Themes by tag: Kyiv

Oleh Leliakin took up arms to defend Ukraine in 2014. He joined the volunteer battalion “Aidar”. At the front, he saw how important it is to be able to provide medical assistance in combat conditions.

After returning to Kyiv, Oleh continued to study tactical medicine. Eventually, he became an instructor at a training center, and over time, he became a lecturer in tactical medicine at the National Academy of Internal Affairs.

On February 25, 2022, Oleh returned to military service. He participated in the liberation of the Kyiv oblast and fought in the Mykolaiv, Kherson and Donetsk sectors. Initially, he worked as a platoon medic and later became the senior medic of a company. In Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast, Oleh was injured and gradually began to lose his hearing. Eventually, the veteran was discharged from service due to health reasons.

Oleh mastered the skill of lip-reading, learned to manage his own voice, and soon became a tactical medicine instructor at SICH, the largest Ukrainian tourniquet manufacturing company.

You can interview Oleh Leliakin both online and offline in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Kyiv

On April 3, Kyiv will host the Ukrainian premiere of Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk, a powerful documentary offering an unfiltered glimpse into the war in Ukraine through the lens of a foreign volunteer. The R. T. Weatherman Foundation and the War Museum in Kyiv are behind this exclusive screening.

The film is the work of Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta, a foreign volunteer who joined the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in 2022, participating in three major military operations. Among them was a daring crossing of the Dnipro River aimed at recapturing the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. Gino also fought near Kupiansk, where he sustained severe injuries. His life was saved by Thomas ‘Tommy Gun’ Harris, a fellow soldier whose bravery inspired Gino to create this documentary. After undergoing rehabilitation, Gino returned to Ukraine to document the war’s harsh realities from the perspective of those fighting for freedom and independence.

Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk has already garnered international acclaim, earning multiple awards and accolades at prestigious film festivals.

Following the screening, viewers will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with director Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta and Thomas Harris’s father, who will join the conversation online.

Journalists are required to obtain accreditation to cover the event.

For reference: The R. T. Weatherman Foundation, recognized globally for its support of Ukraine, is organizing the screening as part of its extensive FOR FREEDOM project. This initiative, featuring a documentary exhibition running until the end of May at the Motherland Monument, seeks to highlight the struggle of foreign volunteers fighting for freedom. The film’s premiere marks a crucial effort to share the truth about the war and underscore the vital role international volunteers continue to play.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

“Solar power plant installer” is a course for veterans under the UNIT 6.0 program of the Reskilling Ukraine project. During the course the participants will get acquainted with the main elements and principles of operation of autonomous, grid-connected and hybrid solar power plants, as well as learn how to select the necessary equipment for each type of system. They will study the process of installing solar panels, configuring inverters, and connecting solar power plants.

The training will take place in Kyiv from April 14 to May 2. 

Background: The UNIT 6.0 program is designed for veterans to provide them with more opportunities for professional development as they transition back to civilian life.

Reskilling Ukraine is a project of the Swedish non-profit organization Beredskapslyftet, implemented in Ukraine. The initiative focuses on free training programs for women and veterans to help them start a career in a new field.

• military
• Kyiv

On April 12, Kyiv will host a unique event – the “Steel Guard” festival. Combining a medieval combat sports tournament, veteran inclusivity, and family-friendly cultural activities, the festival aims to support veterans and promote the historical and sports movement.

As part of the festival, two medieval combat tournaments will be held:

• The tournament for novice veterans, “Knights of the New Era”, where anyone interested – regardless of experience, physical condition or level of preparation – can enter the arena. Men and women can participate, including those with amputations or in wheelchairs. All participants will receive the necessary equipment and support from instructors. There is a rule of equal opportunity – the fights will take place in a safe format focused on rehabilitation and community building.
• The professional “KyivGrad Cup” tournament in full steel armor will be the spectacular part of the event, where experienced fighters will show their skills.

Additional Activities during the festival will include workshops (calligraphy, chainmail weaving, and more) and medieval board games (entertainment for the whole family in the style of ancient strategies).

Background: The organizers of the event are Kyiv Military Hub, BuhurtSich and the NGO Historical Patriotic Society Kyivgrad. The festival is supported by the Kyiv City State Administration and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

By day, Ihor Polishchuk is a project manager in the game development industry. Two years ago, he learned how many needs of the Ukrainian military could be met by modern 3D printers. So he immediately bought his first machine. He began printing drone dropping mechanisms, magazine charging devices, medical eye patches, cases for power banks and other devices, legs for drones, and more.

Currently, Ihor is focused on manufacturing casings for anti-personnel mines. In February alone, he sent nearly 1,500 explosive device casings to the front lines. To scale up the project, he co-founded the “Syndicate” community where volunteers share knowledge and train newcomers. Ihor says anyone can join – all you need is to get a 3D printer, as requests from soldiers always outpace volunteers’ production capacity.

Over the past two years, he has purchased five 3D printers that run around the clock. His wife Anna helps him with printing components for the army.

You can communicate with Ihor Polishchuk both online and offline in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

The study, titled “Reprivatization in russia and Sanctions Relief: putin’s New Gamble Pay Off?” will be unveiled in Kyiv on March 31 at the Media Center Ukraine. 

Participants: 

– Olha Ivaniuk, Ph.D. in Economics;

– Vadym Denysenko, Political Scientist. 

Key topics:

– Who benefited from reprivatization, and how did 6-7 politically connected businessmen consolidate control over key enterprises?

– Why do russian authorities remain skeptical that lifting sanctions will trigger an economic boom?

– What are the implications of reprivatization and the potential removal or relaxation of sanctions for power dynamics at the highest levels of the kremlin?

Registration for the event is required.

• Kyiv

A commemorative race honoring Maksym Kahal, a Hero of Ukraine and soldier with the Azov Special Forces detachment, is scheduled for March 30.

Known by the call sign “Piston” (Percussion Cap) Kahal was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. He served as a senior lieutenant with the Azov Special Forces, commanding a fire support platoon within the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion. Beyond his military service, Kahal was a decorated athlete, crowned ISKA World Kickboxing Champion among adults and earning numerous other sports accolades.

Kahal was killed on March 25, 2022, while defending Mariupol. He was just 30 years old.

The race is being organized by the Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families. 

Registration for the event is required.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv

On March 28, Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing titled “Civilian safety during enemy attacks: How to act in case of strikes, fires and evacuation”

Participants:

– Anatolii Shkarbuta, Emergency Prevention Department, State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES);

– Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, SES Spokesman.

Key topics:

– Maintaining evacuation routes: key requirements and responsibilities of residents and property managers; 

– Emergency vehicle access: rules for maintaining building perimeters and ensuring passage for emergency responders;

– Water supply for firefighting: how hydrant systems should function and who is responsible for their maintenance;

– Home fire extinguishers: why they are essential and maintenance requirements;

– What to do if you are trapped under debris: how to survive and save lives;

– What to do during a fire: critical survival rules and working with rescuers.

• Kyiv

On March 28, Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing titled “The return of Ukrainian children abducted by russia as a step toward peace: How the International community can accelerate the process”

Participants:

– Kateryna Rashevska, PhD in International Law, Expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights. 

Key topics:

– How can peace negotiations influence the process of returning abducted children?

– The current status of efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by russia: statistics and progress;

– How has the process of returning children changed recently?

– Who is currently involved in the return of Ukrainian children from russia and how?

Why is this important?

The return of Ukrainian children illegally abducted to russian territory has become a pressing international issue and one of the key elements in the peace talks. Recently, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated that Washington considers the return of deported Ukrainian children by russia as a potential confidence-building measure.

• children
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On March 30, as the third anniversary of Bucha’s liberation from russian occupiers approaches, the Kyiv region city will host a series of events to commemorate the victims of russian aggression.

The program of events includes:

– A requiem ceremony to honor the fallen heroes,

– The “Prayer for Peace” action, a memorial service for the civilian victims in Bucha, featuring a performance of the spiritual hymn “Prayer for Ukraine,”

– The presentation of the book Voices of Memory: Bucha – The City of Heroes.

Bucha, now a symbol of the unyielding spirit of the Ukrainian people and a stark reminder of the horrific war crimes committed by the russian army, will unite the families of the victims, local residents, government officials, and the international community. Together, they will pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine’s freedom.

For reference: During the fighting and russian occupation of Bucha in February and March 2022, hundreds of people lost their lives. Since then, the name of this town near Kyiv has become forever associated with the war crimes perpetrated by the russian army in Ukraine.

• dead
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv