Themes by tag: Kyiv

On January 16, a newly restored outpatient clinic will officially open in the village of Zdvyzhivka, located in the Bucha district. The facility, which was devastated during the 2022 occupation of the Kyiv region, has been fully renovated and upgraded after being looted and severely damaged by russian forces.

The clinic now boasts modern equipment and expanded diagnostic services, including ultrasound, laboratory testing, and cardiac evaluations for patients with complex needs. It is set to provide primary healthcare to approximately 2,000 residents of Zdvyzhivka, Babyntsi, and neighboring villages.

The opening ceremony will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, regional and local governments, as well as international partners who supported the reconstruction efforts.

• doctors
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and their families can enjoy free skiing, snowboarding, and adaptive ski chair training at Golosiiv Ski Park in Kyiv, courtesy of the Active Parks initiative. The classes, available through February, feature instruction from experienced trainers and utilize the Tempo Dualski equipment for seated skiing, a professional and secure tool designed to accommodate participants with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the State Institution “Sport for All” program, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, under the broader presidential project “Active Parks — Locations of Healthy Ukraine” program. 

The adaptive sit skiing training also aligns with Ukraine’s effort to create a barrier-free environment and is included in the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “Are You OK?” launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On January 21, Kyiv will host the opening of the exhibition “Tandem of Victory: Stories of Rescue, Life and Resilience”. The event aims to draw attention to the importance of supporting the mental health of veterans and victims of war through artistic practices and hippotherapy.

Key participants and projects of the exhibition:

Victory Center: A non-profit organization focused on the psycho-emotional recovery of veterans and children affected by war. They use hippovention (a model of therapeutic interaction between humans and horses) and hippotherapy. The center’s story is told through the personal experiences of its executive director, Nastia Popandopulos.

Palette of Courage: Halyna Morar, an artist, ATO veteran, and fighter in a volunteer battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard, explores internal transformations shaped by external influences. Her works are deeply rooted in Ukrainian traditions and wartime symbolism, calling for the preservation of identity and finding strength in difficult times. In Halyna’s paintings, war is portrayed as a challenging path to victory that brings transformation to both Ukraine and the world.

Social ranch “Horse Paradise” (Kseniia and Halyna): Horse Paradise is a social ranch that has become a sanctuary for horses rescued from the war. It combines therapeutic animal interactions with innovative methods of veteran rehabilitation, contributing to their psychological recovery.

• culture
• Kyiv

The instructors of the Voluntary Formation No. 1 of the Municipal Territorial Community of Irpin and the Municipal Guard continue their efforts to prepare for the national resistance. Recently, another training session was held for members of the NGO “Ukrainian Women’s Guard”, where participants studied tactical skills (movement in small groups using hand signals, enemy observation techniques and surveillance tools) and military topography (navigation using maps and other methods).

By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to cover the next training session on January 19. IMPORTANT: Journalists must be prepared to obscure (e.g., blur) the faces of participants and instructors during the training.

Background: The Ukrainian Women’s Guard is a national network of the women’s resistance movement. Its goal is to unite women in crisis situations and teach them how to survive and resist the enemy.

• women
• Kyiv

On January 13, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host the presentation of the study findings titled “Rada-9. Results.”

The discussion will explore key questions, including:  

– How is the smallest parliamentary composition in Ukraine’s history functioning?

– What impact has the war had on the legislative process?

– Have issues such as absenteeism, amendment spam, and MPs disappearing during crucial votes been resolved?

The findings will be presented by:

– Sofiia Lazarova, analyst at the CHESNO Movement;

– Vitaliy Mikula, analyst at the CHESNO Movement.

Panel discussion participants:

– Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

– Yaroslav Zhelezniak, MP, First Deputy Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy;

– Iryna Herashchenko, MP, Member of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation;

– Oleksandr Salizhenko, editor-in-chief of the CHESNO Movement. 

Accreditation for the event is required and will be open until 7:00 PM on January 12.

• Kyiv

The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) is set to break new ground in inclusive sports by organizing the country’s first amputee soccer tournament, the Winter Cup. Scheduled for January 11-12 in Kyiv, the event is part of the League of the Mighty initiative, a social project aimed at fostering inclusivity in sports.

The tournament will feature five amateur teams from Kyiv, Lviv, and Cherkasy: AMP FC Kyiv, MSC Dnipro, FC Pokrova AMP, FC Pokrova-2, and Shakhtar Stalevi. 

The event is expected to lay the groundwork for a structured competitive framework in amputee football, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Ukraine.

For reference: According to UAF, there are over 100,000 individuals with amputations in Ukraine. For many, football offers more than just recreation—it serves as a powerful tool for rehabilitation, fostering resilience, and encouraging emotional and physical recovery. The League of the Mighty project aims to integrate these individuals into the football community, helping them reconnect with an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

• casualties
• Kyiv

On January 17 the photo exhibition “Days of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Battle of Ilovaisk 2014” will be officially opened. Visitors can now view the photographs at the Museum of Kyiv Occupation.

The exhibition commemorates one of the most tragic events in Ukraine’s struggle against russia and honors those who were the first to defend the country in 2014. Visitors will see photographs that have become historical artifacts, taken by photographers who worked in the fiercest combat zones near Ilovaisk in the Donetsk oblast in August 2014. These photographers documented the battlefield positions of the Special Purpose Battalion “Donbas” of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The preservation of this photographic anthology is due to Maksym Dondyuk, Oleksandr Glyadyelov, Markiian Lyseiko, and Maksym Levin, who managed to survive the encirclement of Ilovaisk. Tragically, Maksym Levin was killed during the full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022 in the occupied Kyiv oblast while documenting russian war crimes.

The exhibition features more than 50 photographs – a fraction of the extensive collection depicting the Battle of Ilovaisk, from the events of August 10 to the “humanitarian corridor of death” on August 29, 2014.

For reference: The exhibition is organized by the NGO “‘Sarmat’ Military-Patriotic Association of Combatant”, the NGO “Invincible Mothers of Ukraine”, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, and the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

• culture
• military
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Mariia Ksondzyk, the daughter of a fallen ATO veteran, worked as a journalist before the full-scale invasion. Petro Shuklinov also had a media career in civilian life, but joined the Defense Forces in 2023. With the outbreak of the war, Mariia and Petro joined forces as volunteers. Their work involves selecting, purchasing, transporting, repairing, and delivering quality vehicles to military personnel.

In 2023, they founded the non-profit organization Nesemos Fund, later opening a donation shop and eventually a technical service station for military vehicles. Every month, Mariia and Petro attract numerous donors and work with various foundations to cover the cost of vehicle repairs. Today, the Nesemos Veteran Autohub repairs 20 to 30 military vehicles each month.

A year ago, the team began working on opening a civilian vehicle repair shop to secure additional funding. The shop is currently in test mode. Mariia and Petro have successfully hired veterans and displaced persons from Mariupol and Kharkiv to work at the facility.

To connect with the Nesemos team, you can arrange an online or in-person meeting in Kyiv by prior appointment.

• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Since April 2023, the Cultural Forces—a group of military personnel with backgrounds in creative fields—has spearheaded the “Books to the Frontline” project, bringing a touch of home to soldiers stationed at the front. The initiative invites every Ukrainian to participate. At any bookstore displaying the “Gift a Book to the Front” poster, customers can purchase a book to be sent directly to the front lines. The bookstores then pass the books to the project team, which ensures their delivery. To date, more than 30,000 books have reached Ukrainian soldiers.  

Leading this effort is Andrii Ovcharuk, a sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before the war, Ovcharuk headed the Kyiv office of the Old Lion Publishing House. On February 24, 2022, he volunteered for military service despite having poor eyesight, joining the 101st Separate Brigade of the General Staff. Ovcharuk served in this role for two years before dedicating his efforts to this cultural initiative.  

Journalists interested in covering the project can meet with Ovcharuk and his team either online or in person in Kyiv. With prior arrangement, they can also witness the book sorting and shipment process firsthand.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Denys, a defender of Irpin and founder of a furniture production company, has a lifelong passion for woodworking. His journey began in his childhood when he lived in Crimea. After the russian occupation of Crimea, he left his home, joined the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), and later relocated to Irpin in the Kyiv oblast.

In the Irpin community, Denys turned his dream into reality. He completed business courses, secured a grant, and opened his own furniture workshop in 2021.

In February and March 2022, when russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Denys took up arms to defend Irpin. He participated in the battles for the town and helped evacuate civilians. During this time, the occupiers destroyed and looted his workshop.

Despite these losses, Denys managed to rebuild his business in a new location.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv