Themes by tag: Kyiv

Peaceful rallies are set to take place in 27 cities across Ukraine to honor and advocate for the defenders of Azovstal and other military personnel still held in enemy captivity.

On February 1, events will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Pavlysh, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Bila Tserkva, Obukhiv, Lviv, and Pavlohrad.

The following day, February 2, actions will unfold in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Ovruch, Korosten, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Rivne, Berdychiv, Dolyna, Shostka, Brovary, Odesa, Chernivtsi, and Kropyvnytskyi.

These events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Often, Ukrainians who have been released from captivity also join in solidarity.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Artem Kychko, a war veteran and holder of the Order “For Courage” of the III degree, has dedicated himself to supporting his fellow military personnel and veterans. A 4th Dan Black Belt in taekwondo and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu Purple Belt, Kychko is also a multiple-time Ukrainian champion and vice-world champion in taekwondo.

Thanks to the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, Kychko received vital support for the reconstruction of a sports club in Kyiv. His vision for the club is clear: to create a space where military personnel, veterans, and individuals with disabilities can benefit from rehabilitation and recovery services through sports.

Currently, Artem is focused on equipping the club with inclusive restrooms, ensuring accessibility for all who come to train and recover.

For context, over the past three years, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation has backed more than 322 veteran-led business projects, totaling UAH 431.7 million in support. Additionally, around 44,000 individuals have benefited from the services provided by the Foundation’s Crisis and Legal Support Hotline.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On January 31 a press conference “Occupied Crimea: Who Faced Persecution by russia in 2024 and Why” will be held in the Media Center Ukraine. The speakers will provide an overview of human rights violations and war crimes committed by russia in occupied Crimea in 2024. They will also discuss the impact of criminal charges and administrative persecution on residents of the peninsula.

Participants:

– Olha Skrypnyk, Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group Board,

– Iryna Siedova, researcher at the Crimean Human Rights Group,

– Volodymyr Chekryhin, Deputy Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group Board. 

• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Liudmyla Lystopad is 41 years old and an economist by profession. She and her husband run a small family business in the Poltava oblast. She also has 20 years of driving experience. In the midst of the full-scale invasion, in 2023, Liudmyla enrolled in a driving school to obtain a category D license. She passed her practical bus driving test on the first try – unlike most of the men in her group.

Later, she came across an online job posting from an intercity and international passenger transportation company looking for female bus drivers. After a two-week internship, she was hired. Now she drives routes from Poltava to Kharkiv and Kyiv, operating a 50-passenger bus.

Reactions to a woman behind the wheel of a passenger bus vary. Truck drivers often wave and give her a thumbs up. Some passengers are initially wary of “a woman driver — especially a blonde behind the wheel,” but by the end of the trip they often express their gratitude.

Journalists can speak with Liudmyla online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• women
• Kyiv

Civilians in Captivity will hold a large-scale peaceful demonstration titled Love Will Break the Bars, on February 8 in Kyiv. More than 100 participants are expected to gather to raise awareness about the urgent need to bring civilian captives home.

The event aims to remind the public of the ongoing fight for the freedom of those still held in captivity and to demonstrate that love and solidarity can break down even the toughest barriers.

Event program:

– Speeches from individuals awaiting the return of their loved ones from captivity;

– A performance by families highlighting the themes of freedom and the fight for justice;

– Recitations of poetry written from captivity;

– Artistic performances;

– Remarks from government officials. 

• casualties
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On January 31, Ukraine’s national Invictus Games team will depart for the 2025 international adaptive sports competition.

For the past six months, 35 team members have been training in selected sports disciplines to represent Ukraine at the Games, which will take place in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, from February 8 to 16.

Before their departure, organizers will hold a formal send-off ceremony, during which the athletes will receive their official competition uniforms. The event will also mark the launch of the national campaign Will is My Strength.

Media accreditation for the event is required by 7:00 p.m. on January 30.

For reference: The selection and preparation of Ukraine’s 2025 national team are overseen by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, in collaboration with the StratCom Ukraine Centre for Strategic Communications, the Come Back Alive NGO, and the Invictus Games Ukraine NGO. The initiative is part of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine, spearheaded by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the Invictus Games is an international sporting event for veterans and active-duty military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or fallen ill in the line of duty.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Vilhelm Vitiuk, 22, grew up in Crimea before his family relocated to mainland Ukraine following russia’s occupation of the peninsula in 2014. That same year, his father joined the Defense Forces, and by 2015, his brother had been mobilized. Vilhelm himself enlisted in the military before the full-scale invasion, serving in the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade when russian forces attacked Mariupol.

During the fierce battles for the city, Vitiuk and his unit defended the Illich Iron and Steel Works. In early April 2022, he was wounded by enemy cluster munitions. Soon after, he and his comrades were encircled and taken prisoner by russian forces. Life in captivity was brutal—Vitiuk recalls being beaten at least four times a week, in addition to relentless interrogations. His captors singled him out for particularly harsh treatment because of the Ukrainian coat of arms tattooed on his arm.

Despite the torment, Vitiuk clung to the promise he had made to his mother—to return home. When he was once again given civilian clothes, he feared he was simply being transferred to another detention facility. But a day later, he found himself back in Ukraine—freed in a prisoner exchange.

Now a veteran, Vitiuk is studying psychology with the goal of supporting fellow soldiers. He is available for meetings in Kyiv, both online and in person, by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On January 29 a press conference will be held at the Media Center Ukraine: “Interpol and Other Mechanisms to Prosecute War Criminals”.

Participants:
– Vitalii Kasap, Head of the International Police Cooperation Department, National Police of Ukraine;
– Iryna Didenko, Deputy Head of the Department for International Legal Cooperation, Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine;
– Andrii Yakovlev, expert on international humanitarian law at MIHR.

Discussion topics:
– Why are Interpol’s tools currently not being used to pursue russian war criminals?
– What terminological and legal nuances complicate Ukraine’s cooperation with Interpol?
– What are the alternatives to Interpol and how do they work?

Prior registration is required.

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Kyiv to host a briefing at Media Center Ukraine on January 28 titled “From Olenivka to the Hague: Who will be held accountable for the treacherous killing of Ukrainian POWs?”

Participants:

– Roman Martynovskyi, Senior Expert of the Regional Center for Human Rights;

– Tetiana Katrychenko, Executive Director of the Media Initiative for Human Rights;

– Oleksandra Mazur, Head of the NGO “Olenivka Community”;

– Roman Tsyb, Representative of the 18th Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office. 

All in person.

Topics of focus:

– What really happened on the night of July 28-29, 2022?

– How did russia itself react to the mass killing of POWs in Olenivka?

– What key facts have been established as a result of investigations by civil society organizations?

– How should russia’s criminal actions be properly classified?

– Who is responsible for the killing and torture of Ukrainian POWs?

– What are the specifics of the national investigation in Ukraine?

– What are the challenges for the return of the Azovstal defenders?

– Are there prospects for an investigation by the International Criminal Court?

The event will also present a joint submission by six civil society organizations to the International Criminal Court aimed at ensuring the principle of inevitability of punishment for war crimes committed by the russian federation.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, a Ukrainian charitable organization, has outfitted two schools in Kyiv Oblast with hybrid solar power systems equipped with energy storage. These installations are a significant step toward ensuring energy resilience in regions still recovering from the scars of occupation.  

Bobryk Gymnasium: Rebuilding after the devastation. Bobryk Gymnasium, part of the Velyka Dymerka Village Council, endured occupation beginning March 8, 2022, lasting until the month’s end. Russian forces used the school as a base, leaving it heavily damaged and stripped of all equipment, including sports supplies. By the time the village was liberated, the gymnasium and the neighboring preschool had sustained 45% structural damage.  

Now, the school is taking a step toward energy independence. Specialists have installed 93 photovoltaic panels on its roof, paired with an inverter and batteries offering 29.7 kWh of storage capacity. This hybrid solar power system can keep the school running for up to four hours during blackouts. Additionally, the system is projected to save the school approximately €5,925 annually—a much-needed financial reprieve in challenging times.  

Nemishaieve Lyceum No. 2: A shelter turned stronghold. During the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Nemishaieve Lyceum №2 became a refuge for residents unable to evacuate. Villagers sought safety in the school’s basement during rocket attacks, while teachers and staff prepared meals for those in need. The 37-day occupation left a trail of destruction—shattered windows, damaged doors, a compromised roof, and multiple missile strikes on the school grounds, some of which resulted in devastating losses.  

Today, the lyceum is fortified with a 10 kW hybrid solar station featuring 30 solar panels, an inverter, and a 26 kWh energy storage system. This setup can power the bomb shelter and the school’s first floor for up to four hours during outages, ensuring safety and functionality. The system is expected to save the school roughly €1,985 per year.  

For reference: The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is leading initiatives like “100 Solar Schools” and “50 Solar Hospitals,” which aim to equip educational and healthcare facilities affected by Russian aggression with renewable energy solutions. These efforts not only restore critical infrastructure but also pave the way for a more sustainable future.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv