Themes by tag: Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, Taras Ostapchuk worked in electrical installation and manufactured lighting poles. As early as 2017, he had learned to pilot drones to inspect streetlight supports. After February 24, 2022, he used the same drones to fly over the Kyiv oblast and assist reconnaissance units. He later joined an aerial reconnaissance unit himself.

Taras noticed that soldiers were forced to carry anti-tank mines manually, which added unnecessary risk to their lives. This inspired him to create kamikaze robots that could transport explosives. Given his background in metalworking, building the robots’ chassis posed no challenge. In the workshops where he once crafted lighting fixtures, he began assembling the internal components.

Taras spent all his savings — approximately $270,000 — on the first 50 robots and donated them to the front lines free of charge. A friend who believed in the Ratel project invested in it, enabling the team to launch serial production.

Today, a single robot can carry 40 kilograms of explosives, reach speeds of up to 24 kilometers per hour, and be operated remotely. In addition to kamikaze robots, Taras has also developed two drones to improve logistics and evacuate the wounded.

Interviews with Taras Ostapchuk can be arranged online or in person in Kyiv, by prior agreement.

• military
• Kyiv

The Brand Ukraine International Conference, the country’s flagship annual forum on national image and global perception, will be held in Kyiv on September 18. This year’s gathering will spotlight how values-driven strategic positioning can bolster security and strengthen Ukraine’s reputation abroad.

The conference, conducted in English with simultaneous translation into Ukrainian, will bring together communications experts, policymakers, cultural figures, and civil society leaders. Participants will hear keynote speeches, engage in networking sessions, and explore case studies showcasing international communication initiatives. Full program details are available at https://buic.com.ua/uk/ .

Confirmed speakers include:

• Vineta Kleine, Head of Communications, NATO Representation to Ukraine
• Kata Varblane, Director of Country Promotion, Enterprise Estonia
• Serhii Zhadan, Ukrainian poet, novelist, civil activist, and active serviceman
• Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human rights lawyer, head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize recipient (2022)
• Fernando Prado Abuin, Managing Partner, Reputation Lab
• Professor Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
• Mykolai Serga, Military Officer, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Cultural Forces platform founder
• Mykola Kabluka, Architectural and lighting designer, founder and art director of Expolight and Kabluka Light & Digital Sculptures

The conference will close with a 3D street show blending laser projections, light, and sound in a large-scale artistic performance, sending a symbolic message of resilience from Ukraine to the world.

Accreditation is required to attend. The precise venue will be shared with registered participants.

• culture
• Kyiv

Oleksandr Demenko, a native of Zaporizhzhia, first served his mandatory term in the military before signing a contract with the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard, named after Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada. In the months leading up to russia’s full-scale invasion, he was assigned to guard facilities near Mariupol, and on February 24, 2022, his unit was redeployed to defend the city.

By the end of March 2022, he had sustained a shrapnel wound, and on May 12 of that year, he spoke with his mother for the last time before being taken prisoner. Demenko remained in captivity for more than 20 months. He finally returned home on January 31, 2024.

More recently, Demenko was elected head of the Ukrainian LGBT Military for Equal Rights NGO. On August 23, 2025, his partner Artur proposed, and the two became engaged. The couple plans to wait until lawmakers adopt a bill on registered partnerships before marrying.

Demenko is available for meetings both online and in person in Kyiv by appointment.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv
• LGBT

Peaceful events are planned in 31 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On September 6, actions will be held in Svitlovodsk, Arbuzynka, Okhtyrka, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Pavlohrad, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Shpola, Volochysk, and Lviv.

On September 7, events are planned in Kyiv, Krolevets, Korop, Pivdennoukrainsk, Uman, Mykolaiv, Obukhiv, Korosten, Cherkasy, Uzhhorod, Dolynska, Berdychiv, Kharkiv, Lozova, Kropyvnytskyi, Kovel, Shostka, Ternopil, Odesa, and Chernivtsi.

The events are organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Recently released Ukrainian captives also often join these actions.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

A presentation of the study “The deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children from occupied territories through the lens of changing russian propaganda narratives”, will be held at the Media Center Ukraine on September 11.

russia is systematically deporting Ukrainian children from occupied territories, depriving them of their national identity, family ties, and future. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is launching a large-scale propaganda campaign to justify or conceal these crimes.

The study demonstrates how russian narratives have evolved — from outright denial of deportations to attempts to portray them as “humanitarian aid” or “rescue missions”. The study focuses on the fate of children as tools of information warfare and the challenges faced by Ukrainian society and the international community.

During the event:

• The authors will present the study’s key findings;
• Experts will explain why russia uses children in propaganda;
• Participants will discuss strategies for shifting narratives and effectively countering disinformation.

Speakers include:

• Authors of the study;
• Representatives of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative;
• Experts in countering propaganda and disinformation.

Registration is required for the event.

Background: The study was conducted with financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The content of the publication reflects the authors’ views and does not necessarily represent NED’s position.

• children
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

In 2022, bicycles became lifelines for residents of Ukrainian cities affected by russian military aggression — Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Bucha, Irpin, and others. In some of these cities, public transportation was not operational and fuel was scarce.

Thus, the international campaign #BikesForUkraine was launched in May 2022. Over the past three years, more than 3,000 bicycles have been delivered to volunteers, medical workers, utility service employees, and displaced persons. A total of 90 communities, including de-occupied and frontline areas, have received assistance through the campaign.

Over 90 ambassadors from 20 countries in Europe and North America have supported the campaign. Supporters include non-governmental organizations, cycling communities, businesses, city municipalities, and concerned individuals. Some collect and repair used bicycles or send new ones, while others make financial donations. Recently, a resident of a city in the Netherlands collected used bicycles and personally drove them to Ukraine in a rented van.

By prior arrangement, journalists can cover how volunteers in Kyiv repair used bicycles that have arrived from abroad. Journalists can also interview campaign participants in Kyiv and foreigners who have contributed from overseas. Video materials about the #BikesForUkraine campaign are available as well.

Background: Campaign initiators include U-Cycle (NGO Association of Cyclists of Kyiv), NGO Eco City (Chernihiv), NGO “Youth Association Extreme Style” (Sumy), NGO City Reforms (Kharkiv), NGO FORZA (Uzhhorod), NGO VeloVector (Odesa), and NGO VeloFormat (Odesa)

• volunteers
• Kyiv

Matvii Suslov was 17 when he was preparing to build a school stadium in Niu-York, Donetsk Oblast. He already had a complete project, an agreement with the school, and the support of sponsors. Matvii hoped to inspire his peers by showing them how to make a positive impact through concrete action.

But the full-scale russian invasion changed everything. Matvii’s native village came under enemy occupation, and his home was destroyed by shelling. He shared his story with the Voices of Children charity, which supports children and families affected by the war, and became the face of a project highlighting children in the Donetsk region whose civic activism inspires others.

Today, 21-year-old Matvii lives in Kyiv and leads the tactical medicine department at the charity foundation Razom for Ukraine. He and his team provide tactical medical support to army units, supply training equipment to military training centers, and instruct new tactical medicine trainers. After the war, Matvii dreams of returning to his hometown of Niu-York.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Matvii Suslov both online and in person in Kyiv by prior appointment.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

At the end of September, a team of three Ukrainian veterans who have undergone amputations will attempt to swim across the Strait of Bonifacio. This narrow channel between southern Corsica, France, and northern Sardinia, Italy, is known for its challenging currents, shallow areas, and sudden wind shifts. At its narrowest point, the strait spans 11 kilometers, with a maximum depth of about 100 meters.

Each participant is a war veteran with their own recovery story. Demian Dudlia is a fire safety engineer. He voluntarily joined the National Guard at the start of the full-scale invasion and served as a grenade launcher operator and AGS-17 gunner. In April 2023, he sustained severe injuries resulting in an above-the-knee amputation of his leg.

Maksym Hrinchenko was injured in October 2022 during one of the missile attacks on Kyiv. Prior to 2022, he worked in construction. In February 2022, he voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, later training as a sapper. He also underwent an above-the-knee amputation.

Ihor Oliinyk has pursued various interests, ranging from photography and the restaurant industry to military service and sports. In 2023, he was injured by shelling in the Serebrianske Forestry and lost an arm and an eye.

This trio will be the first team with disabilities to attempt this distance, starting and finishing together.

Journalists can cover the veterans’ training in Kyiv by prior arrangement. There will also be opportunities to interview participants online or in person in Italy.

Background: The veterans are members of the ONE TEAM FORCES community, which provides personalized and coordinated support to help injured service members fully recover — from initial rehabilitation to long-term social integration.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• 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 will be created during a two-shift BUR camp (September 7-14, 2025, and October 26-November 2, 2025). Each shift will bring together around 20 volunteers, half local, half from across Ukraine and abroad. Beyond the building work, evenings will feature cultural and educational programming: excursions, workshops, and team-building activities.

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

The Kharkiv-based charitable foundation Rescue Now was established by local residents following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, the organization launched its Reroot initiative, reaching 164 settlements and benefiting 44,000 people across the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.

The project aims to support communities by providing planting kits, including seeds and fertilizer, to help restore food independence in territories recently liberated from occupation. Currently, the foundation is focusing on 15 orphanages in the Kharkiv region, where it is installing greenhouses, distributing preservation kits, organizing educational workshops, and offering psychological support for children and staff.

Building on the initiative’s early success, the team has developed a mobile application designed to engage a wider audience in Ukraine’s ecological recovery.

Participation is simple: users download the app and contribute 10 dollars or more to plant trees. In return, each user receives a virtual plot of land where they can plant trees and track their growth. Once enough funds are raised to plant at least 30 trees, the organization carries out the actual planting in line with seasonal requirements. Each planting is logged in the app, and participants receive notifications on the progress of their trees. The first round of planting is scheduled for late fall, with plans to plant more than 1,000 trees by year’s end.

The Reroot team is available for consultations both online and in person in Kyiv, by appointment.

• ecology
• reconstruction
• Kyiv