Themes by tag: Kyiv

Olha Hrabovska combines her work as a strategic communications manager for an international organization with volunteering. When Olha learned about the urgent need for drones on the front lines, she decided that she should try to make at least one. Olha even involved her family – her father and sister – in assembling the “kakanchyky drones”, as she affectionately calls them because they remind her of cockatoo birds.

Olha raised money for the parts online, ordered the components, and picked up a soldering iron. She built her first drone following a video tutorial and under the close supervision of her father, who eventually took over most of the soldering. Since then, Olha and her family have managed to send 80 drones, or five “flocks” as she calls them, to the front lines.

Olha Hrabovska is based in Kyiv. She is available to speak with journalists both online and offline by prior arrangement.

• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

On October 5 and 6 the premiere of the play “Among Three” based on the work of the Kherson writer Alona Movchan and directed by Nadia Ageeva-Shved will take place on the chamber stage of the National Operetta of Ukraine. This is a joint project of the National Operetta of Ukraine and the Kherson Regional Academic Theater named after Mykola Kulish. The play “Among Three” tells the story of the peaceful Kherson that everyone misses, about small problems that seem global but are easily solved, about relationships, humor and love that can save the world.

Background: Kherson was occupied by russians at the beginning of the full-scale invasion (March 1, 2022). Ukrainian forces liberated the city from russian troops on November 11, 2022. The occupiers continue to shell the city on a regular basis.

• culture
• Kyiv

Over 130 people will participate in the Congress, including active women from Donetsk region, representatives of the Government and Parliament of Ukraine, regional and local authorities of Donetsk region, the security and defense sector, Ukrainian and international politicians, business and donor organizations, media. Thousands will join the event via a live stream on Facebook.

The goals of the Second Congress of Women of Donetsk region are

• To draw attention to the situation of women in the region and the impact of the war (forced displacement, traumatic experiences, damage inflicted, increasing violence against women);
• To highlight the key role of active women in overcoming the humanitarian crisis in the region and to develop a strategy to increase their participation in the post-war recovery and reconstruction processes in Ukraine.

Organizers: SMARTA NGO and Donetsk Regional State Administration with the support of UN Women in Ukraine.

For reference: On October 4-5, 2021, Kramatorsk hosted the First Congress of Women of Donetsk Region on the theme “Towards Gender Equality in the Context of Ukraine’s International Commitments”. The event brought together more than 150 offline participants. About 3000 people watched the event stream. 

• women
• Kyiv

Folklorist Yaryna Sizyk, animation director Mariia Ozirna, and the Kherson Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko have launched a project dedicated to the paintings stolen by russians during the occupation of the city. According to the estimates of the museum staff, the occupiers stole about ten thousand works of art.

The goal of the project is to try to recreate what was taken by the russians. So far, the team has “reproduced” Mykhailo Bryansky’s (1830-1908) painting “Portrait of a Girl in an Embroidered Dress.” The painting wasn’t just repainted, it was modernized and animated. Ukrainian model and singer Dariia Astafieva helped bring it to life as the artists transformed her into the girl in the embroidered dress from the stolen canvas. For the animation, the team used a shirt embroidered during the occupation by Inna Mykutska, a Kherson guide.

They also recreated the oil painting by Serhii Vasylkivsky (1854-1917) “Cossacks in the Steppe.” Ukrainian soldiers Roman “Dobryak” Kolesnyk and Stanislav “Ref” Zorii took part in the reproduction of this painting. Yaryna and Mariia added the Ukrainian folk song “Oh, There Beyond the Seas…” performed by the band Shchuka-Ryba to this animation.

The founders of the project are now preparing the next restorations and are in talks with Ukrainian influencers.

Yaryna Sizyk and Mariia Ozirna are available for interviews with journalists in Kyiv.

For reference: The russians occupied Kherson at the beginning of the full-scale invasion (March 1, 2022). Ukrainian forces liberated the city from russian troops on November 11, 2022. The occupiers continue to shell the city on a regular basis.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kherson
• Kyiv

The Veteranka movement has launched a new chatbot, the Recruitment Guide Bot, designed to support women looking to enlist in the Ukrainian Defense Forces. This innovative tool offers step-by-step guidance for those seeking to join specific military units, addressing critical topics such as the distinctions between mobilization and contract service, and detailing the training process at military training centers.

A standout feature of the chatbot is that it was developed by women for women, providing tailored information on preparation for military service. Users can access resources covering the fundamentals of tactical medicine, a directory of platforms for locating military vacancies, and answers to legal inquiries. Additionally, the chatbot offers insights into women’s health considerations in combat zones, along with checklists for essential hygiene products and medications.

Veteranka highlights that the chatbot includes recommendations from seasoned female defenders, covering crucial aspects of initial and ongoing military service. It also offers guidance on how to respond to incidents of sexual harassment or violence.

Notably, interest in military service among women in Ukraine has surged, with women now representing approximately 20% of all applications to recruitment centers.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

As the war continues, thousands of Ukrainians are experiencing deep stress, anxiety, and trauma. To help address these challenges, as part of the Ministry of Social Policy’s project and First Lady Olena Zelenska’s “How Are You?” initiative, the charitable foundation “Save Ukraine” will open the first Resilience Center for IDPs from the Donetsk oblast and Kyiv residents on October 3.

Resilience Centers are an innovative model of social services designed to help Ukrainians overcome stress, recover from crisis events, and stay engaged in life. The centers provide counseling on social issues, training in psychological first aid and emotional recovery, mental health assessment, and more.

Speakers:

• Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine; 
• Vadym Filashkin, Head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration; 
• Vasyl Mitko, Head of Nikolske Village Council, Mariupol District; 
• Oleksii Fedchenko, Head of the “Save Ukraine” Charitable Foundation; 
• Natalia Vorobiova, Head of Mariupol District State Administration;
• Olena Tokareva, Director of the Social Protection Department of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration.

Prior accreditation is required.

• casualties
• psychological support
• Kyiv

At 8:45 a.m. on October 1, the National Police of Ukraine will stop traffic on Maidan Nezalezhnosti to observe a nationwide minute of silence. The charity initiative “Vshanui” calls for personalization of the event. To this end, participants are invited to bring to the Maidan a photo of a fallen hero who fought on the front lines for Ukraine’s independence.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv

For three months, the OZON monitoring group of the Center for Civil Liberties together with UAnimals inspected shelters in various Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. And now they are ready to present the results. To do this, they are organizing an event called “Accessible Shelter — Life Safety!”

On October 2 in Kyiv, attendees will see not only the presentation of the shelter inspection results, but also a performance that will vividly demonstrate how simple actions — like opening a door or marking the way to a shelter — can save lives.

Prior accreditation is required.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

Social Drone UA is a community of volunteers assembling FPV drones for the military. Anyone can join the Social Drone initiative to build drones. All you have to do is buy the parts yourself and follow the instructions on the website to assemble them properly. Currently, the initiative unites 1617 participants who have assembled at least 1 drone, 70 members of the test team, and many others.

Each assembled drone undergoes a thorough flight test. This helps identify factory defects in components, assembly errors, soldering issues, and more. Up to 2,500 drones are tested each month, and since the initiative began, volunteers have delivered 14,732 drones to the military.

Journalists have an opportunity to cover the initiative in Kyiv.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

The event, organized by the Inspiration family Foundation for supporting adult cancer patients, aims to raise UAH 2.5 million to provide essential medications for breast cancer patients that are not covered by the national healthcare system. 

Beyond fundraising, the race seeks to highlight the importance of early detection and bring attention to the challenges faced by those confronting this diagnosis on their own. Supporters can join the race for a fee of 20 euros or contribute through online donations.

For reference: Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer among women. In Ukraine, around 14,000 women and 114 men are diagnosed with the disease each year. According to the Inspiration family Foundation, one in four women diagnosed with breast cancer in the country requires costly treatments that are not subsidized by the state.

• Kyiv