Themes by tag: Kyiv

From February 14 to 16, Ukrainian Railways is bringing back its “Train to You” romantic express, offering Ukrainian military personnel and their loved ones a unique railway experience.  

This year’s journey promises an unforgettable ride, with vintage steam locomotives setting the scene for a special celebration in both Kyiv and Lviv. The trip will last just over two hours, giving couples time to enjoy a private compartment with romantic music and a themed game designed for two. A charming tea party is also planned, along with special gifts for those traveling on Valentine’s Day, February 14.  

• culture
• military
• Kyiv
• Lviv

Peaceful events are planned in 25 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On February 8, rallies will be held in Ochyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Poltava, Dnipro, Zaporizhia and Pavlohrad.

On February 9, peaceful actions are scheduled in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Korosten, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Ostroh, Obukhiv, Berdychiv, Chernivtsi and Kropyvnytskyi.

The events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison. The rallies are often attended by Ukrainians who have been released from captivity.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On February 12, Ukrzaliznytsia and the Sonoma Cats Charitable Foundation will host a large-scale blood donation drive in Kyiv.

The event will feature several key initiatives:

• The Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry will offer attendees the chance to register as potential donors.
• The Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center will provide an opportunity to sign consent forms for posthumous organ donation.

Beyond blood collection, the initiative will also raise funds for pre-hospital blood transfusion equipment for the medical service of Ukraine’s 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard. 

Journalists planning to cover the event are required to register in advance.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

Kateryna Shkumat once worked as a tester and technical support specialist, but a chance discovery set her on an entirely new path. She first learned about Reskilling Ukraine, a Swedish initiative that trains women to operate vehicles in the C, D, and CE categories, by accident. Noticing how many men are currently defending Ukraine, Kateryna recognized that she too could contribute. The idea of becoming a lorry driver came to her spontaneously, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. 

Her family, including her parents and grandparents, fully supported her decision to switch careers. Now, Kateryna is already on the road, working as a truck driver. She also has ambitions to try her hand at driving a bus.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Kateryna in Kyiv by appointment.

• women
• Kyiv

On February 10, Media Center Ukraine will hold a briefing: “Report on NABU and SAPO activities for the second half of 2024”.

Participants:

– Semen Kryvonos, Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU);

– Oleksandr Klymenko, Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

During the briefing, the speakers will present a report on the activities of NABU and SAPO for the second half of 2024, discuss key achievements and outline priority areas for 2025.

Please note: Registration for the briefing is required and will be open until February 9, 2025. For security reasons, only accredited participants will be able to attend the briefing. Confirmation of participation will be sent via email.

• Kyiv

On February 6, Kyiv will host a training session on the use of the advanced ANDE rapid DNA technology mobile laboratory. These laboratories were first introduced in Ukraine following the de-occupation of the Kyiv oblast, when mass graves of civilians killed by russian occupiers were discovered. ANDE allowed authorities to quickly identify victims of war crimes and ensure justice and accountability.

The key advantage of the ANDE system is its exceptionally fast DNA profiling process. While traditional laboratory methods take several months, ANDE can provide results in as little as 90 minutes. This dramatically accelerates human identification, a critical factor in war crimes investigations. Originally developed for U.S. intelligence agencies, this mobile DNA laboratory was first used to identify the DNA of Osama bin Laden.

Media representatives are invited to attend the training, learn about the functionality of the ANDE rapid DNA technology mobile laboratory and speak with specialists who worked in the Kyiv oblast after its liberation.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

• dead
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Volodymyr Dovhan, a veteran of the ATO, has been working with clay since 1991. Together with his wife, Oksana, he runs an artisan pottery studio in the Kyiv region. In late 2022, the couple received financial support from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation through the VARTO 2.0 program. With this funding, they expanded their workshop in 2023 to host rehabilitation sessions for wounded soldiers.

At the pottery wheel, veterans craft everything from bowls to sculptures. Beyond the creative process, clay therapy helps them, as one veteran put it, “regain their sense of self.”

Looking ahead, the couple plans to establish an art residency where veterans can not only practice pottery but also stay for a period of time.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Volodymyr and Oksana in advance and, if possible, cover the workshops.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On February 11, a press conference marking the first year of the new leadership team at the Ukrainian Football Association under the presidency of Andriy Shevchenko will take place in Kyiv.

The event aims to present the outcomes of Andriy Shevchenko’s program, “9 Steps for the Development of Ukrainian Football.” Media representatives will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

Prior accreditation is required.

Background: On January 11-12, 2025, as part of the League of the Mighty social project, the Ukrainian Football Association hosted the Winter Cup —  Ukraine’s first amateur amputee soccer championship.

• Kyiv

A research presentation titled “russia, China, Türkiye, the EU, and Ukraine: Who Will Win Moldova’s Parliamentary Elections?” will take place at the Media Center Ukraine on February 3, exploring how the interests of key regional players may influence Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Participants:

– Vadym Denysenko, political scientist;

– Igar Tyshkevich, author of the research;

– Alina Hrytsenko, author of the research;

– Iliya Kusa, author of the research.

Prior accreditation is required. 

• Kyiv

The Razom for Ukraine Charitable Foundation is inviting the public to attend the first open pre-premiere screening of the Porcelain War, a documentary that will represent Ukraine at the 2025 Academy Awards. The event, set for February 4 in Kyiv, will also feature a charity collection to fund a mobile stabilization unit aimed at saving the lives of Ukrainian defenders.

To attend the screening, accreditation is required.

For reference: Porcelain War is a collaborative project between American, Ukrainian, and Australian filmmakers. The documentary chronicles the story of three Ukrainian artists—Slava Leontyev, his wife Anya Stasenko, and Andrey Stefanov—who remained in frontline Kharkiv to create porcelain figurines, including owls, dragons, and other symbolic figures. These figurines were used to adorn buildings destroyed by russian missile strikes, transforming the remnants of war into expressions of resilience.

Directed by American filmmaker Brendan Bellomo and featuring Leontiev as one of the central figures, Porcelain War has garnered widespread attention. With the support of a Razom Cinema grant, the filmmakers have been able to present their work at screenings in the United States as part of the Oscar campaign, sharing the stories of Ukraine’s defense and resistance with a global audience.

As of mid-January 2025, the film has already earned 45 awards and 31 nominations at international film festivals, including recognition from the Directors Guild of America Awards.

• culture
• Kyiv