Themes by tag: Kyiv

On September 26, the Media Center Ukraine will host the presentation of an analytical report: “How russia is erasing Ukrainian identity under the guise of fighting extremism”.

Participants:

– Mariia Krasnenko, report author, expert at the Centre of Civil Education Almenda;

– Tetiana Lychko, documentarian at the Centre of Civil Education Almenda;

– Valentina Potapova, head of Direction of National Advocacy at the Centre of Civil Education Almenda;

Key topics:

– How anti-extremism laws are being used to suppress Ukrainian culture and enforce a “all-russian identity”;

– Pressure tactics targeting teachers, students, and school communities in occupied territories under the pretext of “countering extremism”;

– Measures needed at the national and international levels to protect the Ukrainian identity of children in occupied territories;

– Examples of successful strategies already in place to counter russian ideological influence on Ukrainian children’s worldview through education.

Background: Since 2014, russia has not only conducted military aggression but also pursued a systematic campaign of ideological control in occupied territories. Under the pretext of “fighting extremism”, moscow has used legislation to target anyone preserving Ukrainian language, culture, and identity, with children and schools among the primary targets.

• children
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On October 2 in Kyiv, as part of the 16th Odesa International Film Festival, the documentary Children in the Fire (Ukraine, USA, and the Czech Republic; directed by Evgeny Afineevsky) will premiere. The film documents crimes committed against Ukrainian children during the war, including abduction, deportation, and attempts at forced assimilation.

Subjects include Valeriia Sydorova, from Nova Kakhovka, who survived russian occupation and deportation to Crimea; Yana Stepanenko, who lost her legs in a russian missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station; and Vladislav Buryak, who endured russian captivity. You can read the children’s detailed stories here.

Despite their traumatic experiences, the eight young protagonists continue to believe in the future and are pursuing careers as athletes, artists, and civil servants.

The film has already been screened at festivals in Monte Carlo, Raindance, and Documentaries Without Borders.

Journalists will have the opportunity to speak with the children featured in the film and the creative team. Registration is required to attend the event.

• casualties
• children
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

In January 2018, Ona Uzoma Asompta, who was born in Nigeria, moved to Ukraine to pursue a medical education. She fell in love with Ukrainian culture, however, and after completing her studies, she decided to stay in Kyiv. After the full-scale invasion began, she evacuated to Portugal, but later chose to return to Kyiv despite the dangers.

Today, Ona does not work in the medical field. Instead, she works as a model and runs a social media blog where she shares insights about her life in Ukraine. Since the start of the war, she has also begun learning Ukrainian.

Ona Uzoma Asompta is available for interviews, both online and in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• women
• Kyiv

An open training session titled “A Run with the Strong” will be held in Kyiv on September 27. All are invited to join veterans from the “Strong 300” running club for a community run. This event brings veterans and civilians together to run at the same pace.

There will be a distance suitable for any fitness level. Participants can also look forward to making new connections and hearing inspiring stories of resilience from people who have persevered after the war.

Background:

Organizer: Union of Wounded Military of Ukraine “Strong 300”.

Partner: The Ukrainian Athletic Federation.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On September 25, the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) will host an event where experts will analyze the current challenges of information warfare through the lens of international experience. What approaches to countering disinformation are being applied in Ukraine, the EU, the US, and Taiwan? How can threats from information attacks be detected and neutralized?

The discussion will examine specific cases, ranging from anti-Ukrainian propaganda on Chinese social media to halted U.S.-EU cooperation in countering disinformation from russia, China, and Iran.

Speakers:

• Ivana Stradner, Special Correspondent, KyivPost; Research Fellow, Barish Center for Media Integrity, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
• Min Hsuan Wu, Co-founder, Doublethink Lab (Taiwan)
• Yurii Poita, Head of the Asia-Pacific Section, Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies; Visiting Researcher, Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Research
• Yevhen Slavnyi, Editor-in-Chief and News Director, UNITED24 Media
• Tetiana Nikolaienko, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine; Senior Researcher, NAKO; Journalist
• Tetiana Chabaniuk, Head of Education Projects, Molfar Intelligence Institute

The event will take place in Kyiv. Moderator: Olena Tregub, Executive Director of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

Participation requires prior registration. The exact address will be provided after accreditation is confirmed. Registration is open until September 24, 7:00 PM.

Background: The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against internal and external threats in areas critical to national security. This is achieved through independent research, effective advocacy, and raising public awareness.

• Kyiv

The swim was part of the annual international project Neda el Món, which brings together athletes from around the world.

The Ukrainian team, consisting of Ihor Oliinyk, Demian Dudlia, and Maksym Hrinchenko, joined 24 other swimmers in conquering one of the most challenging and unpredictable routes. Despite squalling rain, thunder, and rough waves at dawn, the team persevered. They covered 12.8 kilometers in an impressive 4 hours and 50 minutes.

The veterans are returning to Ukraine on September 26. Journalists can meet with them in Kyiv to hear their thoughts upon arrival. Separate interviews with the participants can be arranged in Kyiv, Dnipro, or online.

Journalists can request photo and video materials of the swim. 

More information about the participants is available here.

Background: The Ukrainian team’s preparation was facilitated by the public organization “One Team Force” – a community dedicated to finding effective ways to provide personalized support for the comprehensive recovery of injured soldiers, from initial rehabilitation to long-term social integration.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

A can’t-miss celebration for pet lovers and their furry friends comes to Kyiv on September 27. 

This year’s gathering carries a major fundraising goal: raising 500,000 hryvnias to support Mariupol volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev. Once an entrepreneur, Puryshev has spent the past three years rescuing both people and animals from frontline areas, evacuating them from areas subject to constant enemy fire and delivering food and medicine.

The program includes a pet-friendly fair, speed dating for owners, an introduction to canine therapy, educational talks and discussions, creative workshops, lighthearted competitions for pets, and an evening of stand-up comedy.

For reference: The picnic is organized by the media platform #Shotam, known for covering positive news and stories, together with its partner Holy Doggy, a project dedicated to promoting canine therapy.

• animals
• culture
• Kyiv

An advance screening of the documentary Life From Scratch will take place in Kyiv on September 23 spotlighting the lives of elderly displaced in Ukraine. The film follows residents of the country’s only private settlement for seniors forced from their homes, built by the Miracle Village Charitable Foundation and the Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission with support from American philanthropist Dell Loy Hansen. Its subjects include elderly evacuees, people with disabilities, and parents whose children are either serving on the front lines or held in captivity.

Set to air soon on national television, the documentary highlights the daily hardships, resilience, and determination of some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable communities. The project aims to raise awareness of their needs and foster dialogue about support at the state, civil society, and international levels.

The event will combine the screening with a short discussion. Guests include officials from the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, and representatives of UNHCR, IOM, Caritas, HelpAge International, the Red Cross, and other national and international charities working with displaced people, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

Organizers say they hope the film will provide a platform for developing a shared vision of making life safer, more dignified, and filled with hope for those portrayed. 

Journalists are required to register to attend.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 23, Kyiv will host a panel discussion titled “Remembering the Dead: How to Honor Their Memory in Public Spaces Without Reducing Them to an Undifferentiated Mass.”

The event, organized by the NGO Ukrainian LGBTQI+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights, will explore how to commemorate fallen defenders in public spaces in ways that preserve their names and individuality rather than reducing them to abstract symbols. Special attention will be given to approaches for visibly and respectfully honoring both open and closeted LGBTQI+ service members in the urban environment, including the concept of a memorial alley.

Speakers:

– Oleksandr Demenko, Head of Ukrainian LGBTQI+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights;

– Yakiv Lavrynets, Co-Chair of Kharkiv Pride Sphere and Co-Organizer of KharkivPride; 

– Oksana Borkun, Head of the Have to Live Charitable Foundation and Founder of the Community of Wives of Fallen Defenders; 

– Veronika Holubnych, a Representative of the Vshanui NGO; 

– Dmytro Kostiuminskyi, a Military Officer, Production Designer, Actor, Theater Director, and Creator of the Tree of Memory Monument (online). 

Registration is required for attendance.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv
• LGBT

On September 21, 2025, Mariupol Day will be celebrated in Kyiv. 

Mariupol is a symbol of resilience and hope that will unite people in Kyiv once again this September. This year, Mariupol Day is not only a symbol, but also a moment of remembrance, gratitude, and unity – open to all who wish to participate.

The organizers invite the media to attend the event, hear the community’s voice, collect personal stories, capture compelling visuals, and speak with the heroes and participants who carry on Mariupol’s legacy.

Program highlights:

• Symbolic march – culminating in the presentation of keys to the Kyiv City State Administration, representing the unity, dignity, and resilience of Mariupol residents;
• Art installation “Keys of Mariupol” – a collective space of memory and hope where everyone can bring their own key;
• Exhibition of photos and artworks – visual stories shared by Mariupol residents and their children;
• Greek cultural corner – music, traditions, and treats from the Greek community;
• The Sens bookstore featuring a special display titled “Mariupol Speaks”;
• Ukrainian Institute of National Memory – an exhibition of historical records, testimonies, and artistic interpretations;
• Main stage at the Kyiv City State Administration – music, poetry, reflections, and words from families of soldiers and veterans;
• Additional events – from September 18-22, I’Mariupol Support Centers in Kyiv, community hubs for IDPs from Mariupol across Ukraine, will host workshops, postcard and symbolic key collections, and community gatherings. 

• culture
• Kyiv