Themes by tag: Kyiv
On April 11, the Recovery Window Media Network will introduce its “One to Another” assistance service at Media Center Ukraine. Designed to connect media organizations, NGOs, and think tanks, the service is inspired by the concept of “suspended coffee” (caffè sospeso). It allows those with available resources—such as expertise, equipment, or technology—to share them with those in need, at no cost. This initiative aims to support organizations facing challenges due to the unexpected withdrawal of U.S. funding.
This initiative aims to support partners facing operational and logistical challenges amid sudden cuts in U.S. grant funding.
Participants:
– Anhelina Tiokhta, Head of the Communications at the Recovery Window Media Network;
– Olena Dub, Media Expert;
– Valeriia Krupoderia, Coordinator of the Eastern Variant hotline;
– Nataliia Tuiahina, Head of English-language Department at Rubryka Ukrainian Solutions Media.
All in person.
Prior accreditation is required for attendance.
On April 11, Media Center Ukraine will host a press conference titled “Always First: Families of captured and missing paratroopers demand honest dialogue with the state.” The participants will address the infrequency of prisoner exchanges involving captured paratroopers and discuss the need for effective communication between the families of the paratroopers and state authorities.
Participants:
– Tetiana Hoidyk, Coordinator of Families of Captured and Missing of the 95th Air Assault Brigade;
–Yevhen Didkivskyi, former POW of the 95th Air Assault Brigade;
– Oleh Slobodianyk, representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War;
– Volodymyr Horin, Head of the Personnel Management Department of the Airborne Assault forces, Armed Forces of Ukraine;
– Olena Bieliachkova, Coordinator for Groups of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing Soldiers, Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR).
All in person.
Prior accreditation is required for attendance.
On April 11, Kyiv will host the premiere screening of the co-produced film “No Sleep Til Kyiv”, a collaboration between the USA, Estonia, and Ukraine, which will be released online later this spring. The Kyiv event will feature the film’s creative team, as well as the convoy drivers of the 69th Sniffing Brigade, who are arriving in Ukraine with another delivery of humanitarian aid.
“No Sleep Til Kyiv” follows the journey of American Peter Duke, who joins a convoy as a driver from Estonia to Kyiv to deliver crucial aid to Ukrainian soldiers. Along the way, Peter discovers a country that embodies unity and resilience. He draws parallels between Ukraine’s current struggle and the founding of the United States in 1776. As he observes those involved in today’s fight, he witnesses extraordinary acts of self-sacrifice and dedication — values that transcend borders and politics. The experience reshapes his understanding of war — and of himself.
Peter Duke travels from Tallinn to Kyiv with the 69th Sniffing Brigade, a unit of the international North Atlantic Fellas Organization (NAFO), which has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The 69th Sniffing Brigade regularly assists Ukrainian soldiers by collaborating with international donors, organizing fundraisers for vehicles, drones, generators, and addressing many other essential needs of Ukrainian defenders.
The screening will take place with the participation of the film’s creative team: the film’s protagonist, soldier Volodymyr Favorsky; director of photography Christopher Walters; creative producer Dimitri Nasennik; line producer Vsevolod Priakhin; and sound engineer Xenia Vynogradova.
Accreditation is required to attend the event.
On April 10, the Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing “Energy stability: Gas, nuclear and critical infrastructure in wartime”.
Participants:
– Yuriy Boyko, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Member of the Supervisory Board of Ukrenergo.
Key topics:
– Gas procurement: Will resources be sufficient and where will they come from?
– Restoration of damaged critical infrastructure: What has been done and what is planned?
– The role of nuclear power in ensuring the resilience of the energy system;
– How did the last heating season go, and where should preparations for the next one begin?
How can we ensure that the destruction of Ukrainian monuments, museums and artifacts by the russian federation does not go unpunished? How can we collect evidence of crimes against cultural heritage so that it becomes part of the indictments in international tribunals?
These topics were addressed by participants of a four-day training in Kyiv: museum workers, investigators, prosecutors, military personnel, scientists, representatives of the public sector and journalists. Among the trainers were representatives from 7 countries (USA, UK, Sweden, France, Mauritius, Netherlands and Ukraine), including prosecutors who have worked with the International Criminal Court to prosecute those responsible for crimes against cultural heritage in Mali, Bosnia and other countries.
The press conference, which will be held in Kyiv on April 11, will summarize the results of the training, outline the main challenges and the steps necessary to achieve justice.
Participants of the press conference:
- Nataraj Muneesamy, Assistant Attorney General of Mauritius, expert in international criminal law;
- Andrea Cayley, Coordinator of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) in Ukraine, Head of the Cultural Heritage Group;
- Ankie Petersen, Staff Officer for Cultural Property Protection, NL Armed Forces, member of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) in Ukraine;
- Anna Neistat, Legal Director of The Docket initiative (Clooney Foundation for Justice’s initiative to hold perpetrators of international crimes accountable);
- Ihor Poshyvailo, Co-founder of the Agency for Cultural Resilience (ACURE), Director General of the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.
On April 12, a peaceful rally “From captivity — home” dedicated to the release of Ukrainian civilian prisoners who are illegally held by russia will take place in Kyiv. The goal of the event is to draw public and international attention to the issue of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by russia and to demand their immediate release.
During the rally “From captivity — home” there will be:
- Speeches by representatives of the “Civilians in Captivity” organization, who will tell about life in captivity and the experiences of people illegally detained by russia;
- performances by artists;
- a joint prayer for the release of prisoners;
- addresses by government officials;
- a moment of silence for the fallen.
Background: According to official figures, russia is illegally holding thousands of Ukrainian civilians. They are doctors, teachers, volunteers, journalists, ordinary citizens who have become victims of russian aggression.
Anna and Andrii met four years before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The couple had planned to marry in 2022, but the war upended their plans. After the invasion began, Andrii joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, serving in the 47th Magura Brigade as a senior mechanic and driver of a Bradley fighting vehicle.
The couple finally wed in March 2023. That summer, Andrii was wounded in combat. He was fortunate: shrapnel missed his carotid artery by mere millimeters. After recovering, he returned to the front lines. Anna saw him for the last time in the fall of 2023. On October 19, 2023, Andrii Lukivskyi was killed in action in the Donetsk region.
Anna was notified of his death the following day. She was told the bodies of the fallen had been brought to Kyiv, but she received no further updates. Desperate for answers, she launched her own search. For ten months, she looked for any trace of her husband. Eventually, she found him—his body was listed among the unidentified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database.
What led to the breakthrough was a handwritten note Anna had given Andrii the day before his final mission. He had taken it with him, and it was found with his remains. That note became the key to confirming his identity.
Later, Anna learned that a DNA match between the “unidentified soldier” and Andrii’s family—his mother and sister—had already been established. But the relatives were never informed.
Anna Lukivska is available for interviews both online and in person, by prior arrangement.
From April 9 to 20, the Kyiv History Museum will host In Memoriam: Reality Through Art, an exposition by French artist Fanny Lechevalier. The project brings together art, documentary storytelling, and charitable outreach.
Using the technique of photomontage, Lechevalier overlays images captured by war correspondents onto reproductions of classic European paintings. The resulting compositions are visually arresting and prompt viewers to reconsider the ongoing tragedy unfolding on Europe’s borders.
The exhibition serves several purposes:
– To create a newsworthy event to draw international attention to the war in Ukraine and mobilize additional support;
– To share the personal stories of those affected by the conflict, offering European audiences a more accurate understanding of life during wartime in Ukraine;
– To highlight the European Union’s support and solidarity with Ukraine;
– To raise funds for the development of an educational and rehabilitation hub.
A special media preview will take place on April 8, where journalists will have the opportunity to speak with the artist.
Accreditation is required to attend.
For reference: The exhibition is organized by Ukraine’s Solidarity Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to rebuilding the country and assisting those impacted by the war.
On April 9, the Kyiv History Museum will host the unveiling of ORIGAMI for UKRAINE, a expansive art exhibition featuring a striking display of 5,000 origami birds adorning the museum’s facade. The work was created by Belgian designer Charles Kaisin, known for his collaborations with global brands such as Hermès, Rolls-Royce, Cartier, and Ice-Watch.
Each bird is crafted from metallized paper that reflects sunlight, symbolizing the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their enduring hope for peace.
The grand opening will take place with the participation of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Brussels Mayor Philippe Close. The installation will remain on display in Kyiv for 90 days.
The project was initially launched in Brussels as a charitable initiative aimed at raising funds for the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the Kyiv’s Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Center. So far, the initiative has raised approximately 50,000 euros, which will go toward purchasing vital medical equipment and supplies.
Anna’s husband, Illia, was half Ukrainian and half Georgian. His mother’s family was forced to flee the war in Abkhazia, so his childhood was spent in Ukraine.
In 2014, Illia began his compulsory military service, and when russia occupied Crimea and attacked Ukraine in the east, he voluntarily went to fight in the Donetsk oblast. Illia was demobilized in 2015. He met Anna, they got married, and later had a daughter, Polina.
On February 24, 2022, the family woke up to explosions. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Illia defended the Kyiv oblast, participated in the liberation of Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts. His comrades tell how he shot down enemy helicopters, assisted reconnaissance groups, defended positions even in the most dangerous conditions.
During one of those missions he was seriously wounded and could not be evacuated from the battlefield. Illia’s family is convinced that his merits should be recognized at the highest level. His wife is making every effort to secure for him the title of Hero of Ukraine, as his deeds are examples of courage and self-sacrifice for the sake of the country.
Background: Currently, the family is supported by the charitable foundation “Children of Heroes”. It helps children who have lost one or both parents as a result of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation. The foundation provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and promotes education and development for children until they reach adulthood.
