Themes by tag: Kyiv

Adam, 28, was born in Miami, United States. At the age of 17, he moved to Austria, where he completed high school, before later studying in Germany. It was in Austria that he first became friends with Ukrainians. In 2021, Adam visited Kyiv and Odesa for the first time.

After russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Adam travelled to Warsaw, where he volunteered to assist Ukrainian refugees. In early 2023, he moved to Ukraine permanently.

He later came across the charitable organisation Brave to Rebuild (Smilyvi Vidnovliuvaty) online and decided to join its volunteer efforts. Adam took part in the demolition of damaged structures and carried out minor repairs to homes hit by shelling. He also worked in Kherson shortly after russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in 2023.
Adam is currently involved in emergency response work, boarding up windows in residential buildings damaged by russian strikes. He recently became a staff member of Brave to Rebuild. Adam has also learned the Ukrainian language.

By prior arrangement, journalists will have an opportunity to interview Adam in Kyiv after June 15.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On June 13, a peaceful rally titled “Civilians Are Waiting. The World Must Act” will be held in Kyiv. The NGO “Civilians in Captivity” is inviting international media, diplomats, and representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend an event dedicated to Ukrainian civilians who have been held in captivity for more than five years without the possibility of exchange, access to normal life, or basic human rights.

The event highlights serious violations of international law by russia, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which guarantee the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Organizers are calling on world leaders, international organizations, and human rights institutions to take immediate action to secure the return of Ukrainian civilians.

Representatives of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as families of civilian hostages, are expected to attend.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava, and Kyiv are inviting volunteers to join a basic military training course for civilians, organized by the Khartia-Hub and the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia.”

During the training course, instructors will provide comprehensive training in firearms handling, group and pair coordination, tactical medicine, dry-fire drills, operational planning, after-action reviews, topography, and other essential military disciplines.

Prior registration is required to participate in the event.

• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Kyiv
• Poltava

Alla and Oleksiy began building their life together in 2021. As a serviceman in the “Azov” Regiment, Oleksiy was frequently deployed on missions.

On the night of February 24, 2022, the couple was scheduled to fly abroad for a vacation. However, just a day prior, the fighter was urgently deployed to Mariupol. It was there that Oleksiy witnessed the beginning of the full-scale invasion, and in May 2022, he and his fellow brothers-in-arms entered captivity following orders to leave the Azovstal steelworks.

Since then, Alla, who never had the chance to officially become Oleksiy’s wife, has been fighting for his freedom and return to Ukraine. For four years now, alongside Oleksiy’s mother, Oksana, she has been anxiously awaiting every prisoner exchange. In 2024, alongside other relatives of captured Azov fighters, Alla traveled to the Vatican, where she met with Pope Francis. The young woman continuously initiates meetings with the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the National Guard (NSU) command, and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Currently, Oleksiy remains illegally sentenced in russia to 29 years in a maximum-security prison. He faces fabricated charges of shooting a civilian woman in Mariupol and committing acts of terrorism.

Interviews with Alla can be arranged by prior agreement, either online or in person within the Kyiv region.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

A jiu-jitsu memorial tournament will be held in Kyiv on June 13, supported by the Forces Support Battalion and the Medical Service of the “Azov” Regiment, whose ranks included fighters who practiced the martial art.

The tournament is dedicated to the students of the Rocket jiu-jitsu school who lost their lives defending Ukraine. Through sport, competition, community, and mutual support, the participants and organizers aim to honor their memory.

Registration is required to attend the event.

• dead
• Kyiv

The research presentation “After Captivity: What Released Civilians Face” will take place in Kyiv on June 9.

The study was prepared by the Civil Society Protection Foundation “Civis Fortis” in cooperation with the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation.

Finding housing, medical treatment, and restoring identity documents are just some of the challenges awaiting Ukrainian civilians upon their release from russian captivity. How do former hostages navigate this journey? Is there comprehensive state support available for them? What changes need to be implemented in the fields of medical, social, and legal assistance?

Speakers:

• Anastasiia Odintsova, Legal Analyst at Civis Fortis;
• Maxym Parashchevin, Expert at the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation;
• Kostiantyn Davydenko, survivor of russian captivity;
• Olena Yahupova, survivor of russian captivity and forced labor;
• Tetiana Katrychenko, Head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights.

Media accreditation is required to attend.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

Five Ukrainian veterans with amputations and severe combat injuries will compete in the international Oceanman Lago d’Orta swimming event in Italy. On June 13 and 14, they will take on 2-kilometer and 5.5-kilometer open-water distances alongside participants from around the world, without a separate category or special conditions. An open-water training session will take place in Kyiv region on June 6.

The team’s preparation for the competition is led by Serhii Kostenko, founder and head coach of the K-TEAM Swimming Club and co-founder of the NGO Impossible Is Possible, which promotes adaptive and veteran sports in Ukraine. According to the coach, open-water swimming presents a completely different challenge from training in a pool.

The training program focuses on balance, stroke technique, breathing, navigation, and interaction with the water environment. In addition to physical preparation, psychological adaptation is a key component.

During training sessions, the veterans learn to work as a team, navigate using buoys, manage their energy, and cope with the stress factors typical of open-water competitions.

Journalists can attend and cover the open-water training session by prior arrangement.

Background: The IRON WARRIORS project is implemented by the YANKO Fund charitable foundation in partnership with IRON WARRIORS SPORT HUB and FlyPoint, which also serves as the project’s logistics partner.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

A charity event dedicated to Journalists’ Day, titled “Stop the Bleed. Start the Party,” will take place in Kyiv on June 6. The event is organized by former U.S. military medic and philanthropist David Plaster.

The organizer invites journalists and members of the public to attend. Media professionals will be offered a free first-aid training course, followed by a charity party.

Advance registration is required.

• culture
• Kyiv

The NGO Military LGBT+ is organizing a five-day intensive training program to help veterans acquire a new profession as tattoo artists. The course is being held as part of a grant-funded program. The NGO team, together with the Strum tattoo studio, will select nine participants for the training, which is scheduled to take place in June.

The course will cover not only tattooing techniques but also safety procedures, hygiene standards, equipment handling, sketch creation, linework and shading, and communication with clients. Participants will also practice on artificial skin. Following the completion of the course, a graduation charity event will be held, where newly trained artists will be able to tattoo guests in exchange for donations.

The training will be free of charge for veterans.

Media representatives can speak with the organizers and participants both online and in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Kyiv
• LGBT

A memorial event dedicated to the anniversary of the deaths of State Emergency Service of Ukraine personnel Pavlo Yezhor, Andrii Remennyi and Danylo Skadin will take place at the War Museum on June 7.

On June 6, 2025, russia launched another large-scale attack against Ukraine. At the time, it was one of the most extensive assaults of the full-scale war: the enemy deployed 407 drones of various types and 44 ballistic and cruise missiles. Kyiv and the Kyiv region, as well as the Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Volyn, Lviv and Ternopil regions, came under attack.

In the capital, up to 30 people were injured, including nine State Emergency Service employees. Three firefighters from Kyiv’s 18th State Fire and Rescue Unit, who were responding to the aftermath of the strikes, were killed when a russian drone carried out a secondary strike at 4:35 a.m.

Family members, friends and colleagues will remember Pavlo, Andrii and Danylo, who, despite the danger, were always among the first to come to the aid of others.

The discussion will be moderated by Hanna Lehkokonets, head of a museum sector department.

• dead
• russian crimes
• Kyiv