Themes by tag: Kyiv

In the village of Kolonshchyna, Kyiv oblast, the Miracle Village project is in operation. This project is being implemented by the charitable foundation “To Ukraine With Love” and Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission for elderly people who lost their homes due to russian military aggression. Residence in the village is free and lifelong. Currently, 170 displaced elderly people have settled in the village, and by the end of December, the foundations aim to provide housing for around 200 more people.

The Miracle Village welcomes people who have lost their homes due to the full-scale invasion, those who have been living in shelters and hostels for a long time, and those who have recently been evacuated from the front line. Organizers say the vast majority of residents are vulnerable people with minimal incomes, tragic war experiences and disabilities.

The village offers two community centers that provide daily hot lunches in a social cafeteria, the services of a paramedic and massage therapist. There is also a gym, a library, a hairdresser’s salon and a full-fledged shelter.

Filming on the premises of the Miracle Village is possible by prior arrangement. 

• casualties
• Kyiv

Oksana Smirnova, a resident of Irpin in the Kyiv region, faced an unimaginable tragedy when her son, Serhii, stayed behind to defend their hometown during the early days of russia’s full-scale invasion. Serhii was killed in the Battle of Irpin on his birthday—March 25, 2022. 

In the wake of her loss, Oksana, a former designer, turned to art therapy as a way to heal and help others. She established a safe space for women affected by the war, where they could find solace through creative expression. At her workshops, participants craft three-dimensional toys, woolen paintings, and drawings. The handmade items are sold at fairs supporting the families of fallen soldiers, with all proceeds donated to the siblings of the deceased.

The community Oksana has built includes women who have lost loved ones at the front, those with husbands fighting on the frontlines, and displaced women seeking a sense of connection.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Oksana either in Irpin or virtually. Her next workshop is tentatively set for next week.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

On November 15, Kyiv will host the human rights action “Empty Chairs” in support of journalists, writers, cultural figures and human rights activists who have gone missing, have been imprisoned or are in captivity because of russia’s war against Ukraine. The event will feature a symbolic installation of empty chairs.

Lawyers, family members and friends of detained media workers will speak at the event. Among them are Oksana Mykhalevych, a lawyer for Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist abducted by the russian military, and Olena Tsygipa, the wife of imprisoned journalist Serhii Tsygipa from Nova Kakhovka.

Media professionals returned from russian captivity will share their experiences – in particular, civil journalist and human rights activist Liudmyla Huseinova and journalist and Crimean politician Nariman Dzhelial.

The event aims to unite the efforts of all those who support Ukraine and fight for the release of civilians and prisoners of war unlawfully detained as a result of russia’s war against Ukraine.

For reference: The event is organized by PEN Ukraine and the Center for Civil Liberties.

• casualties
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

During the event, experts will unveil the results of a nationwide sociological survey exploring public perceptions of Ukraine’s recovery efforts and shifts in media consumption. The discussion will highlight changes in trust towards major state institutions and media outlets, as well as the growing popularity of specific information channels since March 2024.

Additionally, the findings of AI-driven research into the information landscape will be presented. This analysis, based on over two million publications across media and social networks from January to June 2024, offers valuable insights into public discourse and trends shaping the narrative.

Participants: 

– Maryna Klimchuk, Head of Media Partnerships at the Recovery Window Media Network;

– Iryna Riaboshtan, Head of Analytics Division at LetsData;

– Vladyslava Znoviak, an analyst at the Ilko Kucheriv “Democratic Initiatives” Foundation. 

Advance registration is required.

• Kyiv

Maryna Lytovchenko, a 33-year-old Paralympic table tennis champion from Kharkiv, has proven her fortitude both on and off the court. A bronze medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and a gold medalist in Tokyo, she has faced challenges far beyond the sports arena.

In the spring of 2022, russian forces shelled Maryna’s alma mater, the H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, leaving parts of it heavily damaged. Determined to help, Maryna took the extraordinary step of auctioning off her gold medal—earned in a match against a russian competitor—to raise funds for the university’s restoration.

She also organized several charity table tennis tournaments in the Czech Republic with colleagues from her sociology department. By February 2023, the fundraising campaign had collected 500,000 UAH, thanks to support from the sports community and compassionate donors. The funds were dedicated to rebuilding the university’s damaged facilities.

Maryna’s determination extends to her academic and athletic pursuits. In 2024, she added a silver medal from the Paris Paralympic Games to her accolades. As a graduate student, she is working on practical recommendations for coaches on training Paralympic athletes while continuing to compete in local tournaments.

She is also an alumna of The Leader (Liderka) school, a program by the NGO Fight For Right that promotes political participation among women with disabilities in Ukraine.

Journalists interested in speaking with Maryna can arrange interviews with her in Kyiv.

• reconstruction
• women
• Kyiv

From November 14 to 16, Kyiv will host Media Days 2024, a key conference for media professionals. This year’s “Media Days” will delve into the challenges media professionals face in the third year of the full-blown war and explore what lies ahead in the post-war landscape.

The panel discussions and public interviews will explore topics such as navigating censorship and self-censorship during wartime, the evolving role of social media and messaging platforms in journalism, the media’s contribution to fostering societal mediation and reintegration, addressing media-related trauma and potential solutions, challenges faced by investigative journalists, strategies for effective communication with international audiences, and more.

A highlight of the event will be a public interview with Nariman Dzhelyal, a prominent Ukrainian Crimean Tatar politician, lecturer, political scientist, and journalist. As Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People since 2013, Dzhelyal also leads the organization’s Information and Analytical Department.

Attendance is limited, with invitations extended at the discretion of the organizers to pre-accredited participants.

For reference: Now in its fourth year, “The Gongadze Prize Media Days” conference is a flagship initiative of the Georgiy Gongadze Prize, bringing together top journalists, editors, media executives, communicators, and representatives from responsible businesses. The event serves as a platform for examining media trends and challenges both in Ukraine and globally.

Media Center Ukraine is a media partner of this year’s event.

• Kyiv

Peaceful demonstrations will take place in 26 cities across Ukraine to draw attention to prisoners of war and missing persons, including the Azovstal defenders and other military personnel still held in enemy captivity.

On November 9, rallies are planned in Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia. The following day, November 10, events will be held in Kyiv, Pivdennoukrainsk, Mykolaiv, Uman, Cherkasy, Poltava, Uzhhorod, Korosten, Obukhiv, Krolevets, Ovruch, Korostyshiv, Kremenchuk, Odesa, Ostroh, and Chernivtsi.

These gatherings aim to remind the public of the ongoing plight of those in captivity and rally support for their release.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

A piece by renowned British street artist Banksy, originally painted in Hostomel, has been relocated to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery National Reserve. The graffiti, created in the aftermath of the Kyiv region’s liberation, portrays a woman in loungewear holding a fire extinguisher and wearing a gas mask. It quickly became a powerful symbol of resilience and renewal.

Shortly after its creation, the mural narrowly escaped theft when someone attempted to remove a section of the wall it was painted on. The artwork was salvaged and is now preserved within the Kyivan Caves Monastery’s grounds. While its exact location within the monastery has not been revealed, staff have invited visitors to explore and share their discoveries on social media.

• culture
• Kyiv

The Women in Drones program, part of the Duck Drones initiative, is empowering women to enter the traditionally male-dominated field of drone manufacturing. Led by Daria Linkova, the initiative challenges gender stereotypes in the industry, proving through experience that women can excel in drone design and manufacturing.

During its inaugural enrollment, the program attracted over 300 applicants. The selection process prioritized candidates eager to develop new skills and remain active in the workforce.

The two-week pre-employment training program includes theoretical lessons, hands-on practice, and piloting exercises. Graduates receive certificates of completion and immediate job offers, opening the door to careers in the growing drone industry.

For a closer look, appointments can be made to meet Daria Linkova and tour the drone production facility in Kyiv.

• women
• Kyiv

On November 11, Kyiv will host the debut of Shevchenko 2.0, a show-performance by the Kharkiv Academic Berezil Theater. Blending history with modernity, the production draws inspiration from the personal diaries of Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko. Through a mix of life events, theatrical expression, avant-garde music, and pop tributes to Great Kobzar’s poetry, the show promises a dynamic reimagining of the poet’s legacy. EL Kravchuk, a celebrated Ukrainian singer, not only plays a pivotal role in the production but also co-developed the concept with academic and physicist Borys Hryniov. The performance combines poignant lyrics with black humor and features original compositions alongside pop homages to Shevchenko’s works, all performed by Kravchuk.

Although rooted in documentary material, Shevchenko 2.0 is staged as a phantasmagoria, incorporating bold theatrical techniques. The production features video projections, elaborate set designs, and chic costumes, creating a visually stunning and energetic spectacle.

The creative team includes: 

• Borys Hryniov – Concept creator and lyricist. An Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences, and Professor.

• Dmytro Ternovyi – Playwright. Winner of numerous playwriting competitions, including international accolades. His works have been published and staged in Austria, Germany, France, Poland, and Ukraine.

• Oleksandr Kovshun – Director. With 27 productions in his repertoire, he has collaborated with seven Ukrainian theaters and three international cultural institutions. His accolades include two theater awards and participation in 35 festivals across 10 countries.

• Kostiantyn Ponomariov – Production designer. Renowned as Kharkiv’s leading fashion designer, as well as a prominent set designer and art critic.

• Mykhailo Tereshchenko and EL Kravchuk – Performers portraying Taras Shevchenko.

For reference: The Kharkiv Academic Ukrainian Drama Theatre, originally named Berezil, is among Ukraine’s oldest cultural institutions. Established in Kyiv in 1922 by visionary director Les Kurbas, the theater was transferred to Kharkiv in 1926 when the city served as Ukraine’s capital.

Kurbas, a trailblazer in Ukrainian theater, was dismissed in 1933 under accusations of “distorting” optimistic Soviet ideals. He, along with playwright Mykola Kulish, was executed in the Sandarmokh forest on November 3, 1937, during Stalin’s purges.

Despite its proximity to the russian border, ongoing war, and reduced state funding, the theater continues to innovate under chief director Stepan Pasichnyk, producing new works, securing grant-funded projects, and performing for Ukrainian defenders. 

• culture
• Kyiv