Themes by tag: Kyiv

Yulian Pylypei, a seasoned Ukrainian Marine, endured unimaginable hardships during his more than two years in captivity. A professional soldier since 2013, Pylypei joined the Marines in 2017, serving in Mariupol. When russia launched its full-scale invasion, he was leading a mortar battery in the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy.

On April 14, 2022, Pylypei and his comrades were captured while attempting to break through to Azovstal. His family learned of his capture through a text sent in russian from his phone. Over the next two years and five months, he was moved through several detention facilities, including Sartana, Olenivka, Taganrog, Novozybkov, Kursk, and Mordovia, before returning to Novozybkov. Each location brought its own trials, which Pylypei recounts in harrowing detail.

Twice accused and tried by his captors, Pylypei suffered relentless abuse. He was beaten for refusing to confess to ordering attacks on civilians, starved, and subjected to torture, including an attempt to burn off his tattoo of the Ukrainian coat of arms with a stun gun. In his prayers, Pylypei asked for the strength to remain sane amid the torment.

When he was taken from his cell with his belongings, Pylypei assumed he was being transferred to another prison. He could hardly believe it when he was informed he was part of a prisoner exchange. On September 13, 2024, after 29 months in captivity, Pylypei finally returned home to Ukraine.

Those wishing to meet or speak with Yulian Pylypei, either online or in person in Kyiv, can arrange it in advance.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Peaceful events are planned in 24 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On December 7, rallies will be held in Okhtyrka, Pivdenoukrainsk, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia.

On December 8, peaceful actions are scheduled in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Poltava, Kropyvnytskyi, Uzhhorod, Korosten, Obukhiv, Brovary, Krolevets, Ovruch, Kryvyi Rih, Ternopil, Odesa, Ostroh and Chernivtsi.

The events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison. The rallies are often attended by Ukrainians who have been released from captivity.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On December 9, the Media Center Ukraine will host a public discussion on how the aggressor country systematically uses conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as a weapon of war and a form of torture against civilians and prisoners of war. Testimony from individuals released from captivity reveals that approximately 90% of Ukrainian POWs were subjected to torture, rape, threats of sexual violence, or other forms of cruel treatment. These atrocities have been documented by both national and international institutions.

The response and counteraction to CRSV is under the constant control of the Government of Ukraine. In particular, mechanisms are being sought to hold the russian federation accountable for crimes committed by its armed forces and associated armed groups. One proposed mechanism for accountability is the inclusion of russia on the UN List of Shame.

Participants:

– Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy;

– Anna Sosonska, representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine (online);

– Oleksandr Osipov, representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Equal Rights and Freedoms, Right of National Minorities, Political and Religious Beliefs;

– Yevheniia Lukianchenko, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration – Minister of Justice (online);

– Oleksiy Syvak, founder of the NGO “Graduates”;

– Iryna Dovhan, Head of SEMA Ukraine, member of the Board of the Global Survivors Fund for survivors of CRSV (online);

– Olena Lazarieva, member of SEMA Ukraine;

– Liudmyla Huseinova, member of the Supervisory Board of the Urgent Interim Reparations for CRSV survivors pilot project, founder of the NGO “Let’s Go, Sisters”;

– Andrii Kochmuradov, Head of the NGO “29 December”.

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On December 8, Kyiv will host the graduation party of the 4th graduating class of NoviMY Inclusive Model School. This special evening will bring 15 incredible Ukrainian women closer to their dreams as they continue to break stereotypes and move forward.

The fashion show will include models with disabilities, as well as mothers of children with disabilities.

The modeling school, founded by Olga Akimova in 2021, was initially intended for women over the age of 40. The project also welcomed mothers of children with disabilities (participation was free for them), with the aim of giving these women, who devote themselves entirely to their children, an opportunity to express themselves. Younger women also joined the initiative, and later the school became an inclusive project. It now welcomes models with and without disabilities, who participate equally in all projects, fashion shows and performances.

The revamped project launched its first sessions in February 2022 in Kyiv and Lviv, but activities were paused due to the full-scale invasion. 

A year later, Olga decided to resume classes. Students at the school learn standard modeling skills, such as the basics of modeling, posing for photography, catwalk walking, and more. The school operates in Kyiv and Lviv, offering both online and offline classes.

The mission of this project is to bring Ukrainian society closer to a new tolerant, inclusive, European barrier-free space with equal opportunities for all through the art of modeling.

• culture
• women
• Kyiv

The NGO Every Animal has teamed up with nutritionist Mark Shpara, Macro-2019 and Eat Me At to develop seven daily plant-based meal plans for military personnel. The aim is to provide a plant-based diet for vegan and vegetarian service members, as well as those who are fasting or avoiding animal products for health reasons.

Ukrainian defenders can order a free ‘Vegan Ration’, which includes 18 plant-based meals (8 starters and 10 main dishes, ready to eat).

The rations are sent by post.

Journalists can learn more about the vegan rations for the military in Kyiv.

For reference: “Every Animal” is an NGO founded in 2019 to promote veganism and advocate for animal rights. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the organization has sent more than 2,000 free weekly vegan rations to military personnel. They also held nine charity festivals called Vegan Weekend, where they raised and donated 3.5 million UAH for the needs of the defense forces.

• food
• military
• Kyiv

Luis, a 19-year-old born in Venezuela, has travelled to different countries since he was a child, including living in Canada. Seven months ago, he arrived in Ukraine and  began offering free English lessons to children. Currently, Luis is a volunteer at the Kyiv branch of the Voices of Children Foundation. According to Luis, this project allows him not only to help children learn English, but also to give them opportunities to grow and find joy through play.

Journalists can arrange to meet and speak with Luis in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• children
• volunteers
• Kyiv

The Yulyni Babusi (“Yulia’s Grandmothers“) Charitable Foundation is organizing a “Secret Santa for the elderly from shelters” campaign. Anyone can help organize a holiday by donating money for a gift for a person from a nursing home or sending a gift of their own. These can be tea, coffee, warm socks, blankets, household chemicals and hygiene, diapers for adults of all sizes and diapers. The collection of gifts will last until December 10.

By prior arrangement, journalists can cover the charity’s representatives visiting the shelters to create a festive mood and hand out gifts. 

For reference: Yuliia Karpova, a radio morning show host, founded the Yulyni Babusi (Yulia’s Grandmothers) charity foundation in 2022 to help the elderly. The foundation takes care of single elderly people, residents of boarding schools, nursing homes, and residents of the de-occupied territories. In total, it operates in three regions: Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Dnipro regions.

• Dnipro
• Kyiv
• Zhytomyr

On December 5 and 6, Kyiv will host the premiere of a unique theatrical production, “Three Fast and Fashionable Hairdressers This Season” – a play that delves into the depths of Ukrainian consciousness and reflects the efforts of Ukrainians of different backgrounds to understand each other. Initiated by the organization “From the Country to Ukraine” in cooperation with director Stanislav Moiseiev (People’s Artist of Ukraine and Honored Artist) and playwright Maksym Kurochkin, the production explores how personal achievements and collective failures shape the moral and ethical foundations of our society.

“Three Fast and Fashionable Hairdressers This Season” offers a distinctive theatrical format where modernity intertwines with allegorical imagery, providing a fresh perspective on Ukrainian reality. The play poses critical questions: Why do Ukrainians aspire to be part of great achievements while simultaneously looking for someone to share responsibility for mistakes and failures? How does society reconcile individual ambition with collective responsibility?

Venue details will be provided upon registration for security reasons.

Additional information: The play is part of the Semantic Shield project supported by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). Following the Kyiv premiere, performances are planned for Dnipro (11 December) and Odesa (12 December).

• culture
• Kyiv

On International Volunteer Day, the non-governmental organization Dobrobat will host the country’s main ceremony in honor of 250 heroes of Ukraine’s recovery. The event will bring together volunteers who are working tirelessly to rebuild destroyed homes, schools, hospitals and other critical social infrastructure.

The ceremony will take place in Kyiv on December 5. Invited guests include volunteers, partners and representatives of international organizations. The primary goal of the event is to honor people whose contribution to Ukraine’s recovery is becoming an example for the whole world.

The program includes awards for the most active participants in key categories. The ceremony will be hosted by Volodymyr Ostapchuk, an ambassador of Dobrobat. 

Accreditation is required for the event.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

Highlighting the importance of creating a truly inclusive environment for people who have lost limbs due to landmine and explosive injuries, FRIDA Ukraine had the opportunity to meet Nataliia and help her get back on both feet.

Nataliia is a nurse from the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk oblast. A russian shell hit her house and she lost a limb. In telling her story, she emphasized that in spite of everything, she continues to live life to the fullest and does not want to be pitied. After Nataliia became the face of the FRIDA Ukraine project, their German partners heard about her. A few months of logistical arrangements followed, and Nataliia returned with a prosthesis and an incredible determination to help others.

Her home clinic from Bakhmut has been relocated to Brovary in the Kyiv oblast, where Nataliia continues her lifelong mission.

For reference: FRIDA Ukraine is a non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian mission of volunteer doctors from Ukraine and Israel. It has been providing emergency and outpatient medical care to civilians affected by the hostilities since the beginning of the invasion.

• casualties
• doctors
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv