not be neglected.
The production was created by Dmytro Susiekov, Velimir Horyslavets, Mykyta Poliakov and Alia Kholba.
Background: Veterans Theater is a social and artistic project launched through a collaboration between the Communications Service of the Command of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces (TDF Media) and the Theater of Playwrights.
The idea for Veterans Theater emerged in response to the urgent need for therapeutic support for veterans of russia’s war against Ukraine returning from the front line. The project combines art therapy and theater, serving as a platform for creativity, recovery and dialogue, where participants use dramaturgy and acting to speak about their experiences and transform them into art. It brings together veterans, their loved ones and civilians who have lived through traumatic experiences.
On May 7, Ivan Roman, a patient at the UNBROKEN rehabilitation center in Lviv, will open his own business — an archery sports club — together with his wife, Larysa. Roman lost a leg, an arm and part of his eyesight in the war.
The 38-year-old from the Mykolaiv region first joined Ukraine’s defense back in 2014. In January 2024, he was serving as a driver in an aerial reconnaissance unit. He was transporting fellow soldiers to positions when an enemy FPV drone struck the windshield.
Despite severe injuries, during rehabilitation he tried archery and became passionate about the sport. He learned to draw the bowstring with his teeth and to shoot accurately. The veteran now actively competes and aims to join Ukraine’s national Paralympic team.
The idea to open the club was sparked by Roman’s participation in the ReStart program, “From Idea to Veteran Business” — a free business course for patients of the UNBROKEN Center. The course teaches participants how to develop a business plan, understand finance and taxation, explore grant opportunities, and build communication skills.
After completing the course, Ivan and Larysa applied for a grant, won the competition, and secured funding for equipment.
At their club, the Romans plan to develop adaptive sports, working with veterans and also creating a separate section for visually impaired people.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening, where they will have an opportunity to speak with the founders, tour the new inclusive sports space, and see Ivan demonstrate his archery skills.
Media accreditation is required.
On May 16–17, the MHP Run4Victory Kyiv Marathon will take place in central Kyiv. For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, the event will open its city routes for mass participation. All registration fees and donations will go toward prosthetic treatment for Ukrainian servicemen and servicewomen through the Protez Foundation.
Participants can choose from several distances depending on their level of preparation:
- 42 km — full marathon for experienced runners
- 21 km — half marathon for trained participants
- 10 km — endurance race
- 5 km and 2 km — introductory and charity runs
- 500 m — “People Titans” inclusive race
- 500 m — pet-friendly race (all distances allow participation with dogs)
- Online distance — participate remotely from anywhere
- Free children’s races: 500 m, 300 m, and 100 m
Background: The event is organized for the third consecutive year by MHP in partnership with the MHP-Hromadi Charity Foundation. The sports organizer is NewRun.
On May 21, a charity meeting with writer and veteran of the russia–Ukraine war Artur Dronʹ will take place in Lviv.
All proceeds from ticket sales and a charity auction will go toward the rehabilitation of 15-year-old Mariia from Zaporizhzhia. Her father was killed at the front in June last year. That same summer, Mariia and her mother were involved in a car accident in which Mariia suffered a spinal fracture and her mother was killed. Mariia is now under the care of her grandparents and receives support from the Voices of Children Foundation.
Artur Dronʹ will speak about his new book, which is set to be published this autumn by The Old Lion Publishing House. Guests will hear excerpts from the upcoming book, texts from previous works, as well as new poetry and prose that have not yet been published.
The discussion will be moderated by communications specialist Oksana Zіobro, and the charity auction will be hosted by volunteer and educator Bohdan Ivanus.
Background: The event is organized by The Old Lion Publishing House, with support from partners and donors, including the Lviv Officers’ House and the IT company inVerita.
Artur Dron is a poet, writer, and veteran of the russia–Ukraine war. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he joined the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In October 2024, he sustained a serious combat injury in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
He is the author, among other works, of the short prose collection Hemingway doesn’t know anything and the poetry collection We Were Here.
On May 2, at a basketball court in Lviv, the Come Back Alive Initiative Center and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs will host HART | Wheelchair Basketball. The event will bring together veterans of the Russia–Ukraine war, members of national veteran teams, and influencers to play wheelchair basketball. Visitors will also have the opportunity to join in and try the game themselves.
Visitors can expect:
- watching the game and supporting the participants;
- an opportunity to try wheelchair basketball;
- meeting veterans who practice the sport and learning their stories.
The game in Lviv is only the beginning of a larger phase. Immediately afterward, the following will take place:
A five-day training camp: a specialized program aimed at recovery, adaptation, and social reintegration through sport for veterans with visible and invisible injuries, wounds, or illnesses sustained while defending Ukraine.
National competitions: a two-day event for more than 100 veterans from across Ukraine.
Participants will also include skeleton racer and Olympic flag bearer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who honored fallen athletes with his “Helmet of Remembrance,” stand-up comedians Vadym Dziunko, Oleh Luzanov, Bohdan Vakhnych, blogger Mariia Pankiv, and others.
Background: The event is held under the patronage of the Lviv Regional Military Administration. It is organized by the Come Back Alive Initiative Center in cooperation with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, with support from the Matra Programme (an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). The general partner of the event is EPAM.
On April 30, journalists will be shown unique exhibits from the period of the Ukrainian War of Independence (1917–1921) at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. One of the largest collections of artifacts from the period of the Ukrainian Revolution was preserved for decades by the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
The collection was safeguarded thanks to the Ukrainian Military-Historical Museum and the archive of the Ukrainian Free Academy of Sciences in Canada. It will form the basis of the upcoming exhibition “THE PATH OF HEROES. In Memory of Symon Petliura.”
Speakers at the event include:
- Olena Zemliana, Director-General of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine
- Bohdan Patryliak, curator of the exhibition “THE PATH OF HEROES. In Memory of Symon Petliura”
- Artem Mykolaichuk, Head of the Board of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation
- Yaryna Yasynevych, Program Director of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation
For the first time, journalists will be presented with relics revealing stories of Ukraine’s struggle for independence in the 20th century, including:
- the regimental banner of the 2nd Uman Regiment of Cossack Cavalry of the Separate Cavalry Division of the UPR Army
- pennants from the car of Symon Petliura
- a Ukrainian People’s Republic passport belonging to UPR Army Colonel Oleksandr Vyshnivskyi
- drawings by Mykola Bytynskyi from the album “The Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in the Liberation Struggle 1917–1921. Uniforms”
- a regimental bugle instrument of the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Kyiv Rifle Division of the UPR Army
In total, more than 1,500 objects and 123 boxes of archival materials (documents and photographs) were returned from Canada to Ukraine. These artifacts are not only museum items but direct evidence of the struggle for Ukrainian statehood in the 20th century. For those forced to leave Ukraine, this work was not only academic research but also a form of resistance and preservation of memory about the liberation struggle abroad.
The collection was returned in December last year. The museum is now preparing a large-scale exhibition, “THE PATH OF HEROES. In Memory of Symon Petliura,” scheduled to open at the end of May. The exhibition is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura, Head of the Directorate of the UPR and Chief Otaman of the UPR Army.
During the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed between the museum and the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation.
Journalists are required to obtain accreditation for the event.
Five Ukrainian veterans will participate in the international open-water swimming competition Oceanman Lago d’Orta (Italy). They will compete in the 2 km and 5.5 km distances.
All members of the team are veterans with amputations and severe injuries. Each has gone through war, prolonged medical treatment, and rehabilitation. They are currently preparing for the international competition and train four times a week.
Team Members:
- Ivan Khalupa — veteran of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. He lost a leg in combat. Swimming became part of his systematic rehabilitation. He has experience in international competitions.
- Ihor Oliinyk — veteran of the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He began swimming after being wounded to restore psychological balance.
- Serhii Khrapko — lost an arm and a leg in 2015. Member of the national Invictus Games team and a participant in the national selection for the Warrior Games.
- Volodymyr Shanayda — was wounded in 2023. After a year of treatment, he began swimming. Oceanman will be his first international competition.
- Ihor Bystryi — combat veteran since 2016. He was wounded in 2022 by a cluster munition. After rehabilitation, he continues his sports training.
The project aims to support veterans’ participation in an international sporting event and highlight the role of sport in physical and psychological rehabilitation. It promotes the development of veteran sports and raises awareness of recovery through sport.
By prior arrangement, journalists may cover training sessions in Kyiv.
Background: The project is implemented by the charitable foundation YANKO Fund. Logistical support is provided by the concierge service FlyPoint. The team trains under the supervision of medical specialists, coaches, and rehabilitation professionals. The Oceanman organizing committee has provided the athletes with complimentary entry passes for the competition.
