Themes by tag: Kyiv

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Center for Civil Liberties, and the Kharkiv Human Rights Group will present a submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) detailing hate crimes committed by russians against Ukrainians. Ukrainian and foreign media are invited to the presentation, which will be held on June 6 at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

The submission highlights the accountability of five prominent russian propagandists—Vladimir Solovyov, Margarita Simonyan, Dmitry Kiselyov, Dmitry Medvedev, and Sergey Mardan—for inciting hatred against Ukrainians. It also addresses the responsibility of Alexey Gromov, the first deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration of russia.

The document is based on an analysis of 526 hours of broadcasts, from which over 300 statements were quantified as hate speech. These remarks not only urged russian troops to capture, mistreat, harm, or forcibly displace Ukrainians but also sought to garner approval from the russian populace for these heinous acts.

Journalists wishing to attend the event must be accredited.

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Lars Fersters, a Swedish citizen and former sailor, has embarked on a mission alongside the Kyiv-based volunteer group, Dobrobat, to restore the home of a senior woman in Irpin. Her dwelling place sustained significant damage from shelling during the spring of 2022 and requires meticulous reconstruction.

Fersters expressed his inability to idly watch as Ukrainians suffer from russian attacks, prompting him to leave behind his domestic affairs and join Dobrobat as a volunteer.

For context: “Dobrobat” is a volunteer construction unit dedicated to swiftly restoring housing and social infrastructure facilities in de-occupied territories.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

On June 5, Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform will hold a briefing ” The results of a sociological survey on russians’ stance toward the ongoing war.” The results of a sociological study conducted on the territory of the russian federation will be presented during the event. The main topics of the focus include: attitude towards mobilization, russians’ assessment of their losses, attitude to negotiations.

Participant:

• Vadym Denysenko, political scientist;
• Igar Tyshkevich, expert at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future;
• Volodymyr Nahirnyi, expert at the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

• Kyiv

Anastasia Astafieva is one of the best tattoo artists and tattoo removal specialists in the capital. After the start of the full-scale invasion, Anastasia was approached by a military man who wanted to have his tattoo removed. There was gunpowder residue embedded into the skin of his face after an explosion. Anastasia tried to remove these specks with a laser, because her device can also be used for such tasks. The result became noticeable after the first session. And after a few procedures, Anastasia completely restored the soldier’s skin. He, in turn, told his brothers in arms about the tattoo artist. This is how the woman obtained her first clients with injuries from explosives. Nowadays, in addition to gunpowder residue Anastasia also removes pieces of soot and earth from people’s faces, as they also get under the skin during an explosion. Anastasia doesn’t charge military and civilians who have suffered as a result of the war.

• casualties
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

Launched in the summer of 2023, the spiritual recovery program at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, known in English as the Monastery of the Caves has seen participation from 700 soldiers and 20 chaplains. Set within the historic confines of the reserve, the initiative aims to rejuvenate soldiers by immersing them in Ukraine’s rich cultural, historical, and spiritual heritage.

The program unfolds in two stages. The first stage is a 10-day program where military personnel engage in activities such as archaeological excavations of ancient walls and a glassmaking workshop dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. They also visit exhibitions at the Treasury of the National Museum of History and the Museum of Books and Printing, participate in an icon painting master class, explore the Upper and Lower Lavra, and join in worship services. The second stage, titled “Day at the Lavra for Military,” involves groups of veterans spending a day at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra with a lecturer-guide. They explore the grounds, take guided tours, participate in reserve activities, and visit local shrines. Additionally, the program offers support for the families of active duty servicemen and prisoners of war.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• religion
• Kyiv

Pylyp Dukhlii, a military veteran of the russia-Ukraine war, has established a private school where apart from receiving a general education, students also delve into programming, robotics, and 2D and 3D modeling. 

Following the events of February 24, 2022, Dukhlii relocated his family to the West and joined the Defense Forces. His responsibilities included coordinating communication between positions. As a multiple life-or-death situations survivor, Dukhlii faced throughout his service, he, in what he describes, have accumulated four new “second birthdays.” 

Upon his discharge, Dukhlii returned to Kyiv to continue developing his school. Now, high school students there are engaged in assembling FPV drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This hands-on experience allows students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. The school boasts a modern workshop equipped with tools for designing, modeling, and soldering, as well as a laser cutter and a 3D printer. The drones built by these students can carry up to two kilograms, travel at least five kilometers, and remain airborne for over twenty minutes.

• children
• Kyiv

“Place of Strength,” a free space for supporting children and teenagers who suffered from the war, works in Kyiv. This is a project of the “Dobrodiy Club” charitable foundation.

The space has 3 floors and an equipped shelter. There are separate zones for creative activities, lectures, training and sessions with a psychologist. So, for example, various creative master classes and art therapy classes (ranging from drawing and compositing to creating affirmation paintings) are held in the art zone. Among other things, the space has an interactive theater, a film club, reading and discussion clubs. Famous guests are invited to certain events.

In total, within 5 months of operation, the space opened its doors to 5,400 visitors with more than 600 different events taking place during this time.

By prior agreement, journalists can visit the space and talk with visitors and organizers.

For reference: June 1 marks International Children’s Day in Ukraine. The Prosecutor General’s Office reports that more than 1,899 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of russia’s full-scale armed aggression. According to juvenile prosecutors’ reports, 548 children died and more than 1,351 received injuries of various degrees of severity as of the morning of May 27, 2024.

• casualties
• children
• Kyiv

On May 31, the Center for Civil Liberties and the Kateryna Osadcha Foundation, in collaboration with the XII International Book Arsenal Festival, will host a poetry reading focused on themes of captivity. 

“Hold on! I’m holding on!” is more than a slogan—it’s a heartfelt message from prisoners to their families, friends, and the broader community. The poster for the event features an illustration by Serhii Ofitserov, a Kherson resident captured in his parent’s apartment and currently detained at the Lefortovo detention center on false terrorism charges.

The event will showcase works by renowned Ukrainian poets including Serhii Zhadan, Tetiana Vlasova, Tonia Kornuta, Natalka Heiman, Yuliia Musakovska, Anna Malihon, Maryna Ponomarenko, and Oksana Stomina, whose husband remains in captivity. Contributions from prisoners such as Serhii Tsyhipa, founder of the Tavrian Games, Nariman Dzhelialov, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, and Andrii Holubiev, a trainer from Melitopol, will also be featured. Their works will be brought to life by actors Akhtem Seitablaev, Kateryna Vyshneva, and Roman Yasinovskyi, along with human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk. The event will be hosted by Kateryna Osadcha.

Journalists wishing to attend must apply for accreditation by May 27.

• casualties
• culture
• prisoners
• Kyiv

The “OnTrack” course by “Reskilling Ukraine” is a free course that gives women the opportunity to become a truck driver (with category C driver’s license). The course consists of theoretical and practical parts, as well as an exam.

The priority categories of women considered for this course are veterans and discharged soldiers, women from military families, as well as forcibly displaced persons. Future students must have category B driver’s license and previous driving experience (at least 3 years).

The “OnTrack” course started in February 2024. 38 Ukrainian women have already received category C driver’s licenses.

“Reskilling Ukraine” also launched the “BusDrive” training program, which focuses on training women to become passenger bus drivers (category D license). The first group has already been enrolled.

By prior agreement, journalists have the opportunity to talk with participants of both programs (“OnTrack” and “BusDrive”) and cover practical classes in Kyiv or Ternopil region. Also, media representatives have the opportunity to communicate with Sweden-based organizers of the program online.

For reference: “Reskilling Ukraine” is a project by the Swedish non-profit organization “Beredskapslyftet” working in the field of retraining and employment of women in Ukraine.

• women
• Kyiv
• Ternopil

On May 28, the Ukrainian Tactical Medicine Forum will be held in Kyiv for the second time. The main theme of this year’s event is “2 Years since the Full-Scale Invasion. What has Changed in the Media. Positive and Negative Experience.” The purpose of the event is to share unique experience and knowledge that helps save the lives of our soldiers at the front.

The reports and discussions at the Forum will feature:

– Experience and practices essential for providing effective care to the wounded at the pre-hospital stage;

– New changes in TCCC protocols;

– Practical cases of training and assistance within individual units;

– Pathways to becoming a combat medic;

– Interaction between combat units and volunteers.

The event is organized by the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation.

Pre-registration is required. 

• Kyiv