Themes by tag: Kyiv

The highlight of the day will be the unveiling of the ‘Wall of Resilience and Invincibility’ at National Children’s Specialized Hospital “Okhmatdyt”, Ukraine’s leading paediatric clinic. This artistic installation symbolizes the unyielding spirit and unity of the Ukrainian people and pays tribute to the medical professionals who continue to save lives under the most challenging wartime conditions.  

The wall, located at a site damaged by russian attacks, tells the stories of those who have worked tirelessly to rebuild the country since the first days of the war. Created by volunteers and Ukrainian artists, it embodies hope, strength, and a shared belief in ultimate victory.  

Accreditation is required for journalists covering the event.

• culture
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On November 19, the Kyiv War Museum will host Light a Fire, a solemn event to mark the 1,000th day of the war. A thousand candles will be lit at the base of the iconic Motherland monument, followed by a unified prayer for Ukraine.  

The event aims to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the country and to extend gratitude to those still defending it. 

Journalists planning to attend are required to secure accreditation.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

As Ukraine and its allies search for new vulnerabilities in the russian economy, the United States and the United Kingdom have introduced fresh sanctions packages this month, while the EU is working on its 15th round of restrictions. Ukraine has also expanded its measures, sanctioning over 100 individuals and entities from russia and Belarus this week.

On November 19, the Public Council on Sanctions will hold a press conference to focus on the effectiveness of these efforts and highlight areas requiring further action. Key questions include whether existing sanctions are achieving their intended goals and how U.S. policy might evolve under Donald Trump’s return to power.

The Council comprises representatives from 13 organizations dedicated to analyzing and advocating for sanctions against russia. During the conference, participants will present policy recommendations for Ukraine and its allies aimed at enhancing their economic pressure strategies.

Speakers include:  

– Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor and Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy;

– Agiya Zagrebelska, Director of Partnership Development at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine;

– Oleksandr Liemienov, founder of StateWatch/Trap Agressor;

– Victoria Vyshnivska, Senior Researcher at the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO). 

Accreditation is required to attend, with applications due by 5 p.m. on November 18.  

For reference: The Public Council on Sanctions facilitates collaboration between government and civil society to design, advocate, implement, and renew sanctions against russia and its allies. Its members include organizations such as the ANTS National Interests Advocacy Network, Black Sea News and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies, DiXi Group, Institute of Legislative Ideas, International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), Molfar OSINT Agency, Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), and Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU), Сentre for Global Studies Strategy XXI, StateWatch/Trap Agressor, Razom We Stand, U8 Ukrainian Analytical Center. 

• Kyiv

On November 18, practical training under the Iron Women program will start in the Kyiv region. 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.

A total of 12 women have joined the program, which is offered free of charge. Tuition, accommodation, and meals are fully funded by the Reskilling Ukraine initiative.

By prior arrangement, journalists have the opportunity to cover the practical classes in Kyiv region, which will last from November 18 to December 12.

For reference: 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 November 21-22, Kyiv will host the second international conference “Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South”.

The conference “Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South” is bringing together experts and opinion leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America to discuss current challenges, prospects for cooperation with Ukraine and the promotion of the Peace Formula. It will be a follow-up to last year’s conference, which brought together more than 300 participants, including 35 speakers who shared their experience and insights.

Details of the event: https://cutt.ly/7eGzruZ8

Registration is required to attend the event. (Space is limited). Confirmation of participation and detailed information on the exact location and time will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the registration form.

In addition to access to the conference venue, accredited media will have the opportunity to pre-book interviews with invited speakers.

• Kyiv

On November 18 in Kyiv, celebrities will join women in planting “The Alley of Women’s Strength” garden as a symbol of women’s resilience and strength ahead of the “16 Days Against Violence” campaign.

The event will focus on women who are transforming themselves during a challenging time for themselves and the country — women who have their own painful stories but continue to fight for a better future. Together with celebrities, they will plant trees as symbols of the perseverance and strength of Ukrainian women. These trees will serve as a living reminder that women can recover, thrive, and move forward regardless of past hardships.

The event will bring together everyone who cares about the issue of violence, especially in times of war. Every voice counts. The Cherry Blossom Garden will be entered into the National Register of Records of Ukraine, and participants will jointly sign a time capsule for future generations.

Journalists can access the full list of stars joining the campaign. Accreditation is required to attend the event.

For reference:  The 16 Days of Activism against Violence campaign was launched in 1991 by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. It is observed annually and unites women, men and children in the fight against violence.

The garden will be planted at the initiative of the International Charitable Foundation “Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health”, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and in cooperation with the Solomianskyi District State Administration in Kyiv.

• women
• 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