Themes by tag: Kyiv

On January 20, the Media Center Ukraine will host a discussion entitled “Trump 2.0: What Should Ukraine Do?”

Participants:

• Pavlo Sheremeta, Minister of Economic Development and Trade (2014), Founder of the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (KMBS)
• Volodymyr Havrylov, Deputy Minister of Defense (2022-2023), Defense Attaché to the United States (2015-2018)
• Oleksii Antypovych, Director of the Rating Sociological Group
• Ihor Solovey, Center for Strategic Communications
• Yuliia Zabelina, NV Radio
• Yevhen Mahda,  Institute of World Policy
• Representatives of media, diplomatic missions, think tanks and civil society organizations.

Format: The event will include keynote presentations followed by a brainstorming session.

Key questions to be addressed:

– What should Ukrainian politics look like?

– What should Ukraine’s economy look like?

– What should Ukrainian security look like?

Registration is required for the event.

• Kyiv

The national Invictus Games team, which will take part in the international adaptive sports event in Whistler and Vancouver, Canada, this February, has gathered for its fifth training camp.

This time, the team is meeting at a ski resort, allowing participants to practice winter sports in natural conditions. The 2025 Invictus Games will be the first Hybrid Games to include adaptive winter sports. During previous training camps, the Ukrainian team trained on water and on simulators.

Some team members admit this is their first time trying skiing. Others have rediscovered the joy of winter sports after recovering from injuries, while some are skillfully descending slopes on one leg.

The team has also been visited by Olga Kharlan, Ukraine’s most decorated Olympic fencing champion.

The training in Bukovel is coming to an end. Journalists can speak with team members in Kyiv and have access to photo and video materials.

Background: The Invictus Games were founded in 2014 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex. The international competition is for veterans and service personnel who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Ukraine has launched its first-ever all-women mobile air defense units, known as the “Bucha Witches,” in the Kyiv region’s Bucha community. Formed entirely by volunteers, the units operate as part of the Bucha Territorial Community’s military volunteer force.

The group unites women from varied backgrounds—spanning different ages, professions, and education levels—who juggle civilian responsibilities with combat duties, serving every three days. According to the formation’s headquarters, their mission includes defending Bucha and occasionally the neighboring Hostomel community. The units primarily intercept enemy drones and missiles, with additional counter-sabotage operations as needed.

This version retains all essential details but is slightly more concise and adheres to professional reporting standards.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

In 2023, Ukrainian Railways launched a dedicated dog training center to bolster the security of Ukraine’s railway transport infrastructure. These highly trained service dogs will work alongside experienced paramilitary security officers, enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure.  

The center focuses on preparing dogs from as young as three months old to detect substances and objects that could pose a threat to public safety. Professional dog handlers employ specialized training techniques to refine the animals’ sense of smell for security tasks.  

According to earlier announcements, the Kyiv-based facility aims to train approximately 30 service dogs annually, with plans to grow the four-legged security force to 1,000.

• animals
• Kyiv

On January 13, Kyiv initiated a series of mental health training sessions aimed at bolstering the well-being of critical infrastructure workers. The program stems from a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Kyiv City State Administration and the Ukrainian-Swiss project Mental Health for Ukraine (MH4U), according to Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for Self-Government, Maryna Honda, as reported by the project’s press service.  

In the first quarter of 2025, MH4U plans to conduct 31 training sessions designed for police officers, social workers, and critical infrastructure personnel. More than 450 professionals are set to receive hands-on instruction in managing stress during crises and emergencies.  

About MH4U: Mental Health for Ukraine is an international development initiative supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, focusing on improving mental health systems in Ukraine.

• psychological support
• Kyiv

On January 16, a newly restored outpatient clinic will officially open in the village of Zdvyzhivka, located in the Bucha district. The facility, which was devastated during the 2022 occupation of the Kyiv region, has been fully renovated and upgraded after being looted and severely damaged by russian forces.

The clinic now boasts modern equipment and expanded diagnostic services, including ultrasound, laboratory testing, and cardiac evaluations for patients with complex needs. It is set to provide primary healthcare to approximately 2,000 residents of Zdvyzhivka, Babyntsi, and neighboring villages.

The opening ceremony will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, regional and local governments, as well as international partners who supported the reconstruction efforts.

• doctors
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and their families can enjoy free skiing, snowboarding, and adaptive ski chair training at Golosiiv Ski Park in Kyiv, courtesy of the Active Parks initiative. The classes, available through February, feature instruction from experienced trainers and utilize the Tempo Dualski equipment for seated skiing, a professional and secure tool designed to accommodate participants with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the State Institution “Sport for All” program, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, under the broader presidential project “Active Parks — Locations of Healthy Ukraine” program. 

The adaptive sit skiing training also aligns with Ukraine’s effort to create a barrier-free environment and is included in the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “Are You OK?” launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On January 21, Kyiv will host the opening of the exhibition “Tandem of Victory: Stories of Rescue, Life and Resilience”. The event aims to draw attention to the importance of supporting the mental health of veterans and victims of war through artistic practices and hippotherapy.

Key participants and projects of the exhibition:

Victory Center: A non-profit organization focused on the psycho-emotional recovery of veterans and children affected by war. They use hippovention (a model of therapeutic interaction between humans and horses) and hippotherapy. The center’s story is told through the personal experiences of its executive director, Nastia Popandopulos.

Palette of Courage: Halyna Morar, an artist, ATO veteran, and fighter in a volunteer battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard, explores internal transformations shaped by external influences. Her works are deeply rooted in Ukrainian traditions and wartime symbolism, calling for the preservation of identity and finding strength in difficult times. In Halyna’s paintings, war is portrayed as a challenging path to victory that brings transformation to both Ukraine and the world.

Social ranch “Horse Paradise” (Kseniia and Halyna): Horse Paradise is a social ranch that has become a sanctuary for horses rescued from the war. It combines therapeutic animal interactions with innovative methods of veteran rehabilitation, contributing to their psychological recovery.

• culture
• Kyiv

The instructors of the Voluntary Formation No. 1 of the Municipal Territorial Community of Irpin and the Municipal Guard continue their efforts to prepare for the national resistance. Recently, another training session was held for members of the NGO “Ukrainian Women’s Guard”, where participants studied tactical skills (movement in small groups using hand signals, enemy observation techniques and surveillance tools) and military topography (navigation using maps and other methods).

By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to cover the next training session on January 19. IMPORTANT: Journalists must be prepared to obscure (e.g., blur) the faces of participants and instructors during the training.

Background: The Ukrainian Women’s Guard is a national network of the women’s resistance movement. Its goal is to unite women in crisis situations and teach them how to survive and resist the enemy.

• women
• Kyiv

On January 13, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host the presentation of the study findings titled “Rada-9. Results.”

The discussion will explore key questions, including:  

– How is the smallest parliamentary composition in Ukraine’s history functioning?

– What impact has the war had on the legislative process?

– Have issues such as absenteeism, amendment spam, and MPs disappearing during crucial votes been resolved?

The findings will be presented by:

– Sofiia Lazarova, analyst at the CHESNO Movement;

– Vitaliy Mikula, analyst at the CHESNO Movement.

Panel discussion participants:

– Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

– Yaroslav Zhelezniak, MP, First Deputy Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy;

– Iryna Herashchenko, MP, Member of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation;

– Oleksandr Salizhenko, editor-in-chief of the CHESNO Movement. 

Accreditation for the event is required and will be open until 7:00 PM on January 12.

• Kyiv