Themes by tag: 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

The Murashky charity organization officially launched in Kyiv in September 2022, but its story began much earlier. A group of dedicated volunteers came together to support the Armed Forces immediately after russia’s full-scale invasion. Just two weeks later, the newly formed team, dubbed “Murashky” (Little Ants), delivered its first batch of biscuits and dried meat to the front lines. By spring, they had acquired the necessary equipment and established their first production facility.

Today, the team produces and delivers over 30,000 servings of food each month to Ukrainian soldiers. Since its inception, Murashky has produced over 4,000 liters of anti-cold mixtures, more than 230,000 servings of biscuits, and over 360,000 servings of dry meals.

The organization’s workforce consists of 15 to 25 volunteers who dedicate their time daily, often joined by international supporters who pitch in to help the cause.

• food
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Iron Women is a no-cost retraining program aimed at equipping women with the skills to become excavator operators and front-end loader drivers.

The program includes both theoretical and hands-on training, concluding with professional certification for Level 5 excavator operators and Level 4 front-end loader drivers. These qualifications permit employment at enterprises but do not authorize operation on public roads.

Participation is free of charge, with tuition, accommodation, and meals funded by the Reskilling Ukraine initiative.

The pilot group will consist of 12 women.

Enrollment is still open. The distance learning segment starts in October, followed by practical training sessions in the Kyiv region in November.

Journalists interested in covering the program are encouraged to arrange visits in advance.

Background: The initiative is organized by the Swedish non-profit Beredskapslyftet in partnership with Volvo Construction Equipment and ETS Group, as part of the Reskilling Ukraine project.

• women
• Kyiv

On October 1, Ukraine’s Defenders Day, there will be a screening and discussion of the documentary film “War Note” by director Roman Liubyi. 

The film is composed entirely of personal footage from Ukrainian soldiers’ phones and GoPro cameras beginning in 2014, giving viewers a firsthand look at war through the eyes of the defenders themselves.

The film takes viewers on a surreal journey to the front lines of the war with russia, a bizarre world whose laws are quite different from what we are used to. The heroes wake up and fall asleep, rejoice and cry, always feeling that the recording may end at any moment.

The film features contributions from 18 co-authors who provided their videos. Some of the defenders seen on the screen are no longer with us. During the screening, the audience will see and remember the poet Maksym Kryvtsov reading his poem in front of a gunport, and see the footage of a walk through the destroyed village of Pisky filmed by Taras Matviyiv – Ukrainian journalist, public figure and Hero of Ukraine.

Background: The world premiere of “War Note” took place at the Docudays UA festival in 2020, where it won the audience award and two special prizes. This film was the feature debut of director Roman Liubyi. In 2023, he released “Iron Butterflies”, a film about the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a war crime committed by russian military in 2014.

• Kyiv