Themes by tag: Kyiv

On August 21, the War Museum will open MONUMENT, an exhibition exploring the evolving symbolism of Ukraine’s most iconic sculpture, the Motherland monument, in the context of the ongoing war.

Towering over the Dnipro River, the steel figure long stood as a legacy of the Soviet era. But after February 24, 2022, it came to embody the resilience and defiance of the Ukrainian people. That transformation reached a pivotal moment on August 6, 2023, when the Soviet coat of arms on the monument’s shield was replaced with the Ukrainian coat of arms – trident. The change redefined the monument as a national symbol of struggle and endurance.

The exhibition brings together documentary and artistic perspectives. Photographer Denys Semenets captured the monument during this period of historic change, while graphic designer Vadym Blonsky reimagined its image in works that quickly gained traction across social media.

MONUMENT marks a midway point in a three-year project aimed at reframing the sculpture’s meaning. The exhibit invites visitors to reflect on what has been achieved, consider the present moment, and envision the Motherland’s future role as a symbol of national identity and resistance.

The project was conceived by Yurii Savchuk, director general of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II, and curated by Liudmyla Melnyk, head of the museum’s Public Communication and Information Department.

Participants include graphic designer Vadym Blonsky and photographer Denys Semenets. 

Event accreditation is required.

• culture
• Kyiv

On August 21, Kyiv will host the premiere of the concluding episode of the documentary series “The Last War” — titled “The Ukrainian Curse: Builders and Destroyers of Empire” — produced by Ukraine’s Public Broadcasting team. The screening will take place as part of the event “Ukrainian Independence: Over 300 Years of Struggle”, commemorating the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence.

“The Ukrainian Curse: Builders and Destroyers of Empire” is an investigative project by journalist and TV host Myroslava Barchuk, featuring Ukrainian and Western intellectuals. It explores how, over four centuries, Ukrainians contributed to the construction of the russian imperial project — and how that empire gradually morphed into a self-devouring monstrosity. The film debunks the myth of “one nation”, chronicles Ukrainians’ attempts to break free from imperial shackles, and highlights key battles for freedom.

Background: The event  is organized in partnership with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.

• culture
• Kyiv

Maksym Nesterov is a hairdresser with 20 years of experience. Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Maksym has been offering free haircuts and shaves  to Ukrainian soldiers, including those in hospitals. In the early months, he often worked with severely wounded fighters, even those in intensive care.

In 2022, alongside fellow hairdressers, Maksym gave haircuts to the first Azovstal defenders released from russian captivity. He also helped beautify Ukrainian female border guards freed from russian imprisonment.

Beyond hairdressing, Maksym serves as a chaplain’s assistant, delivers aid to the front lines, and participates in an initiative creating wigs for children with cancer. The project also collects and sells donated hair to raise funds for military support.

Journalists can speak with Maksym in Kyiv upon prior agreement.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

On August 16, Trukhaniv Island in Kyiv will host a race in solidarity with Ukrainian prisoners still held in russian captivity. Among the participants will be former prisoner of war Dmytro Kanupier, known by the call sign “Rasti.”

Organizers say the event aims both to keep public attention on those still awaiting release and to bring together a community of supporters.

Kanupier serves in the 12th Brigade of the Azov National Guard. In April 2022, he and his fellow soldiers defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Ordered to surrender in late May 2022, he was taken prisoner by russian forces. He returned to Ukraine on October 18, 2024, as part of a prisoner exchange.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

When russia launched its full-scale invasion, Nazar Bokii enlisted in the Ukrainian army. He served as an infantryman with the 135th Battalion before taking command of a UAV strike team.

In May 2025, a russian drone strike left him gravely wounded. The attack cost him both arms and an eye. Evacuated from the battlefield, he spent weeks in intensive care before beginning a long course of rehabilitation.

Today, Bokii is learning to use prosthetic limbs, supported every step of the way by his wife. He has also launched a blog, sharing his experiences of life after injury and the challenges of recovery.

Nazar Bokii is available for in-person or online conversations in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

A unique mobile library called “Booksin” (a play on “book” and “caterpillar”) is traveling across Ukraine, delivering books — and a sense of community — to  communities, particularly those with high concentrations of displaced persons. The bookmobile brings more than just books; it also fosters lively communication. For instance, writers organize interactive readings, games, quizzes, and cultural activities for children and adults.

This initiative was made possible thanks to Libraries Connected, a UK library association, which donated the bus after a crowdfunding campaign. Recognizing the crisis caused by war, British librarians wanted to support Ukraine’s access to literature. 

The vehicle previously served in Warwickshire County’s library network, including in Stratford-upon-Avon — Shakespeare’s hometown. The bus is specially equipped for its mission: it has bookshelves, a librarian’s workstation, a laptop desk for readers, and even a ramp for accessibility. 

In Ukraine, it was rebranded with a whimsical “Booksin” design — a book-carrying caterpillar — and made its first stop in Kyiv oblast in spring 2025.

Journalists can arrange interviews with the head of the “Library Country” Charitable Foundation in Kyiv and see the bookmobile in action. In September, the mobile library will head to Cherkasy oblast.

Background: The project is organized by the “Library Country” Charitable Foundation.

• culture
• Kyiv

Kyiv is now holding football training sessions for people with visual impairments. The classes are free, and everyone is welcome to join. The training is conducted at a comfortable pace, making it easy to adapt and enjoy the game. Participants are guided by an experienced coach who helps them master the specifics of this sport.

Background: The new “blind football” initiative is launched by the League of the Strong. Football for the visually impaired is part of a broader social program by the Ukrainian Football Association aimed at developing adaptive football.

• culture
• Kyiv

On August 29, the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, the Illia Hrabar Charitable Foundation and the Memorial Platform will host the national event Table of Remembrance 2025.

The initiative calls on participants to set aside a single table in a public venue or institution and keep it unoccupied for the entire day, symbolically awaiting an honored guest who will never arrive. Last year, more than 800 establishments across Ukraine took part, along with venues abroad.

This year, organizers are inviting participation from a broad range of institutions, including:

– restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and other dining establishments

– military units

– schools, universities, bookstores, and libraries

The Table of Remembrance campaign was first organized in 2023 by Mariia Hrabar, in memory of her partner, Illia Hrabar, who was killed in combat, and in tribute to all Ukrainians who have died defending their country. In 2024, the Illia Hrabar Foundation joined with the Memorial Platform to expand the project nationwide.

Journalists can arrange interviews in Kyiv with Mariia Hrabar, as well as with participants involved in this year’s commemoration.

The Illia Hrabar Charitable Foundation was established to honor the legacy of its namesake, a fallen defender of Ukraine. The foundation supports children’s development, sponsors sports organizations and competitions, and assists community groups caring for children with serious illnesses.

Illia Hrabar was born in the village of Kapulivka in the Dnipro region. He studied in Lithuania and graduated from the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts before building a career as a sound producer in the Kyiv region. At the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was killed in action near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on December 24, 2022, at the age of 33.

The Memorial Platform, a non-governmental organization, works to foster a culture of remembrance in Ukraine by preserving the stories of fallen defenders and civilians killed in the war.

• culture
• dead
• military
• Kyiv

Mac Hughes, a Canadian from Calgary, arrived in Ukraine with his father, Paul Hughes, shortly after the start of the full-scale russian invasion. The pair began volunteering and founding a Kharkiv-based NGO called H.U.G.S. – Helping Ukraine – Grassroots Support.

Over the next three years, father and son evacuated civilians from frontline towns, repaired military vehicles, and delivered humanitarian aid to communities under fire. Mac spent more than eight months in the Kherson region, providing critical supplies to residents in need.

In March 2024, Mac enlisted in the Ukrainian army, serving alongside Ukrainian soldiers in their war against russian invaders with his unit in the Zaporizhia sector. Four months later, in July 2025, he sustained severe injuries when 30% of his body was burned. Following the evacuation, he was treated in four different hospitals and is now recovering in Kyiv, where Paul continues to care for him.

Mac and Paul are available for interviews in Kyiv, either in person or online, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, the international art project SYMBOLS OF IDENTITY will take place — a powerful symbolic act uniting Ukrainians across the globe through the revival of “vybiika”, an ancient Ukrainian technique of woodblock printing on textiles.

27 participants from 20 cities and countries around the world, including the U.S., France, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Montenegro, and Japan, will come together online to simultaneously create “vybiika” towels — symbols of memory and dignity. Each participant designed their own unique stamp patterns, embedding personal stories into the artwork.

A special highlight is the participation of Ukraine’s 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Chorni Zaporozhtsi”, representing strength, dignity, and resilience.

In Kyiv, the National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine will host the main live event, which will be streamed online to connect with global participants. The art event will also feature an exhibition of “vybiika” towels and printing stamps at the Museum of Ukrainian Diaspora. This additional public location will be directly connected to the main event.

Journalists can speak with the project’s initiator, artist Karina Haieva, and other participants by prior arrangement.

Background: The project was initiated by artist Karina Haieva in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Department of Affirmation of Ukrainian National and Civic Identity, the All-Ukrainian Youth Center, the National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine, and the Museum of Ukrainian Diaspora.

Vybiika is an ancient fabric-printing technique using handmade stamps that dates back to 11th-century Ukraine. Rare surviving examples from the 17th–18th centuries are preserved in museums. Today, this technique has nearly disappeared, so the project aims to revive the craft and unite Ukrainians worldwide.

• culture
• Kyiv