Themes by tag: Kyiv

On August 9 and 10, peaceful rallies will take place across 29 cities in Ukraine to draw attention to the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war and those still missing in action. The campaign seeks to honor the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers held in russian captivity, and to mark three years since the deadly attack on the Olenivka detention center.

The rallies are being organized by families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison, with participation from former prisoners who have since returned home.

Demonstrations on August 9 will be held in: Arbuzynka, Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Irpin, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Lviv, and Poltava.

On August 10, events are planned in: Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Krolevets, Kremenchuk, Uman, Lozova, Mykolaiv, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Korosten, Slavuta, Cherkasy, Dolynska, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Uzhhorod, Shpola, Shostka, and Rivne.

Organizers are urging the public to join the call for justice and accountability, and to ensure that the plight of those held in captivity is not forgotten.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Anastasiia Astafieva is considered one of Kyiv’s leading specialists in tattooing and tattoo removal. Following the start of russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine, she treated a serviceman who wanted to eliminate an old tattoo. His face also bore remnants of gunpowder residue that had become lodged deep in his skin after a blast.

Astafieva attempted to remove the embedded residue with a laser typically used for tattoo removal. The advanced laser therapy results were visible after just one session. After several more, the soldier’s skin was fully restored. Impressed by the outcome, he encouraged other servicemen to seek her help. 

That marked the beginning of her work with those recovering from blast-related injuries. Today, Astafieva treats both military personnel and civilians affected by war, removing not only gunpowder but also soot and soil that have become embedded in their skin during explosions. She provides these treatments free of charge.

Anastasiia Astafieva is open to interviews both online and in person in Kyiv.

• casualties
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

On August 8, Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host a briefing on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) results in the first half of 2025. 

Participants:

– Semen Kryvonos, Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU);

– Oleksandr Klymenko, Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

Key topics:

– Report on NABU and SAPO activities for the first half of 2025;

– Key achievements and challenges.

Pre-registration is required. Confirmations will be sent via email.

• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine broke out, Ivan Pidhirnyi worked as a voiceover artist and dubbing director. After the invasion began in February 2022, he mobilized and was deployed to the Avdiivka sector. At the time, Mariia, who would later become his wife, relocated to her mother’s home in a village in Donetsk region, where she took a job at a local museum.

One of her first assignments was to curate an exhibition for the Defenders Day. In search of authentic items from the front line, Mariia turned to Tinder, not for romance, but for help sourcing exhibits. Ivan, who had just returned from duty and was eating lunch in Pokrovsk, saw her message and reached out.

That brief exchange led to the museum receiving spent shell casings and a launcher tube from the battlefield. It also marked the beginning of a steady conversation between the two.

Eventually, Ivan was discharged from service due to health reasons. As they adjusted to civilian life, the couple began exploring ways to build a future together. They settled on aquaculture, specifically, raising crayfish. The pair relocated to a village in the Kyiv region, where Ivan’s parents lived, and launched their farm, which they named “House with Arborvitae.” Today, they’re working to expand the venture into an eco-complex. 

Ivan and Mariia are open for interviews by appointment, both online and in person, at their site in the Kyiv region.

• culture
• Kyiv

Andrii Polishchuk joined the Ukrainian military as a volunteer at the start of the full-scale invasion. He served in the specialized 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, becoming an expert in radar systems and counter-battery warfare. He also trained abroad, including in the UK, where he qualified as a radar instructor.

In 2023, Andrii returned to civilian life but didn’t want to leave his comrades without support. So, he started manufacturing battery packs and power systems for FPV drones, fixed-wing UAVs, and electronic warfare systems. Andrii applied for a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, which helped him purchase a 3D printer, welding equipment, and necessary components. In addition, he now works as a UAV instructor.

You can connect with Andrii Polishchuk online or meet him in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Kyiv

The NGO Every Animal, in partnership with nutritionist Mark Shpara, Macro-2019, and Eat Me At, developed seven daily plant-based meal plans for military personnel. The goal is to provide vegan and vegetarian soldiers, as well as those who fast or avoid animal products for health reasons, with plant-based food.

Defenders can order a free “vegan ration pack”, which includes 26 ready-to-eat meals in retort packaging (soups and porridges with soy meat and Eat Me At plant-based mince).

The rations are sent to military personnel via mail.

Journalists can learn more about vegan rations for defenders in Kyiv. 

Background: The NGO Every Animal was founded in 2019 to promote veganism and advocate for animal rights. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the organization has provided over 2,700 weekly vegan rations to the military free of charge. They have also organized ten charity Vegan Weekend festivals, raising and donating UAH 4.5 million to support the Defense Forces.

• food
• military
• Kyiv

In Kyiv, two sled hockey teams Sokil and Start have taken shape, each made up of veterans who have undergone lower limb amputations. Every team has eight players, and training sessions are held three times a week.

The teams recently competed in the All-Ukrainian Para Ice Hockey Championship.

Journalists can attend and report on training sessions in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

For reference: Para ice hockey, also referred to as sled or sledge hockey, is an adaptation of the sport for athletes with amputations or limited lower limb function. Players move across the ice on specially designed sleds, using two short sticks fitted with spikes on one end for propulsion and blades on the other for controlling the puck.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On August 3, the Kyiv oblast will host a pre-premiere screening of the documentary film “Spartan: Limitless”. The film follows Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (GUR MOU) special unit veterans with amputations as they push their physical and mental limits in the grueling Spartan Race in the French Alps. This challenge was part of the Limitless project.

The documentary was filmed by showman Artem Damnytskyi, a member of the comedy team “Veterans of Space Forces”, who ran alongside the veterans and captured their inspiring journey.

The film’s protagonists:

• Taras Prots (special unit “KRAKEN”);
• Serhii Shykun (Department of Active Operations of the Main Intelligence Directorate).

Both became the first Ukrainian soldiers with amputations to complete the Spartan Race.

The documentary “Spartan: Limitless” will be screened outdoors on a large screen. Everyone is welcome to attend and meet the film’s heroes.

Background: The Limitless Project aims to raise awareness of the consequences of war and supports those who have sacrificed their health for Independence. The project helps veterans regain physical and psychological health. As part of the project, amputee veterans Oleksandr Dashko and Ivan Tarn of the Main Intelligence Directorate ascended to Everest Base Camp (17,320 feet) in May of this year.

• culture
• Kyiv

Illia, call sign “Lieshyi”, joined Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in September 2023, just after turning 19. Despite suffering multiple injuries in combat — any of which could have ended his service — he chose to keep fighting on the war’s most dangerous frontlines.

In March 2025, his life changed forever when a russian kamikaze drone dropped an explosive directly on his position, inflicting wounds so severe that both his legs had to be amputated above the knee. The armored vehicle evacuating him was also hit by an FPV drone, but against all odds, Illia survived. After emergency surgery, he reached out to the “Angels” patronage service of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, who took him from the hospital and arranged his long-term rehabilitation.

Now, Illia is preparing for advanced prosthetics treatment in the U.S. — and dreams of returning to military duty once recovered.

You can contact Illia online or offline in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Adaptive wakesurfing, a water sport where the rider glides on the wake behind a boat without being directly towed, is helping Ukrainian military veterans stay active despite physical injuries.

Since the initiative launched in the summer of 2024, 25 service members and veterans have tried wakesurfing, with five continuing to train regularly. 

Weekly sessions are held in Kyiv, where experienced coaches and adaptive equipment allow participants, including those who have lost lower limbs, to participate.

For reference: The project is a collaboration between One Team Forces, an NGO supporting service members injured or psychologically affected by the war, and the STAV14 Wake Park team. It is implemented with the support of the BreakWater Club, the official training base for Ukraine’s national wakesurfing team.

One Team Forces works with service members who served before or after russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. STAV14, a network of wakeparks, promotes adaptive wakeboarding not only in Kyiv but across Ukraine.

Journalists can cover the training sessions in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv