Themes by tag: Kyiv

On September 14, Kyiv will host the “Run for Freedom,” an advocacy race aimed at securing the release of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held in russian captivity. Organized by students of the Kyiv School of Economics, the KSE Foundation, DefDev, and the project to support Mariupol defenders—Heart of Azovstal, the event will bring together activists, veterans, and families of those still imprisoned.

Timothy Snyder, a Yale University professor and ambassador for the UNITED24 initiative, has thrown his support behind the race and will participate in person. Snyder, who is also leading a fundraising effort for demining operations as part of the UNITED24 Safe Terrain project, stands in solidarity with Ukraine’s cause.

According to Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, around 28,000 Ukrainian citizens remain in russian captivity. The race aims to spotlight the plight of these individuals—military personnel, civilians, men, women, and even children—and amplify calls for their release.

The event will include military personnel, veterans, former captives who have survived imprisonment, and families still waiting for their loved ones to return, along with anyone who cares about the freedom of Ukrainian prisoners.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

On September 12, Kyiv will hold a roundtable discussion at Media Center Ukraine, titled “Exploring Multiple Citizenship: Opportunities and Risks” which will delve into the potential benefits and challenges associated with holding multiple citizenships.

Participants:

– Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress;

– Nataliia Naumenko, Head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine;

– Volodymyr Viatrovych, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, European Solidarity faction;

– Solomiia Bobrovska, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Holos political party party. 

With millions of Ukrainians now residing abroad, this community represents an enormous intellectual and economic resource that could play a key role in Ukraine’s recovery and future stability. Implementing a framework for multiple citizenship could mobilize the global Ukrainian diaspora to contribute more effectively to the country’s development. It would harness the talents and skills of Ukrainians abroad while ensuring that their identity and connection to their homeland remain intact.

The adoption of a law on multiple citizenship could open doors for Ukrainians living abroad to engage fully in Ukraine’s political, economic, and social spheres. Since 2019, this issue has been a top priority for the Ukrainian World Congress and has gained even more urgency following russia’s full-scale invasion.

For the global Ukrainian community, it is essential that any law on multiple citizenship reflects a unified stance among all relevant parties.

• Kyiv

On September 12, a press conference titled “Building a Human Resource Pool for Future De-Occupation: Completion of the Reintegration Management Program Pilot Group” will take place in Kyiv. The event will highlight efforts to prepare skilled professionals for reintegration and de-occupation initiatives.

Participants:

– Olha Kuryshko, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

– Іryna Tykhomyrova, President of MIM Business School. 

The Reintegration Management Program is a collaborative effort launched by the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in partnership with MIM Business School, and supported by the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Over a six-month period, the program’s online students received training in leadership development, management strategies, legal frameworks, and project management. The curriculum also included a deep dive into the history and specific challenges of currently occupied territories. Throughout the program, students engaged with public officials and human rights advocates, gaining insights into leadership and governance.

Graduates of the Reintegration Management Program have developed 20 unique projects aimed at the revitalization of Ukrainian territories post-liberation.

• Kyiv

On September 14, the Security Police of Kyiv oblast invites media representatives to an inclusive and interactive theatrical performance for children with disabilities “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales”, performed by the Kyiv Classic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko.

The premiere of this special performance took place in the main building of the Kyiv Ohmatdyt Hospital on July 5 this year, just two days before a russian missile strike. So instead of continuing to cheer up the young patients as planned, the orchestra musicians had to perform the Requiem amid the ruins –  footage that was seen worldwide.

From the very beginning, the creators of the project planned to perform the show several times in Ohmatdyt during the summer. Unfortunately, these plans were thwarted by russian missiles. So, the Security Police of Kyiv oblast stepped in to help organize the event. Visually impaired children were invited to the performance.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.For reference: “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales” is a combination of musical and theatrical art with an interactive approach. The project is supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 11, journalists are invited to the offline premiere of the fourth film in the “Ready to Resist” series, “Shields of Kyiv”. The film is dedicated to the 112th and 241st brigades of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which have been defending the capital since the first days of the invasion.

“Shields of Kyiv” is a documentary created by a team of TDF Media military personnel, telling the story of key military positions near Kyiv held by the Territorial Defense Forces at the start of the full-scale invasion.

It is the story of the courage and valor of the soldiers of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade who, along with other combat units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, defended the capital during the active attempts of the russian troops to advance. This brigade gave birth to and formed the “backbone” of another combat unit – the 241st Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. During the early days of the great war, these brigades became, in a sense, the shields of Kyiv.

The film was made under the guidance of serviceman and director Akhtem Seitablayev. Historian and officer of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Alforov also contributed to the film. The directors of the film are Dmytro Havrylenko and Oles Katsion.

At the premiere there will be an opportunity to meet and talk with the filmmakers.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 10, the Media Center Ukraine will hold a press conference titled “Destruction of Freedom of Speech in Crimea: Causes, Methods, Results.” The event will delve into the deteriorating state of media freedom in Crimea under russian occupation.

The discussion will center on the second edition of journalist Yuriy Lukanov’s book, “The Press: How Russia Destroyed Media Freedom in Crimea”, published by the German Ibidem Verlag. The English translation of the book was presented earlier this year at prominent institutions, including the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, The Financial Times editorial office, London Metropolitan University, Oxford University, the University of Glasgow, and University College London.

The conference will highlight how the Crimean occupation authorities have intensified their crackdown on free speech compared to 2014, even leveraging Western media outlets in their efforts.

Participants:

• Yuriy Lukanov, freelance journalist, author of the book “The Press: How Russia Destroyed Media Freedom in Crimea”;

• Valentyna Samar, editor-in-chief of the Center for Investigative Journalism;
• Olha Skrypnyk, Chair of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group, co-coordinator of the Crimea Platform Expert Network. 

• occupation
• Kyiv

Lobby X, a social impact organization known for its recruitment efforts for the Security and Defense Forces, is expanding its services to support military veterans. The initiative has introduced a career counseling program designed to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce and find new professional paths after military service.

As part of the program, veterans will receive assistance in crafting resumes that highlight the skills they acquired during their service, preparing for job interviews, creating LinkedIn profiles, and identifying job opportunities with employers who offer veteran-friendly working conditions.

The counseling is open to all veterans, whether they have a clear career direction or are unsure of their next steps. Counselors will help participants identify their strengths, explore career and educational opportunities from NGOs, the government, and the private sector, and provide guidance in finding a new professional calling.

For reference: Journalists can arrange to cover the veteran career counseling sessions in Kyiv by prior appointment.

• Kyiv

Olena Savchenko, 33, once worked as a quality control inspector at a warehouse in Brovary, a town in Kyiv region. Her life took a dramatic turn when a russian missile destroyed her workplace, leaving her without a job. Refusing to be defeated, Olena found new purpose through The HALO Trust Ukraine, inspired by her husband, who has spent the last three years defending Ukraine in the East.

Now, Olena is part of a team dedicated to clearing her homeland of explosive remnants of war, helping make the Kyiv Oblast safer for future generations. Her efforts reflect her hope for a peaceful future, especially for her children.

For context: The HALO Trust Ukraine is the local program of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian demining organization. Active in Ukraine since 2015, the group works alongside Ukrainians to remove the deadly legacy of war.

• women
• Kyiv
• demining

On September 7, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration invites the public to visit the sites featured in its pilot project, Kyiv Region: Places of Memory. Participants will have the opportunity to explore historical landmarks tied to Ukraine’s heroic resistance and the devastation caused by russian occupation, accompanied by expert guides.

The project employs advanced technology to recreate key scenes from Kyiv’s defense against russian forces. Virtual reality installations at each location immerse visitors in the stark realities of brutal battles, widespread destruction, and the pain endured by the nation during the invasion.

The initiative aims to ensure the world remembers both the victims of the russian invasion and the resilience of Ukrainians. Organizers stress that the war crimes committed on Ukrainian soil must be acknowledged and never forgotten.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

For reference: In July, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration began training guides to work at the various sites connected to the russian-Ukrainian war as part of the Kyiv Region: Places of Memory project.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On Saturday, September 7, Kyiv will host the fourth day of the Protasiv Yar festival in memory of Roman Ratushnyi. This is the final of four festival days that have been taking place throughout the summer on the Protas meadow in Kyiv. 

Among other things, the festival program includes performances by the bands MOVA and Vivienne Mort. 

A discussion “Freedom of Speech” will also take place.

Participants: Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI); Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the Holos party and head of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech; Danilo Mokryk, a journalist for Kyiv Independent; and Vlasta Lazur, a journalist for Radio Liberty. 

The discussion will be moderated by Sofia Cheliak, journalist and program director of the NGO Publishers’ Forum.

In addition, there will be a discussion “Ariadne’s Thread in Ukrainian Culture: From Our 1920s to the Present” and a lecture “Anger, Sarcasm, and Calm: Three States of Vasyl Stus’s Poetry”.

Journalists are welcome to find out more about the festival program. 

For reference: The Protasiv Yar Festival in memory of Roman Ratushnyi was founded last year by the NGO Protect Protasiv Yar and the Protasiv Yar community with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. This year’s festival was co-organized by the NGO Publishers’ Forum.

• culture
• Kyiv