Themes by tag: Kyiv

On September 4, 2023, Taras Kozub was injured and lost his left arm during a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector. He served as a soldier in the 25th Separate Assault Battalion, which was part of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura” at the time.

Before his service, Taras worked as a craftsman, making ancient musical instruments such as the kobza, bandura, lyre, and torban, and he taught at a kobzar art school.

A recent video of Taras playing the traditional beggars’ song “There Is No Truth in the World” on the lyre has gone viral online. Taras performs the piece using a custom device attached to the shoulder of his amputated arm. He crafted the lyre himself, in 2017. Taras is also a member of the Veterans Theater.

Journalists can talk to Taras in Kyiv or online by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

“Wake Accessible” is a powerful initiative within the One Team Forces NGO community, brought to life thanks to the skill and commitment of the STAV14 cable wakeboarding parks teams.

The project’s mission is simple but inspiring: to prove that even an extreme sport like wakeboarding can be adapted for veterans on the road to recovery.

Since launching in the summer of 2024, over 150 military personnel and veterans have had the chance to try cable wakeboarding. Currently, about 20 participants are regularly training in adaptive wakeboarding.

Training sessions take place twice a week in Kyiv. Thanks to experienced coaches and specialized adaptive equipment, individuals who have lost limbs are able to ride the waves alongside others.

Journalists interested in covering the sessions can arrange access in advance.

For reference: One Team Forces community supports military members who served before or after February 24, 2022, and who have suffered physical injuries or psychological trauma as a result of russia’s armed aggression.

STAV14 is a growing network of wakeboarding parks across Ukraine, STAV14 is a leading force in making adaptive wakeboarding accessible, not just in Kyiv but throughout the country.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Over the past year, Ukraine’s military medical commission (MMC) system has undergone a series of reforms. However, new findings from the Media Initiative for Human Rights, outlined in the report “Blind Spots of the MMC,” reveal ongoing systemic failures. 

The study highlights cases where individuals with severe illnesses, such as HIV, tuberculosis, or mental health disorders, were still declared fit for service. Meanwhile, the system lacks mechanisms for proper treatment or case tracking.

During the presentation we will discuss

• Why do MMCs routinely declare individuals fit for service?
• How does the appeals process work in theory, and why does it fail in practice?
• How do stigma, lack of treatment, and poor recordkeeping endanger not only seriously ill soldiers but also the operational capacity of their units?
• What reforms are needed to fix the MMC system?

Speakers:

– Iryna Yakovets, Co-Author of the Study, Analyst at the Media Initiative for Human Rights;

– Dmytro Samofalov, Acting Head of the Healthcare Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine;

– Kateryna Tsymbolynets, Head of the Patronage Service of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Former Combat Medic and Unit’s Chief Medical Officer;

– A Serviceman Representing a Vulnerable Patient Group.

Prior registration is required to attend the event.

• Kyiv

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) donated one of its legendary Sea Baby naval drones to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II. This veteran drone was part of the SBU’s fleet of maritime surface drones that struck 11 russian ships and damaged the Crimean Bridge during the full-scale invasion. 

The exhibited model is a reusable drone, designed to return to base after completing its mission. 

This particular drone successfully executed multiple operations, traversing over 4,000 kilometers in the Black Sea. Notably, it engaged in a naval battle with russian aircraft in December 2024. Although the drone sustained significant damage, it completed its combat objectives and returned to base. The drone is currently not being used for its intended purpose because of the damage, so it has been fully decommissioned and transferred to the museum for public display.

• culture
• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Taras Ostapchuk worked as an electrician manufacturing lighting poles. As early as 2017, he had mastered drone piloting in order to inspect these structures. After February 24, 2022, he used the same drones to conduct reconnaissance in the Kyiv oblast and later joined an aerial reconnaissance unit.

Taras had observed that soldiers were risking their lives by carrying anti-tank mines manually. This inspired him to create kamikaze robots to transport explosives instead. Leveraging his background in metalworking, Taras crafted the robots’ chassis himself. Workshops originally designed for lighting fixtures helped assemble the internal components. 

Taras invested his entire savings — approximately $270,000 — to build the first 50 robots, which he donated to troops on the front lines. A friend later invested in the project, enabling mass production. 

The current robot model can carry 40 kg of explosives, reach speeds of 24 km/h, and is remotely controlled. Taras has also designed two drones to improve logistics and evacuate wounded soldiers.

Journalists can interview Taras Ostapchuk online or in person in Kyiv, subject to prior coordination.

• military
• Kyiv

On June 19, Kyiv will host an adaptive paintball competition, a fast-paced, team-based tactical game where players eliminate opponents by hitting them with dye-filled gelatin capsules. The event will take place in a safe, controlled environment designed to accommodate participants with varying physical abilities. Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and active-duty military personnel are encouraged to take part.

Media representatives are required to obtain accreditation in advance.

The event is organized by the State Institution “All-Ukrainian Center for Physical Health ‘Sport for All,'” with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the NGO “Strength of the Defenders.”

• culture
• Kyiv

On June 12, a recreated version of Alla Horska’s legendary Boryviter mosaic was unveiled at Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square. The project was initiated by ROZETKA, Ukraine’s largest online marketplace, in collaboration with Ukraine WOW, and the Alla Horska and Viktor Zaretskyi Foundation. A team of 15 monumental artists and researchers, led by Horska’s granddaughter Olena Zaretska, contributed to the restoration. The recreated mosaic replicates everything to the smallest detail, after the Mariupol original was severely damaged during the full-scale russian invasion. 

The artistic team spent three months assembling the mosaic. To achieve maximum accuracy, they sourced over 700 kilograms of materials from across Ukraine and abroad, including opaque cobalt glass, tiles in matching colors, metal sheets, and even aluminum spoons.

Boryviter will now go on an international tour to raise awareness of Ukrainian art, sharing the stories of artists whose work russia seeks to erase.

The initiative also produced a second replica of the mosaic, divided into 1,250 fragments. Each piece was made available for purchase, allowing individuals to become custodians of Boriviter with the hope of one day restoring Horska’s masterpiece in a liberated Mariupol. All the fragments were sold within a single day.

By prior arrangement, journalists may view the panels in Kyiv and speak with the team behind the project.

Background: In the summer of 1967, a team of monumental artists led by the renowned artist Alla Horska created the Boryviter mosaic in Mariupol. The composition, featuring a falcon in flight, captivated viewers with its dynamic form and movement. Its bold mix of materials, alternating colors, and interesting textures made Boryviter a symbol of creative freedom. Just three years later, Alla Horska, a leading figure of the Ukrainian Sixtiers movement, was murdered by Soviet security services. In 2022, the mosaic was severely damaged during russia’s invasion. Its current condition remains unknown.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On June 14, the KyivPride March will take place – a key human rights event. Last year, due to security challenges, only around 500 participants could join the March. This year, organizers aim to involve more people, though the location remains undisclosed for safety reasons.

KyivPride is Ukraine’s largest annual LGBTIQ+ event. In 2025, it will be held under the slogan “Unity in Diversity”, the official motto of the European Union. This theme emphasizes Ukraine’s commitment to European integration, the importance of partnerships and solidarity in the fight for human rights, and victory in the war.

Journalists need to be accredited to attend the event.

• Kyiv
• LGBT

A team of student inventors at Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute dedicates their free time to assembling ground drones designed to evacuate wounded soldiers from the frontlines.

The project was initiated by Dmytro Mamonov, an internally displaced person from Sloviansk. The device can support a weight of up to 120 kilograms and can cover more than 5 kilometers without recharging. Additionally, the drone is resistant to snow and mud, which is crucial for frontline conditions.

Currently, the students are manufacturing drones on request from the military. The technicians also involve first-year students in the production process so they can learn and help prototyping new designs.

Interviews with the team of student inventors are available either online or offline by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• Kyiv

On June 15, Kyiv will host Memoria Bellatoris, a charity event dedicated to honoring the memory of fallen soldiers from the 6th Battalion of the 12th Azov Brigade.

Participants are invited to join a CrossFit workout held in their honor. Entry is open to all in exchange for a charitable donation.

Organizers say the event aims to commemorate the battalion’s sacrifice and bring the community together in remembrance.

Event registration is required to attend.  

• dead
• Kyiv