Themes by tag: Kyiv

Haiane Avakian from Bakhmut found out about her destroyed home from photos of the city in the russian social media. Yuliia Mashuta watched a livestream of her house in Severodonetsk burning down after a rocket hit. Currently, these women are a part of the team of the “Sviy Dim” platform, which collects testimonies by people whose property and homes were destroyed by russia.

“Sviy Dim” is a platform for people who are building the foundation of a new life in Ukraine. Over 600 testimonies have already been published. Most of them are from the people who come from the regions of active hostilities (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions as well as others). The platform records russian war crimes related to the destruction of the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine: apartment buildings and detached houses, schools and kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities. Every story is human-centered. Those who lived or worked there share stories of their house, factory or cultural center.

The platform is also creating a database of objects that need restoration. A separate section – reconstruction – tells stories of those who are rebuilding the affected regions right now.

By prior agreement, journalists can talk with Haiane Avakian, Product Development Director of the Abo Agency, who founded the “Sviy Dim” platform, as well as with other people who have shared their testimonies on the platform.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Hlib Stryzhko was persuaded not to sign the contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2021 by his brother, a military officer. However, Hlib still joined the army. When the full-scale invasion began, the soldier was in Mariupol with his brothers in arms. He led the amphibious assault division of the first separate battalion of marines. On April 10, 2022, Hlib was seriously injured when enemy shelling caused the concrete structures above him to collapse. His hip joints, jaw and eyes were damaged. Two days later, Hlib was captured by the russians, who held him captive for 17 days. After a long physical and psychological rehabilitation, Hlib received the group 2 disability status. Currently, Hlib is Head of the Kyiv branch of Veteran Hub.

Hlib Stryzhko is ready to communicate with journalists in Kyiv by prior agreement.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv
• Mariupol

After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 8,500 Ukrainian children were left without parental care, more than 1,500 became orphans, tens of thousands lost their homes or were forced to relocate. Children’s homes and orphanages in Ukraine are under great pressure today, their resources are exhausted, and access to quality medical care is limited.

As part of the “Little Hearts” project, FRIDA takes care of Children’s homes and orphanages in different parts of Ukraine. Teams consisting of volunteer doctors of different specializations travel to these institutions to examine children and determine if they need medicines, vaccinations, rehabilitation and surgical interventions.

Pediatricians will visit a children’s home in Kyiv region in April.

Media representatives are invited to cover the missions under this project.

• casualties
• children
• doctors
• Kyiv

From April 6-7, volunteers from the “Brave to Rebuild” project will embark on a mission to clean up debris in Moshchun village and Irpin city, both located in the Kyiv region. Their task? Dismantling the wreckage left behind by buildings ravaged in the wake of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. 

Media personnel are invited to cover these volunteer-led efforts. 

For reference: Fast forward to April 2, 2022, when Ukraine regained full control over the Kyiv region from Russian occupation, followed by the Chernihiv region liberation by April 6, 2022. By April 11, 2022, then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, proudly announced retaking the state border in the Sumy region.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On April 4, Kyiv will host a press conference for the charity event entitled “Spartan KYIV 2024 to support the Defense Intelligence,” The participants will talk about the Spartan KYIV charity race with obstacles, which will take place on April 20, 2024 in the capital. The purpose of the race is to raise funds in support of the Defense Intelligence, as well as for the prosthetics for an injured soldier.

The charity event will feature a special part entitled PARA RACE — a race for athletes with musculoskeletal disorders and amputations. Participants will overcome obstacles and show their strength, fortitude as well as indomitable will and body.

Participants:

– Yevhen Yerin, representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry;

– Vitalii Matviienko, representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry;

– Oleksii Vovk, representative of Spartan Ukraine.

• Kyiv

On April 4, media representatives and bloggers are invited to the pre-opening of Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberovs’ “Contact Line” exhibition in Kyiv. In particular, there will be an opportunity to ask photographers some questions and receive comments from the first guests of the exhibition: media persons, military personnel and volunteers.

“Contact Line” will open on April 5. The exhibition includes more than 150 documentary photos and videos taken over the past two years in front-line areas and the front lines themselves.

Since the start of the full-scale war, the couple has traveled to the hottest areas of the front, documenting the consequences of russian shelling and the work of the Ukrainian military. So, Kostiantyn spent many hours with the infantry at “the ground zero” and accompanied assault groups on their missions. Some of the photos presented at “Contact Line” exhibition include: “Shell Cemetery in Kharkiv,” “Battle for Bakhmut,” “Winter at the Front. Silver Forest,” “30 Hours at Ground Zero,” “Da Vinci’s Last Assault” and other war series photos. The second part of the exhibition will depict the reality of the civilian population with footage from Marinka, Bakhmut, Soledar, Kherson, Lysychansk, Bucha, Mykolaiv and other Ukrainian cities that suffered as a result of the russian invasion.

Entry to the exhibition requires a donation of UAH 100 or more, and visitors can purchase any work if they wish. Funds collected during the exhibition will be used to purchase 1,000 FPV drones for the military.

The event requires registration. 

• culture
• Kyiv

The ‘Doctors for Heroes’ charity project is dedicated to assisting both military personnel and civilians who have suffered facial and head injuries, offering vital reconstruction services. To date, the project has aided 107 military individuals and one civilian.

Under this initiative, skilled surgeons and bioengineers generously provide their expertise pro bono, ensuring patients receive essential medical care. However, for the reconstruction of skull bones, specialized implants are required. Recognizing this need, the Eastern Star Charitable Foundation, the driving force behind the project, has committed to covering the costs of producing these implants for each participant. To fund this crucial aspect, the foundation relies on donations, carefully managing the allocation of resources to ensure targeted assistance. Moreover, it offers ongoing support to patients throughout their treatment journey.

Journalists seeking insights into this impactful endeavor can arrange interviews with project organizers, medical professionals, and beneficiaries in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

In a bid to prevent amputations among Ukrainians injured in Russia’s aggression, the “Save the Limb” national initiative is teaming up with artists. On March 31, Kyiv will host the “Sorrow and Love” charity dinners, with entry granted upon donation.

The evening’s lineup boasts performances by renowned Ukrainian musicians, stand-up comedy by Ramil Yangulov, a DJ set by Bodrov, and a charity auction featuring a photo draw by war documentary filmmakers Konstiantyn and Vladyslava Liberov, aka Libkos.

Attendees will groove to tunes by artists like Dima Libra, GEED (Hidayat Seyidov), and INSHAYA, whose spouse serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Headlining the event is HARNA, a talented multi-instrumentalist artist, Ukrainian musician, and former participant of “The Voice of Ukraine 11” and Eurovision 2020’s national selection.

All funds raised at the event will go towards surgeries for the wounded under the “Save the Limb” program of the Health of the Ukrainian People Foundation.

For context: “Save the Limb” stands as one of Ukraine’s premier programs, offering aid to war victims and funding costly limb-saving surgeries not covered by the state. Since its 2022 inception, the program has aided over a thousand Ukrainians.

• casualties
• culture
• doctors
• Kyiv

April 4th, showcasing the experiences of teenagers living through war. Produced by the savED Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the kinotonly filmmaking team, the documentary delves into the stories of teens from Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Kakhovka, and Lviv, along with their mentors. In the film, these resilient teenagers share firsthand accounts of surviving a full-scale war and offer insights into their efforts toward Ukraine’s development and reconstruction. (Watch the trailer here). 

The documentary has already premiered in venues like London, Oxford, and Cambridge, with Kyiv being the next stop on April 4th.

Ukrainian artist and illustrator Nikita Titov has been enlisted by the savED Foundation to craft posters for the film, adding a visually captivating element to its promotion.

Attendees of the screening will have the unique opportunity to engage with the film’s protagonists and mentors, with Ukrainian actor, screenwriter, and host of the YouTube show ’20:23′ Yevhen Yanovych moderating a discussion after the screening.

Beyond its educational aims, ‘We. The Future’ also serves a charitable purpose. As it travels the globe, the film’s creators and subjects raise funds to support the revival of the Mariupol Lyceum, which was forced to relocate from the occupied city to Kyiv. Today, the Lyceum provides education to hundreds of children from the occupied territories. 

Event registration is required. 

• children
• culture
• reconstruction
• Kyiv

The All-Ukrainian Forum entitled “Cultural and Informational Reintegration of the De-Occupied Territories” is a platform enabling development of joint systemic actions for the state, civil society, business and international partners in order to complete the cultural and informational restoration in de-occupied territories.

Panel discussions scheduled for the Forum include:

• State policy for restoring and developing the culture industry in the de-occupied territories;
• Preservation of cultural heritage and historical memory as a tool for restoring Ukrainian identity;
• Forming Ukrainian narratives: information policy in the de-occupied territories;
• Art amidst the war. Countering russian disinformation.

The event requires accreditation.

• culture
• Kyiv