Themes by tag: Kyiv

On December 2, within the framework of the National Forum on the Rights of People with Disabilities, an action entitled “Is the Way to the EU Accessible?” will be held at Maidan Nezalezhnosti. This annual event, organized by Fight For Right, is being held for the fourth time. This year, over 100 participants of the National Forum on the Rights of People with Disabilities will take part in the action.

Society is often shocked by reports of appalling living conditions in institutions and the inhumane treatment of their residents. However, only recently, after years of advocacy by civil society organizations, has the state begun to discuss the deinstitutionalization process for adults.

Violations of the rights of persons with disabilities are widespread: from the lack of accessible information for people with visual or hearing impairments to the inability of wheelchair users to enter the nearest clinic or administrative service center. This issue is even more pressing now as communities welcome back veterans with disabilities from the front lines who face overwhelming inaccessibility in their daily lives.

Registration is required to attend the event.

• Kyiv

On December 2, Kyiv will host the presentation of the book “Prykhystok: A Startup That Saved a Million Lives” by MP Halyna Yanchenko.

The book details the eponymous initiative launched on the first day of the full-scale invasion, which helped over a million Ukrainian refugees find free temporary shelter. It is a poignant collection of the project team’s memories of the resilience, solidarity and innovation that Ukrainians demonstrated during the darkest days of the invasion.

The event will feature real-life heroes from the book – Ukrainians who endured the occupation and managed to relocate and start new lives in other cities, thanks in part to the Prykhystok (Shelter) initiative. They will tell their personal stories.

Program highlights:

– A conversation with the author about the creation of the initiative and the book.

– Stories from the book’s protagonists who were forced to find a new home and found shelter.

– A discussion about the power of social innovation and the ability of Ukrainians to unite for mutual aid.

– A book signing with the author.

Registration is required for this event.

• casualties
• culture
• occupation
• Kyiv

On December 2, during the fourth training camp of the Ukrainian national team for the 2025 Invictus Games, a friendly wheelchair basketball match will take place between this year’s team members and participants from previous years’ teams.

In addition to the basketball game, players from different years will connect, share their experiences, and reflect on their participation in the project. Former team members will once again experience the Invictus spirit and share their stories about being part of the initiative. The day will also feature an informal networking session between the national team members and project partners.

Speeches will be delivered by Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Nataliia Kalmykova, representatives from the Embassy of Canada, and NATO officials.

Media representatives will have the opportunity to interview current and former national team members, as well as guests, partners, and project organizers.

Registration is required for media attendance.

Background Information: The 2025 Invictus Games will be held in Canada from February 8-16, 2025 and will feature winter sports for the first time. The event is expected to attract over 500 participants from more than 20 countries.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Journalists are invited to attend the 33rd session of sound therapy and a master class on physical and SPA rehabilitation by Serhii Kapralov. The event will be held in Kyiv on 1 December.

This project is free for veterans, military personnel, their families and internally displaced persons. It combines several approaches: physical rehabilitation, sound healing and art therapy.

The project is implemented by Serhii Kapralov (Ph.D. in Physical Education and Sports, author of leading rehabilitation methods for severe injuries, and soldier of the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade) in collaboration with musicians and sound healing specialists – Oleksandr Vlasenko, Artur Nikolenko and Yevhen Rudychev. The initiative was made possible thanks to the patronage of Inessa Kravchenko (founder of the informal educational platform “Liudyna Dyvo Svit”, publisher of the “Wheel of Life” magazine and co-owner of Stan Invest Holding).

Special surprise: The thousandth visitor will receive a gift and all participants will have a chance to participate in a prize draw.

Registration is required to attend the event.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

An unusual operation called “HUR-CAT” was carried out by fighters of the Tymur special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The special forces evacuated 15 cats from Snake Island and successfully transported them to the Ukrainian mainland.

The soldiers placed the animals in special carriers and transported them by boat to a safe location. All 15 cats were then delivered to the Sirius shelter in the Kyiv oblast. The animals are now undergoing a period of adjustment and efforts are being made to find them new homes.

Comments from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence can be arranged by appointment. Journalists are also invited to visit the Sirius sanctuary, meet its founder and see the rescued animals.

Background information: The battle for Snake Island began on 24 February 2022 with a missile attack on the Ukrainian border guard garrison stationed there. The attack destroyed all structures on the island, but the Ukrainian border guards continued to resist. After several hours of fighting, russian forces captured Snake and took its defenders prisoner. The island was liberated on the 30th of June 2022, when powerful attacks by Ukrainian forces forced the russian occupiers to hastily evacuate the remnants of their garrison.

• animals
• military
• Kyiv
• evacuation

On November 29, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host a press conference titled “HIV in Ukraine: Challenges, statistics and realities of war.” The event will explore the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine, with a focus on how the war has affected access to treatment and care.

Participants:

– Olha Klymova, Specialist of the Department of HIV Control and Prevention at the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine;

– Yaroslava Lopatina, Head of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Ukraine;

– Anastasiia Kuznetsova, specialist in infectious diseases;

– Liubov Kuzhovkina, representative of the youth movement Teenergizer.

(All in person)

Topics of discussion:

– The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine: Current statistics;

– Early diagnosis, the importance of regular testing;

– Challenges in the realities of a full-scale invasion;

– Discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive people;

For reference: 1 December is World AIDS Day, commemorating a disease that has claimed an estimated 40.4 million lives worldwide. According to the Center for Public Health, the prevalence of HIV infection, taking into account demographic changes, is about 430 per 100 thousand people. In Ukraine, an average of 4 people die every day from AIDS-related diseases.

• Kyiv

In Kyiv, a unique rehabilitation project is helping military personnel recover through archery, including those who have lost limbs. The initiative welcomes veterans, active-duty soldiers, and their families, offering free daily training sessions.  

Leading the effort is Dmytro Lvovskyi, an international master of sports and founder and Board Chair of the “Ukrainian Archery Space” NGO. Since 2014, he has funded archery training for wounded soldiers, including veterans of the ATO service, using his own resources. His work expanded with support from the Kyiv City Center for Physical Culture and Sports for Persons with Disabilities “Invasport” and the All-Ukrainian Center for Physical Health “Sport for All,” as part of the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ “Active Parks — Unstoppable” program.  

Archery is accessible to all, even those with severe injuries. Participants missing legs train from wheelchairs, while those without arms can draw the bowstring with their teeth. Even individuals who are completely blind can take part, using specialized techniques tailored for visually impaired archers.  

Journalists can arrange to visit and cover the training sessions in Kyiv by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On November 28, Kyiv will host a national conference “Sexual and Reproductive Health of Youth in the Context of Humanitarian Crisis”. The event will focus on how to make youth-friendly health services more accessible in times of war, and how to communicate effectively about reproductive health and sexual education while addressing the real needs of young people. Proposals will be developed during the conference.

Participants will present research on adolescent and youth reproductive health, discuss the current situation, and conduct two workshops. One will focus on youth-friendly approaches in medical facilities, while the other will explore comprehensive sexuality education, including for children with intellectual disabilities. The work results and recommendations will be shared with relevant ministries.

The event will be attended by representatives of:

• Ministry of Health of Ukraine; 
• Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; 
• United Nations Population Fund / UNFPA in Ukraine;
• Center for Public Health;
• National Health Service of Ukraine;
• scientific and educational community. 

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

For reference: The conference is organized by the Women’s Health and Family Planning Charitable Foundation as part of the humanitarian response of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, with financial support from the Government of Sweden. 

According to a study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the number of girls in Ukraine who gave birth before the age of 14 has increased. The number of girls aged 15-17 who gave birth without prior medical supervision has also increased and now stands at about 7%. The number of illegal abortions — performed outside a medical facility or by a person without a medical degree — has increased as well.

• Kyiv

From November 29 to December 1, journalists will have the opportunity to participate in HEFAT (Hostile Environment and First Aid Training) using Virtual Reality (VR), offering a cutting-edge approach to preparing for work in hazardous environments and providing emergency medical care under extreme conditions.

The program is tailored for journalists operating in dangerous or unstable regions, equipping them with essential skills such as threat detection, navigating active combat zones, avoiding abductions, administering basic first aid, and orienting themselves in challenging terrain.

By incorporating VR technology, the training immerses participants in highly realistic scenarios, allowing them to practice critical skills in simulated high-risk situations. This hands-on approach enhances learning retention and readiness for real-world challenges.

Registration is required to attend the training.

For reference: The event is hosted by the 2402 Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a culture of safety in Ukraine. The foundation conducts comprehensive safety training programs for journalists, media professionals, documentary filmmakers, and civic activists.

• Kyiv

For 23 years, Viktor Penkovyi served as a military pilot, dedicating his life to protecting Ukraine. When russia launched its all-out invasion, he answered the call to defend his homeland. Tragically, Viktor lost his life during a combat mission.  

His wife, Svitlana Penkova, was devastated by the loss. The grief left her struggling to find her footing. At times, the emotional and physical toll was overwhelming—she would spend days confined to her home, unable to even embrace her child due to the sheer weight of her pain.  

A year after Viktor’s passing, Svitlana channeled her grief into action. She founded the Reborn NGO, an organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen heroes. She also began writing, pouring her emotions into a book that would honor her husband’s legacy. The result was Ukrainian Hummingbirds, a heartfelt tribute to Viktor.  

Through her work, Svitlana hopes to send a powerful message: even in the aftermath of profound loss, it is possible to find a new purpose while preserving the memory of those we hold dear.  

Journalists can arrange to meet Svitlana in Vinnytsia or Kyiv, or communicate with her online.  

For reference: The Children of Heroes charity foundation currently supports the Penkova family. The foundation assists children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s invasion, providing financial aid, psychological and legal support, and fostering their education and development until adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv
• Vinnytsia