Themes by tag: Kyiv

Since childhood, Sofiia had looked after her cousins and played with her neighbors’ young daughter. She often imagined welcoming a child deprived of parental care into her family one day. In 2020, when she turned 20, Sofiia applied to become a mentor for a child from an orphanage because she knew she wasn’t ready for adoption at such a young age.

After a year, she completed her training and received approval from the social services center on February 21, 2022. However, the full-scale war began shortly thereafter, putting her mentorship dreams on hold.

Two years later, she received a call offering her the chance to meet 12-year-old Alina from the Donetsk oblast. Alina has younger brothers who live with her in the orphanage, but there are no adults who maintain contact with her.

Today, Sofiia helps Alina socialize. Their meetings include practical lessons, such as shopping, budgeting, cooking, and using computer programs, as well as emotional support and help with schoolwork.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Sofiia Yudina online or in person in Kyiv or Odesa by prior agreement. Sofiia can also provide joint photos with Alina for publication. Please note that journalists will not be able to speak directly with Alina.

• children
• Kyiv
• Odesa

On August 26, HALO Ukraine will host the opening of the Women in Demining photo exhibition staged in Kyiv.

The project highlights Ukrainian women working across different roles in mine clearance, underscoring the importance of bringing women into fields traditionally dominated by men while offering a closer look at their career paths.

The opening ceremony will feature the women portrayed in the exhibition.

Among them is 25-year-old Tetiana Mordach, Ukraine’s first and only female diver trained in explosive ordnance disposal. Before the full-scale war, she worked as a rescue diver. When russia launched its invasion, she joined the State Emergency Service as a diver. Her work involves one of the most difficult and dangerous tasks: clearing mines and locating and neutralizing explosives. Mordach dreams of one day exploring the seabed of Crimea’s Black Sea after Ukraine’s victory.

Diana Obzhelian, 21, studied Chinese at Kyiv University and planned to become a translator. The war upended her path: she switched to part-time studies and became a deminer with HALO Ukraine. After spending a year clearing mines in the north, she now trains communities on how to stay safe from landmines and other explosive devices.

Valeriia Osyka, 23, works as a deminer in the Kharkiv region. Not long ago, her daily routine was very different, when she served as a fire and industrial safety engineer at a university in Kharkiv. Today, she says her favorite moments come when she sees nature reclaiming once-dangerous fields: “When wheat grows green again on cleared land.”

Journalists can review the full program and must register for accreditation by 2 p.m. on August 25.

Global Affairs Canada and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture support the project. Partners include Demine Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the National Police of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Deminers Association, MAG, FSD, UDA, NPA, and UNOPS.

HALO Ukraine is part of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest non-governmental, nonprofit humanitarian mine clearance organization. For 37 years, The HALO Trust has been clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance across 30 countries.

• women
• Kyiv
• demining

Konstantin Kartavtsev has been on the front lines defending Ukraine since June 2022. Over that time, he has suffered multiple injuries and concussions. On April 16, 2023, while pulling fellow soldiers out of danger, he lost a leg. After months of rehabilitation, Kartavtsev returned to duty in December as a sergeant in the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade.

Despite his injuries, Kartavtsev found a new passion. In August 2023, still adjusting to a temporary prosthetic, he took up golf. He joined United by Golf, an adaptive sports club that helps service members, veterans, their families, and people with disabilities through the game. Since its launch, the initiative has brought more than 800 veterans into rehabilitation programs, with 55 vets training regularly.

Kartavtsev quickly excelled. Last year, he competed in the International Championship for Golfers with Disabilities in Germany, finishing among the top 10 players in the final standings. Golf has since become his favorite pastime.

On August 19 this year, during a meeting in Washington, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Donald Trump with a golf putter on Kartavtsev’s behalf. The U.S. president accepted the gift and later recorded a video message thanking the Ukrainian soldier.

By prior arrangement, journalists may meet Kartavtsev in Kyiv.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On August 23, Bucha will host events to commemorate National Flag Day and Ukraine’s Independence Day.

• A formal ceremony in honor of National Flag Day.

• A memorial service to honor the memory of fallen Heroes, held in observance of both National Flag Day and Independence Day.

• A religious event. Prayer for Ukraine, led by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The service will be followed by a laying of flowers at the Memorial.

• A formal ceremony (awards presentation) to mark National Flag Day and Independence Day, along with a concert by the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine.

• culture
• Kyiv

The National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity and the Expert Corps NGO are organizing a discussion titled “Decolonization in Ukraine: From Decisions to Implementation” on August 21 in Kyiv. The primary goal of the event is to outline effective mechanisms for public oversight, standardization, communication, and accountability. These mechanisms are intended to guarantee lasting results and protect the policy of decolonization from being rolled back.

During the discussion, participants will explore what is hindering the decolonization processes in Ukraine, the state, symbolism, and relevance of World War II memorials, and compare the progress of decolonization in the eastern and southern regions of the country.

The event will feature:

– Oleh Slabospytskyi, civil activist

– Vadym Pozdniakov, head of the Svitanok NGO

– Oleksandr Alfiorov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance

– Artem Kartashov, head of the History.Culture.Democracy NGO

Registration is required to attend the event.

• Kyiv

The Media Center Ukraine to host briefing: “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:

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

– How has the repatriation process for Ukrainian children evolved today?

– Who is currently involved in returning Ukrainian children from russia and how?

• children
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Kyiv will host the annual VIP ECOPICNIC on August 20, marking the start of Ukraine’s nationwide environmental campaign linked to World Cleanup Day, which runs through the end of September.

The event will bring together celebrities, journalists, public figures, partners, and influencers to officially launch the year’s largest eco-initiative, which will take place on September 20 in 211 countries simultaneously.

This year’s program includes awareness events, hands-on eco-activities, master classes, a celebrity cleanup, and exclusive opportunities for journalists. Organizers say the goal is to highlight the issue of ecocide and the environmental consequences of war, while also promoting a culture of cleanliness, environmental responsibility, sustainable consumption, and proper waste management. Through public engagement, educational activities, and volunteering, the initiative aims to strengthen corporate responsibility and expand participation in environmental protection.

For security reasons, the event’s location will be disclosed only after accreditation. The dress code calls for attire suitable for outdoor activities. The event is open to accredited media.

For reference: The VIP ECOPICNIC is organized by Let’s Do It Ukraine, the country’s largest environmental movement, together with INSIDER and MUZVAR. 1+1 Media is the General Media Partner. The initiative is supported by Biosphere Corporation, SHERIFF (security partner), Champion Radio, Limarenko Sustainable House, Joseph.home, SKVO Space, Malynovska Company, Influence Company, Lactalis Ukraine, HI-FI VODA (ecological water brand), Dim TV channel, School Recycling World, and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

• ecology
• Kyiv

On August 21, the War Museum will open MONUMENT, an exhibition exploring the evolving symbolism of Ukraine’s most iconic sculpture, the Motherland monument, in the context of the ongoing war.

Towering over the Dnipro River, the steel figure long stood as a legacy of the Soviet era. But after February 24, 2022, it came to embody the resilience and defiance of the Ukrainian people. That transformation reached a pivotal moment on August 6, 2023, when the Soviet coat of arms on the monument’s shield was replaced with the Ukrainian coat of arms – trident. The change redefined the monument as a national symbol of struggle and endurance.

The exhibition brings together documentary and artistic perspectives. Photographer Denys Semenets captured the monument during this period of historic change, while graphic designer Vadym Blonsky reimagined its image in works that quickly gained traction across social media.

MONUMENT marks a midway point in a three-year project aimed at reframing the sculpture’s meaning. The exhibit invites visitors to reflect on what has been achieved, consider the present moment, and envision the Motherland’s future role as a symbol of national identity and resistance.

The project was conceived by Yurii Savchuk, director general of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II, and curated by Liudmyla Melnyk, head of the museum’s Public Communication and Information Department.

Participants include graphic designer Vadym Blonsky and photographer Denys Semenets. 

Event accreditation is required.

• culture
• Kyiv

On August 21, Kyiv will host the premiere of the concluding episode of the documentary series “The Last War” — titled “The Ukrainian Curse: Builders and Destroyers of Empire” — produced by Ukraine’s Public Broadcasting team. The screening will take place as part of the event “Ukrainian Independence: Over 300 Years of Struggle”, commemorating the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence.

“The Ukrainian Curse: Builders and Destroyers of Empire” is an investigative project by journalist and TV host Myroslava Barchuk, featuring Ukrainian and Western intellectuals. It explores how, over four centuries, Ukrainians contributed to the construction of the russian imperial project — and how that empire gradually morphed into a self-devouring monstrosity. The film debunks the myth of “one nation”, chronicles Ukrainians’ attempts to break free from imperial shackles, and highlights key battles for freedom.

Background: The event  is organized in partnership with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.

• culture
• Kyiv

Maksym Nesterov is a hairdresser with 20 years of experience. Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Maksym has been offering free haircuts and shaves  to Ukrainian soldiers, including those in hospitals. In the early months, he often worked with severely wounded fighters, even those in intensive care.

In 2022, alongside fellow hairdressers, Maksym gave haircuts to the first Azovstal defenders released from russian captivity. He also helped beautify Ukrainian female border guards freed from russian imprisonment.

Beyond hairdressing, Maksym serves as a chaplain’s assistant, delivers aid to the front lines, and participates in an initiative creating wigs for children with cancer. The project also collects and sells donated hair to raise funds for military support.

Journalists can speak with Maksym in Kyiv upon prior agreement.

• volunteers
• Kyiv