Themes by tag: culture
Daniil, whose call sign is “Taiets” (Thai), is from Shostka in the Sumy oblast. He has been passionate about sports since childhood, practicing Muay Thai and being an avid football fan. At age 14, Daniil experienced the football fan sector for the first time and saw that the supporters were true Ukrainian patriots. When russia first attacked, most of these fans became volunteers. “Taiets” recalls that they were his role models.
After finishing school, Daniil moved to Kyiv to study to become a coach and was there when the full-scale invasion began. He immediately joined the Defense Forces, first defending the Kyiv oblast, then Izium, and later the Donetsk oblast. In Bakhmut, says “Taiets”, he learned what real war is. He currently serves in an unmanned systems battalion and is responsible for FPV drone operations.
Over time, Daniil began thinking of ways to help finance drone repairs for his battalion. He decided to try creating merchandise. First, he made challenge coins featuring his photo from Bakhmut, and then he started producing T-shirts with custom prints. Daniil explains that every T-shirt purchased is a donation to the battalion’s drone workshop. “Taiets” does not deduct his own expenses from the sales. Instead, he invests all the profit directly into repairing drones.
Daniil is available for conversations online and in person in Kyiv until September 22 by prior arrangement.
On September 17, Ukraine will witness a new attempt to set the national record for the “Most unsupported one-leg squats in one minute” near Odesa. The record attempt will be made by 34-year-old war veteran and assault pilot Oleksandr Revtiukh of the 47th Mechanized Brigade ‘Magura’, who has endured the loss of both an arm and a leg.
In 2023, during a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporizhia region, Revtiukh and his unit entered a minefield. A mine first took his leg, and as he attempted to crawl to safety in a state of shock, another mine detonated just a meter away, claiming his arm and injuring his torso. Despite the field being heavily mined, his comrades were able to evacuate him.
Last year, Revtiukh set a national record by completing 34 unsupported sit-ups on one leg within a minute. This year, he is aiming to surpass his own achievement.
The event is open to accredited media only. For security reasons, the precise location will be shared exclusively with credentialed journalists.
Crimea-born artist Kateryna Tutierova, has transformed a soldering iron into an unlikely tool of artistry. Born in Bakhchisarai, she entered university in 2014, the year russia annexed the peninsula. Tutierova wanted to transfer to the mainland, but as a minor, she needed her parents’ consent, which they refused to give. Three years later, she graduated with a russian diploma and moved straight to Kyiv.
In Kyiv, she earned a second bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s in cultural studies from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, before starting a career in social media management. But after russia launched its full-scale invasion, Tutierova came across an online video demonstrating how to make jewelry with a soldering iron. Intrigued, she borrowed one from a friend, picked up the basics, and began experimenting. By March of that year, she had sold her first piece.
Today, Tutierova works with an alloy of tin and copper, metals that are both environmentally friendly and safe to wear. She began with earrings and chokers, then expanded into larger pieces such as handbags and paintings. Her bold, sculptural designs have since appeared on Fashion Week runways and on Ukrainian celebrities featured in magazines and music videos. Last year, singers Jerry Heil and Alyona Alyona performed at the Eurovision Song Contest wearing her creations.
Tutierova named her brand Sfurato, a word she once misspelled during a university class. What started as a personal experiment has grown into a distinctive label defined by resilience, artistry, and reinvention.
Those interested in her work can reach her online or arrange an appointment in Kyiv.
At just 16, Sofiia has lived through more than most her age. When russia’s full-scale invasion forced her family to leave Kyiv, they resettled in Switzerland, where she faced months of loneliness and difficulty adjusting to an unfamiliar culture. Seeking support, she turned to the Voices of Children Foundation, where online counseling sessions helped her manage stress and gradually find her footing in a new community.
For a school project, Sofiia chose to honor a powerful symbol of her homeland: the AN-225 Mriya airplane, the world’s largest cargo plane that was destroyed in the early days of the war. With painstaking effort, she built a model of the aircraft by hand, measuring 113 by 110 centimeters. When she unveiled it at a school presentation, Sofiia spoke to classmates, teachers, and parents about the war in Ukraine and the hardships children endure under constant russian attacks. She appealed to the Swiss community to donate and stand with Ukrainians in need.
Her project grew into something bigger. Determined to expand her effort, Sofiia launched a large-scale fundraiser to support children most affected by the war. Ukrainian businesses soon took notice. Inspired by her initiative, the Voices of Children Foundation partnered with SkyUp Airlines and the jewelry brand Kochut to launch a charity drive aiming to raise 500,000 hryvnias (about USD 12,500). Proceeds will fund vital psychological support for children in frontline regions who have lived through the trauma of war.
Journalists can arrange online interviews with Sofiia, as well as speak with representatives of the Voices of Children Foundation in Kyiv.
Visitors can stroll through a wheat field under the Ukrainian sky, and see a 20-meter Cossack Chaika boat; examine Ivan Mazepa’s saber and a sword from the Kyivan Rus era; fly in virtual reality over Bakota, Syvash, and the Carpathians; step into a pink train carriage; attend the final rehearsal of Rebellion by MUR; explore the set of The Witch of Konotop ― all of this and more will be available from September 26 in Kyiv, at the interactive Ukraine WOW exhibition.
Ukraine WOW aims to immerse people in Ukrainian heritage and historical continuity, empowering visitors to create the future.
The exhibition consists of five thematic sections: Land, Rulers/Warriors, Thinkers, Artists, and Independence. It features over a hundred exhibits and dozens of interactive zones. Exhibits include Ivan Mazepa’s saber; a sword from the Kyivan Rus era; Cossack bowls; a hetman’s mace; original prints of Ukraine, from Beauplan (1651) to Marshall (1772); the Unification Train, where the Unification Act between the West Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Ukrainian People’s Republic was signed; a 20-meter replica of a Cossack chaika; and much more.
Background: Over 200 people worked on the project. The concept and implementation of this exhibition was fulfilled by the NGO, Ukraine WOW, and the agency, Gres Todorchuk. It was organized together with JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, in cooperation with strategic partner Aurora Multimarket, general partner ROZETKA, and official partner Visa. The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The exhibits have been provided by museums in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
The exhibits were provided by museums and private collectors. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to support the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, the Museum of Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Cherkasy City Archaeological Museum of the Middle Dnipro Region, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, and the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after V. V. Tarnovsky.
From September 19 to 21, the “On the Wave” veteran competitions will take place on the coast of Odesa, combining sports, the sea, and a supportive atmosphere.
The event is organized by the FREEHEARTED NGO, founded by veterans Illia Pylypenko and Arsen Riaboshapko. They represented Ukraine at the Invictus Games in February 2025, where they conceived the idea to organize a similar event in Odesa.
The program includes four adaptive sports:
- Wheelchair basketball
- Archery
- Rowing on simulators
- Boccia
Beyond the competitions, participants can look forward to a vibrant weekend in sunny Odesa: relaxation on an inclusive beach, excursions, and community-building with those who share similar experiences and understanding.
Veterans and active-duty service members are invited to participate. Competition entry is free.
Journalists must be accredited to attend the event.
Background: This project is being carried out with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center, the Unlimited Possibilities Charitable Foundation, and EPAM.
On September 13, Kyiv will host Run for Freedom, a charity race aimed at raising awareness about Ukrainian military personnel and civilians held in captivity. The event, now in its second year, is organized by students of the Kyiv School of Economics along with historian and UNITED24 ambassador Timothy Snyder, who is expected to join the run in person.
Runners can choose distances of 1, 5, or 10 kilometers. Participation is free for active-duty service members, veterans, and families of prisoners of war. Organizers say the race is intended to draw international attention to the urgent need to secure the release of Ukrainians held by russia, while also showing solidarity with families waiting for their loved ones to return.
A press conference featuring Snyder will be held as part of the event. Journalists are required to register in advance.
For reference: Organizers include KSE Foundation, DefDev, the national RECOVERY network of rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers, and the Heart of Azovstal project supporting Mariupol’s defenders. Media partners are ShoTam media outlet, 1+1 Ukraine TV channel, and Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
All proceeds from ticket sales, after covering organizational costs, will be directed to the Ukrainian Defense Forces through the KSE Foundation. Organizers have pledged to provide a public report detailing how the funds are used.
Andrii Prots knew the path he wanted to follow from an early age. Inspired by his grandfather, a skilled carpenter, he took up woodworking himself and eventually built a business producing cabinets, kitchens, and commercial furnishings for shops and offices. His dream was to grow into a mass manufacturer – until russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine forced him to put everything on hold.
When the war broke out, Prots mobilized with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He carried out combat missions in the Serebrianskyi Forest, Torske, Zarichne, and near Lyman. It was while serving on the front line that he learned his wife had given birth to their daughter. He still recalls returning home on leave, dirty and exhausted, straight from the forest, to meet his newborn child.
By 2023, Prots decided to leave the military for family reasons and turn back to civilian life. Almost immediately, he began rebuilding his business. He repaired his workshop, which had been damaged in an enemy strike, and reopened his furniture factory, which he fittingly named “Combatant.”
Over time, Prots realized he wanted his work to serve a greater purpose. He has invested his savings and secured a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to buy land and build a barrier-free production facility for veterans with disabilities. He aims to complete construction by the end of 2025 and create a workplace where veterans feel safe, valued and comfortable.
Those who wish to meet with Andrii Prots can do so either online or in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.
Journalists are invited to the opening of Ukraine’s first barrier-free and inclusive sports complex.
One of Kyiv’s long-neglected stadiums has been given a new lease on life thanks to Howard G. Buffett Foundation. A key focus of the complex will be providing post-rehabilitation support to veterans and military personnel.
The complex will feature basketball, volleyball, football, and tennis courts. It will also have martial arts and fitness halls, rehabilitation rooms, and a fully equipped gym.
Attendees will include:
- Howard G. Buffett, American philanthropist,
- Oleksandr Yegorov, head of FC Lokomotiv Kyiv,
- representatives of the President’s Office and the Cabinet of Ministers,
- veterans and active-duty service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Brand Ukraine International Conference, the country’s flagship annual forum on national image and global perception, will be held in Kyiv on September 18. This year’s gathering will spotlight how values-driven strategic positioning can bolster security and strengthen Ukraine’s reputation abroad.
The conference, conducted in English with simultaneous translation into Ukrainian, will bring together communications experts, policymakers, cultural figures, and civil society leaders. Participants will hear keynote speeches, engage in networking sessions, and explore case studies showcasing international communication initiatives. Full program details are available at https://buic.com.ua/uk/ .
Confirmed speakers include:
- Vineta Kleine, Head of Communications, NATO Representation to Ukraine
- Kata Varblane, Director of Country Promotion, Enterprise Estonia
- Serhii Zhadan, Ukrainian poet, novelist, civil activist, and active serviceman
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human rights lawyer, head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize recipient (2022)
- Fernando Prado Abuin, Managing Partner, Reputation Lab
- Professor Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- Mykolai Serga, Military Officer, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Cultural Forces platform founder
- Mykola Kabluka, Architectural and lighting designer, founder and art director of Expolight and Kabluka Light & Digital Sculptures
The conference will close with a 3D street show blending laser projections, light, and sound in a large-scale artistic performance, sending a symbolic message of resilience from Ukraine to the world.
Accreditation is required to attend. The precise venue will be shared with registered participants.
