Themes by tag: Kyiv

On July 20, an open Buhurt training session will be held in Irpin, Kyiv oblast.  The event marks the start of regular activities for the “Buhurt Sich” project in the city. Participants will have the opportunity to try out this adaptive team sport based on medieval combat. All training sessions are free of charge. The “Buhurt Sich” team works for veterans, active military personnel, and anyone seeking strength through community.

Background: The “Buhurt Sich” project aims to restore the psychological well-being of soldiers by introducing them to Buhurt. This team combat sport involves simulated knightly battles, either in full armor or soft protective gear. It’s not only spectacular, but experience from other countries shows that it is also highly effective in aiding veterans. For instance, the majority of Buhurt athletes in the U.S. are former military personnel. They say that Buhurt helped them cope with PTSD, overcome alcohol and drug addictions, and prevent suicide. Beyond the physical challenge, Buhurt provides a tight-knit community, which is a crucial factor in rehabilitation.

• culture
• psychological support
• Kyiv

For over three years, Oleksandra waited for her father, a soldier held in russian captivity. All that time, the young woman searched for any scraps of information — reaching out to relatives of freed POWs, making posts on social media — but mostly, she was met with silence.

On June 19, 2025, Oleksandra received the news she had longed for: her father had been freed from captivity and returned to Ukraine. After that, she decided to support others still searching for their loved ones and waiting for prisoner exchanges. With her father’s permission, she made a social media post asking people to send her photos of their relatives in captivity. She shows these pictures to her father, and he tries to recall whether he saw these people while imprisoned.

Oleksandra receives hundreds of messages with photos. The freed defender often asks for the person’s date of birth, as in captivity, everyone begins to look alike. In just two weeks, Oleksandra’s father managed to recognize three people. Of course, the information may not always be accurate.

Oleksandra helps others without expecting anything in return because she understands the pain of waiting for a loved one to return from captivity.

You can speak with Oleksandra online or in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv

The Tytanovi Arts and Culture Center for Veterans Rehabilitation has officially opened its doors in Kyiv, marking a significant step forward in support for Ukraine’s wounded defenders. Launched by the Tytanovi Foundation as part of its broader Tytanovi Rehab initiative, the new facility is the first of its kind in the country to offer psychological and social rehabilitation for veterans with amputations, uniquely located inside a shopping mall.

The Tytanovi Foundation emphasizes that war leaves scars beyond the physical. Psychological wounds often run deep, and creative therapy is proving to be one of the most effective ways to heal them. The center offers a variety of services, including a creative studio, sports and art therapy sessions, as well as educational, social, and integration programs tailored to veterans’ needs.

To secure the center’s long-term operation, the TYTANOVI Charitable Foundation has partnered with the U.S.-based Hansen Ukrainian Mission. Under a newly signed memorandum, the American organization will cover all operating costs of the rehab center and its cultural-arts space in the Respublika Park shopping mall for one year.

For reference: The Tytanovi Foundation was founded by Armed Forces veteran Viacheslav Zaporozhets and is dedicated to supporting military personnel and veterans in their recovery. One of its key missions is to provide titanium implants for soldiers who have experienced complex limb loss.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• psychological support
• Kyiv

Participants:

– Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy;

– Iryna Dovhan, SEMA Ukraine NGO;

– Oleksii Sivak, Alumni Network NGO;

– Liudmyla Huseinova, Numo, Sisters NGO;

– Andrii Kochmuradov, December 29th NGO;

– Charu Lata Hogg, Founder and Executive Director of All Survivors Project. 

Key topics:

– How survivors launched the initiative to add russia to the UN’s “list of shame,” tracing its path from a grassroots idea to a unified appeal by both international and domestic human rights organizations;

– Global advocacy efforts supporting the initiative;

– The broader significance of the campaign in advancing international justice and strengthening collaboration among leading victims’ groups.

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Kyiv has strengthened its defenses against war remnants by establishing a pyrotechnic unit for underwater and humanitarian demining. This unit operates under the Emergency Rescue Squad of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv.

The unit has already undergone appropriate training and is fully equipped, particularly the diving team.

To improve their skills, rescue sappers practice different response scenarios daily. One of these training sessions involved recovering a training hand grenade from the Dnipro River.

• Kyiv
• demining

When russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vita Anniuk was living thousands of miles away in Italy. But distance didn’t stop her. She had been abroad for two years, yet the moment war broke out, she packed her bags and returned home.

At first, Vita threw herself into volunteering. But it wasn’t enough. Within a month, she made the decision to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Her initial attempt at mobilization was rejected, officials cited her lack of military experience. But Vita didn’t give up. For six months, she showed up at the military recruitment center regularly, reminding them she was ready and willing to serve.

In October 2022, her persistence paid off. She received her military ID and joined the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. Thanks to her background in psychology, she was assigned to the combat stress control group, where she helped soldiers cope with the psychological toll of war.

Soon after, she was transferred to the 505th Separate Marine Battalion and appointed deputy commander of an air assault company, a role that placed her on the front lines.

Vita served in some of the most active combat zones in the Donetsk and Kherson regions. She took part in evacuating the wounded during operations in Krynky, came under mortar fire, and even provided medical care to captured russian troops.

Vita Anniuk is available for interviews, both online and in person, with prior approval from a press officer. She will be in Kyiv until July 17 before returning to her unit.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

On July 19, Kyiv will host a public rally “Abandoned in Captivity. Four Years of Official Indifference,” focusing on the issue of Ukrainian civilians who remain illegally detained in temporarily occupied territories and in the russian federation.

The rally aims to draw the attention of the public, the media, and government officials to the glaring absence of a state policy on returning civilian prisoners and the lack of action to establish a mechanism for searching for, accounting for, and releasing abducted Ukrainian citizens.

Program highlights:

• Art installation and choreographic performance reflecting the experience of civilians in captivity;
• Speeches by relatives of the captives and representatives of the NGO “Civilians in Captivity”;
• Public address to the authorities;
• Speeches by activists, artists, and human rights defenders;
• Announcement of demands to the Ukrainian government;
• Final call to action.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The “Forklift Operator for Women” course is a free vocational program under Reskilling Ukraine’s OnTrack initiative. 

The training course is designed to help women without specialized education master the profession of warehouse forklift driver. The course includes both theoretical online training and one week of hands-on practice.

Upon completing the practical training, participants will take an exam and receive a state-issued forklift operator license as well as an English-translated certificate.

Journalists may cover the training by prior arrangement.

• women
• Kyiv

Oleh Symoroz joined the ranks of Ukraine’s Defense Forces at the onset of the full-scale invasion. He defended the Kyiv region as part of the Territorial Defense Forces before being deployed to the East with his unit. In October 2022, during a combat mission, Oleh’s vehicle struck an enemy mine. The soldier lost both legs and sustained a severe jaw fracture.

Oleh underwent bilateral above-knee amputations, one of the most complex types for prosthetic rehabilitation. Committed to his recovery, he diligently pursued rehabilitation and, with the support of medical professionals and his own determination, successfully adapted to using prostheses. Yet, Oleh’s challenges extended beyond his injuries: the apartment he had been renting in Kyiv was ill-equipped to accommodate a person with disabilities.

Determined to improve his living conditions, Oleh purchased his own home and customized it to meet his needs. Nevertheless, despite residing in a newly constructed building, the complex lacks adequate accessibility and inclusive features for people with disabilities.

Oleh Symoroz is available to connect both online and in person in Kyiv by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

In 2019, Yevheniia Virlych became the head of Kavun.City, a Kherson-based media outlet covering local news. She developed the platform, secured grant funding, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, launched a project to debunk myths about the disease and vaccination.

After russian forces occupied Kherson, the publication refused to shut down. Kavun.City reported on everything happening in the city, from russian raids to bread distribution for residents.

The occupiers hunted for Yevheniia, forcing her into hiding. She frequently changed locations and even dyed her hair. She stayed in occupied Kherson for four months before finally deciding to escape. Once in Kyiv, Yevheniia immediately looked for ways to revive Kavun.City. The team began working on projects exposing local government operations and documenting russian war crimes.

On June 17, 2025, Yevheniia’s apartment was damaged during a russian missile attack on the capital. The blast wave shattered her windows and wounded her with glass shards. She suffered a mild concussion. Currently, Yevheniia and her family are staying with friends. Despite everything, Kavun.City continues to operate, with correspondents still reporting from Kherson.

You can connect with Yevheniia Virlych online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• women
• Kherson
• Kyiv