Themes by tag: Kyiv

In August 2024, russia illegally sentenced Ukrainian activist Iryna Horobtsova to 10 years and 6 months in prison, accusing her of “espionage”.

Iryna Horobtsova, a resident of Kherson, worked for a Ukrainian IT company. In the spring of 2022, when russian forces occupied the city, she became known for her social media posts documenting life under occupation. Iryna shared photos with Ukrainian symbols and even referred to her apartment as the “resistance headquarters.”

On May 13, 2022, russians abducted her from her own home and held her in a detention center in occupied Crimea. She was held in total isolation, with no contact with the outside world.

Journalists can talk to Irina’s parents (online), as well as her lawyer and experts from the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

Peaceful events are planned in 22 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On February 22, rallies will take place in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Arbuzynka, Vinnytsia, Svitlovodsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, Obukhiv, Poltava, Zaporizhia and Pavlohrad.

On February 23, events are scheduled in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Irpin, Cherkasy, Korosten, Uzhhorod, and Mykolaiv.

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 February 23, the eve of the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, the ceremony “The Bell of Remembrance and Hope: 11 Years of War” will be held. This event is to remind everyone of Ukrainians who are in captivity, missing or victims of forced deportation.

The ceremony will begin with a liturgy at the Refectory Church, led by Bishop Avraamii, Abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The Bell of Remembrance and Hope will strike 11 times, marking 11 years of war in Ukraine. Families of prisoners of war will also take part in the ceremony.

Program of the event:
– Liturgy in the Refectory
– Ceremony “Bell of Remembrance and Hope: 11 Years of War”.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

The Bell of Remembrance and Hope will ring daily until victory is achieved and all defenders return home. This initiative was launched in December 2023 at the Lavra with the support of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

• culture
• prisoners
• religion
• Kyiv

On February 21, the Media Center Ukraine will present the public opinion survey “russia Ahead of Negotiations: russian Socio-Political Views in January–February 2025.”

Participants:

– Vadym Denysenko, political scientist

The study on public attitudes “russia Ahead of Negotiations. russian’ Socio-Political Views in January–February 2025” is a joint initiative by Dilova Stolytsia (Business Capital) newspaper, Media Center Ukraine, and the New Image Marketing Group research firm. The findings reveal a sharp increase in the number of russians who acknowledge the scale of wartime losses and express a negative outlook on their financial situation. Moreover, social research indicates that half of the russian population no longer aligns with vladimir putin’s claim that russians and Ukrainians are “one people.”

Registration is required to attend the event.

• Kyiv

On February 21, the Kyiv War Museum and the DOCU/CLUB network of the NGO Docudays will hold a screening of the documentary Witnesses. To the North of Kyiv.

The film is based on materials from the Ukraine War Archive project, which was launched by Docudays in cooperation with Infoscope in the early weeks of russia’s full-scale invasion. The initiative aims to document wartime events and firsthand testimonies that could support future investigations into russian war crimes and help bring those responsible to justice.  

The documentary follows residents of Pushcha-Vodytsia, a northern suburb of Kyiv, as well as the nearby villages of Moshchun and Horenka. The protagonists recount how they endured the russian occupation, volunteered, supported the Ukrainian military, and resisted the invaders.  

Following the screening, a discussion will take place with the film’s director, Tetiana Symon, who also serves as the coordinator of the Ukraine War Archive project’s interviewing department. The conversation will be moderated by Olha Babchuk, a journalist and communications manager at DOCU/CLUB.  

Registration is required to attend the event.

Background: From the earliest days of the conflict, Ukrainian documentary filmmakers have been diligently recording eyewitness testimonies. These recordings not only capture the unvarnished truth of the war but also serve to convey its realities to a global audience. Ultimately, they may be employed as crucial evidence in international courts to hold perpetrators accountable.

• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

For more than 10 years, the Ukrainian NGO Dostupno.UA has been working to create inclusive spaces across the country. Now, after losing its American grant funding, the organization is struggling to continue its mission and is searching for new ways to sustain its work.  

Dmytro Shchebetiuk, a wheelchair user with firsthand experience of the many accessibility barriers in Ukrainian cities, founded Dostupno.UA in 2015. Nataliia Parkhytko joined the initiative after becoming a mother and realizing how difficult it was to navigate streets with a baby stroller.  

Over the past decade, the NGO has promoted inclusivity and accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, individuals with temporary injuries, pregnant women, and parents with strollers. Nataliia and Dmytro have helped businesses improve accessibility, facilitated the installation of ramps and lifts, and provided inclusivity training for various institutions.  

However, with U.S. grant support now discontinued, Dostupno.UA is facing a financial crisis that threatens the future of its work. The team is actively seeking new partners to keep the project alive.  

Nataliia Parkhytko is available by appointment for in-person and online meetings in Kyiv. Dmytro Shchebetiuk can provide comments online.

• Kyiv

On February 26, the premiere of a film created by 14 teenagers during the “Storytelling in Cinema” course of the Voices of Children Foundation and Ukrainian director Marysia Nikitiuk will take place in Kyiv.

The event will also include a discussion on “Growing up in war: how to help children cope with this difficult experience” with the participation of the children who worked on the movie, the director Marysia Nikitiuk, Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder of the Voices of Children Foundation and human rights activist, Olha Aivazovska, Chairperson of the Board of the Civil Network OPORA, and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Rights and Nobel Laureate.

The film “Generation” was created by young people from all over Ukraine who have experienced the hardships of war: evacuation, forced displacement within Ukraine and abroad, finding themselves in a new place, losing social ties, living under occupation, and surviving in frontline regions.

As part of Voices of Children’s “Storytelling in Cinema” project, director Marysia Nikitiuk and psychologist Dariia Parshyntseva met with the teens for five months to develop scripts. The course culminated in seven days of filmmaking in the mountains, where the young participants brought their stories to life.

Registration required

Background: Voices of Children Foundation provides psychological, psychosocial and humanitarian support to children and families affected by war. The Foundation helps children cope with the psychological effects of armed conflict and advocates for their rights.

The International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) is a public diplomacy platform founded in Warsaw by Ukrainian civil society activists to engage global thought leaders in support of Ukraine. The Center’s mission is to mobilize the world for Ukraine’s victory.

• casualties
• children
• culture
• Kyiv

On February 24, the town of Bucha in Kyiv oblast will hold commemorative events to honor the memory of Ukraine’s fallen civilians and defenders.

Bucha, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and a witness to the horrific war crimes of the russian army, will bring together families of the fallen, local residents, government officials, and the international community to pay tribute to all those who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom.

Program of events:

• Memorial Rally, a requiem service and tribute to the fallen heroes
• Memorial Rally, a requiem service and tribute to the innocent victims of russian aggression at the Wall of Remembrance
• Unveiling of a Fallen Defender memorial plaque
• Memorial event “Bells of Remembrance”

• dead
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On February 21, the Kyiv Security Forum will hold a special event dedicated to the third anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Participants:

– Gen. David Petraeus, member of the KSF Security Council, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (2008-2010), Director of the CIA (2011-2012);

– Katarína Mathernová, European Union Ambassador to Ukraine;

– Patrick Turner, Senior NATO Representative, Head of NATO Representation in Ukraine;

– Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine (Canada will chair the G7 in 2025);

– Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine (2014-2016).

Accreditation will close at 12:00 PM on Friday, February 21. The location of the event will be provided via email along with your registration confirmation.

Media Center Ukraine is one of the media partners of the event.

Background: The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s “Open Ukraine” foundation, is Ukraine’s major platform for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security

• Kyiv

The Center for Civil Liberties invites you to the performance “People Are Key!”, which will take place as part of the March of Remembrance and Hope on February 20 in Kyiv.

The performance is aimed at supporting all prisoners of the Kremlin: prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians, deported Ukrainian children, and political prisoners. The symbol of the performance is keys, representing both freedom and home. Participants will jingle keys to remind the world of those still held in captivity.

Speakers for comments:

– Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties (English-speaking)

– Mykhailo Savva, Doctor of Political Science, expert with the Center for Civil Liberties

– Relatives and friends of Kremlin prisoners

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv