Themes by tag: Kyiv

Oleksii Sivak, a 42-year-old former sailor from Kherson, saw his life upended by russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Remaining in the city with his wife and disabled mother-in-law, he engaged in acts of peaceful resistance, posting anti-russian leaflets and creating effigies of “dead russians” with like-minded people to make the occupiers feel unwelcome on Ukrainian soil.

On August 24, 2022 — Ukraine’s Independence Day — Oleksii and a fellow resident displayed a Ukrainian flag in the city. The next day, Russian forces captured them both. Oleksii was beaten in front of his wife and held captive for 59 days, during which he was tortured and sexually assaulted (CRSV — conflict-related sexual violence).

After being released, Oleksii started looking for his former cellmates. This effort evolved into the creation of the Alumni Network, which unites men who have survived captivity and torture. He now heads the Alumni NGO, which was established to support Ukrainians affected by russian aggression, including torture and CRSV. The organization provides legal and psychological aid and organizes retreats for its several hundred members, ranging in age from 20 to 76.

Journalists can speak with Oleksii in Kyiv, Kherson, or online by prior arrangement.

Background: russian forces occupied Kherson at the start of the full-scale invasion on March 1, 2022. The Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated the city on November 11, 2022. However, it continues to endure regular shelling by russian forces.

• casualties
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kherson
• Kyiv

A mobile medical clinic will be set up in Kyiv on October 19 to provide free breast and gynecological screenings for women. The one-day event is organized by FRIDA Ukraine, a medical volunteer mission, together with the DILA diagnostic laboratory.

Inside the specially equipped mobile unit, women can receive breast and pelvic ultrasounds, Pap tests using liquid-based cytology, and meet with breast and women’s health specialists. All exams will be performed by experienced FRIDA volunteer doctors.

The health-care drive comes ahead of October 20, Ukraine’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The entire month of October is traditionally devoted to promoting early detection and preventive care. Organizers say the goal is to remind women to schedule regular screenings and take a proactive approach to their health.

Throughout the day, FRIDA volunteers will also hand out information on breast cancer prevention and women’s health. 

Media accreditation is required to cover the event.

For reference: FRIDA Ukraine is a volunteer mission that brings together more than 1,100 doctors from multiple countries. Its teams work in frontline and recently liberated areas, running field clinics that deliver free medical care to civilians affected by the war and occupation.

• doctors
• volunteers
• Kyiv

A hands-on training session for coaches working with injured veterans will be held on October 19 in the Kyiv region as part of a pilot program aimed at supporting rehabilitation through sports. The initiative is designed to help sports coaches gain practical skills to work with veterans recovering from injuries, wounds, or illnesses.

The pilot program, the first of its kind in Ukraine, takes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on the expertise of specialists in sports, psychology, accessibility, and physical rehabilitation. Organizers say the project is intended to set a new standard for how coaches work with veterans.

So far, 34 coaches have completed 11 theoretical training modules. The upcoming session will focus on putting that knowledge into practice, including how to tailor exercises for different types of injuries, track progress, and adjust training plans to individual needs.

Trainers will also demonstrate specialized equipment such as basketball and rugby wheelchairs, recumbent bikes for people with musculoskeletal injuries or amputations, and handcycles for those with upper limb impairments.

The session will wrap up with a certificate presentation for participants, with officials from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine expected to attend.

• casualties
• Kyiv

A peaceful action titled “Autumn of Captivity” will take place in Kyiv on October 25 to show solidarity with Ukrainian civilians unlawfully held in russian captivity. The event is organized by the non-governmental organization Civilians in Captivity. 

The program will feature remarks from government officials, civil society representatives, and artists, as well as live performances, a moment of silence, and presentations highlighting the scale of civilian imprisonment. Iryna Shvets, a member of the NGO whose husband remains in captivity, will host the gathering.

Organizers say the rally aims to draw public and government attention to the ongoing suffering of Ukrainian civilians detained by russia and to press for immediate action to secure their release.

They are calling on media outlets, international organizations, and all concerned citizens to join the gathering and support efforts to bring the captives home.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

From October 16 to 19, the “Povstanska Vatra 2025” (Rebel Fire 2025) camp jamboree organized by the Youth Nationalist Congress will take place in the Kyiv oblast. This four-day event will bring together young people from across Ukraine to learn, share experiences, test their teamwork skills, and experience the power of unity firsthand.

The “Povstanska Vatra” jamboree is more than just a retreat. It is a space for intellectual, physical, and patriotic development. The word “jamboree” signifies a “gathering of all tribes after a long war” or a “great council”.

This year’s key program blocks include:

• Educational block featuring lectures and discussions on state-building, volunteering, veteran affairs, and civic activism;
• Direct interaction: opportunities to engage with veterans, civil activists, and leading lecturers;
• Team activities: team-building games, practical tasks, calisthenics, sports, and rugby;
• Evening bonfires with songs and an atmosphere of unity and camaraderie.

Although there is an organizational fee for the camp, participants from the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts will be able to attend for free.

Journalists are invited to cover the “Povstanska Vatra 2025” jamboree and speak with participants and organizers, by prior arrangement.

• children
• Kyiv

Dmytro Khilyuk, a Ukrainian journalist with 20 years of experience and a correspondent for the UNIAN news agency, has endured over three years of captivity at the hands of the russians as a civilian hostage.

In early March 2022, russian occupiers abducted Khilyuk and his father from a street in Kozarovychi, a village in the Kyiv oblast where the family lived. His father was later released, but Dmytro was taken first to Belarus and then to russia.

He was initially held in SIZO-2 (Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2) in Novozybkov in the Bryansk region. In an interview, Dmytro recounted that, during the so-called “intake process”, detainees were severely beaten with batons and fists, thrown to the ground, and attacked by dogs. In May 2023, he was transferred to a prison in Pakino in the Vladimir region, where he remained until his liberation.

In total, Dmytro Khilyuk spent 3 years, 5 months, and 21 days in russian captivity. He finally returned home on August 24, 2025, during a prisoner exchange coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day.

By prior arrangement, journalists have the opportunity to speak with Dmytro in Kyiv or in online format.

• casualties
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The NGO Building Ukraine Together (BUR) is launching a two-week volunteer camp in the village of Byshiv, Kyiv region, where volunteers from Ukraine and abroad will collaborate with local youth to create a new community space. The initiative aims to provide a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment to replace what was lost during the early days of the full-scale war.

In 2022, the community found itself on the front line – some nearby villages were occupied, and Byshiv suffered extensive destruction due to its proximity to heavy fighting. The community lost many key institutions, including the House of Culture. Since then, young people have had no dedicated place to gather, learn, or socialize outside of school.

To respond to this need, BUR and the Byshiv community will convert a room into a proper youth space. This will become a hub for learning, creativity, and community life.

The youth space is being created during two BUR camp sessions, with the second running from October 26 to November 2, 2025. 

For reference: Building Ukraine Together (BUR) is an all-Ukrainian non-governmental organization that engages young people in volunteer activities and non-formal education, empowering them to take part in building a democratic Ukraine.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Tetiana Slavinska is a canine handler from Kyiv. In 2015, her military husband returned home after rotation. At the time, Tetiana was worried about how he would adjust to civilian life and decided that a dog would help him relax emotionally. This is how a beloved family member appeared – a Belgian Malinois named Drive. The family began a new life with training, and competitions. At the end of 2022, Tetiana was able to travel to Poland, where Drive was trained to locate the deceased.

The next challenge was physical protection: body armor for the dog. Tetiana searched for protective equipment in Ukraine, Europe, and America. Simultaneously, she considered the possibility of making it herself, as foreign equivalents were very expensive. Tetiana studied foreign models of dog body armor that her military canine handler friends brought her. She also consulted with a veterinarian, because body armor is not just about protection; it’s also about the dog’s ability to move freely. Furthermore, an improperly fitted vest can harm the animal’s joints.

Tetiana experimented with different models, changing the cut and adding new elements. For example, she added a strap to the body armor at the soldiers’ request, allowing the dog to be carried if there is a risk of injuring its paws (from shrapnel, broken glass, etc.). In the summer of 2025, Tetiana received a patent for her product. Currently, she has two working dogs and is using them to help demine the country.

Journalists can speak with Tetiana in person in Kyiv or online, by prior arrangement.

• animals
• women
• Kyiv

TEAHOUSE, a Ukrainian tea producer operating since 2006, is rebuilding after a russian drone strike destroyed its facility in Dnipro in July. The attack wiped out about 100 tons of raw materials, workshops, and equipment.

Despite the loss, the company quickly found a new space and resumed production. It has since become the first business in Ukraine to receive a state grant for reconstruction.

On October 11-12, TEAHOUSE will host the Autumn Kyiv Tea Festival 2025, an especially meaningful event for the team, marking both resilience and renewal after the attack.

Journalists will be able to speak with company representatives and learn more about TEAHOUSE’s recovery efforts during the festival in Kyiv. 

• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

An international charity boxing event is set to take place in Kyiv on October 11, featuring six matches between veteran athletes as part of the Ukrainian League of Combat Veterans Boxing. The lineup will include Ukraine’s first official boxing match between wheelchair veterans, as well as a fight for the national veteran championship title.

The evening will conclude with a professional bout as Ukraine’s former WBC world champion (2015-2016) Viktor Postol faces Spain’s Alejandro Moya for the International Boxing Organization title.

Media representatives are required to register in advance to cover the event.

• culture
• Kyiv