Themes by tag: Kyiv

On May 14th, the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform will be the venue for the presentation of analytical studies conducted by experts from the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. These studies include:

– “Examining Laws Governing Privacy Restrictions During Martial Law”

– “Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: Guidelines and Limitations in the Realm of National Security and Defense”

During the research presentation, experts will discuss the trends they’ve identified, suggest potential changes, and highlight practices they view positively.

Speakers:

• Maksym Scherbatiuk, Program Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU)
• Yevhen Krapyvin, criminal justice expert at the Center of Policy and Legal Reform,
• Yuliia Kovalenko, lawyer at the UHHRU Strategic Litigation Centre
  

Pre-registration is required:

In the first quarter of 2024, pre-trial investigation authorities documented 202 cases of privacy violations. This represents a notable increase compared to the 164 cases reported in 2022 and the 422 cases in 2023. Experts attribute this surge, in part, to heightened citizen awareness regarding mechanisms for safeguarding their rights. However, despite the increase in investigations, the court received only 24 cases in 2023, resulting in six guilty verdicts. Discrepancies between the number of indictments and cases brought to court stem from variations in statistical tracking methods.

• Kyiv

Benda enlisted in the Defense Forces back in 2017, juggling her duties with caring for her son who was almost two years of age. Assigned as chief cook to the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Cossacks, stationed in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, she faced enemy fire that same year, sustaining injuries that resulted in the loss of her leg. Following treatment and rehab, Olha adapted to using a prosthetic limb. Just two years later, she triumphed in her first 10-kilometer run at the Veterans Dozen Foundation event in Kyiv. Shortly after, she conquered the challenge of the Marine Corps Marathon in the U.S. In 2023, she even joined a women’s soccer squad specifically designed for amputees.

Olha’s dedication extends beyond personal achievements. She actively supports fellow veterans and those impacted by the war through various social initiatives, including creating videos showcasing the resilience of Ukrainian defenders with amputations. Recently, she took on the role of ambassador for the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

• casualties
• women
• Kyiv

The second Ukrainian Construction Congress will take place in Kyiv on May 15 and 16. The Congress will focus on rebuilding Ukraine with a special emphasis put on barrier-free and inclusive design.

As usual, the Congress will act as a platform for constructive dialogue, exchange of opinions and ideas between authorities, developers, architects, builders, manufacturers of building materials, the civil society and other industry participants.

Some of the major topics of the Congress will include:

• Strategies and challenges of Ukraine’s recovery: ways to economic and social development in 2024-2025;
• New approaches to construction in wartime. New safety standards and norms;
• Restoration of historical sites;
• Veteran-run enterprise as a guarantee of public safety;
• Barrier-free and inclusive: challenges of today;

For the first time, the Congress will feature the announcement of the winners and the ceremony for the independent construction award “BUILDER OF THE YEAR – 2024.” Prizes will be given to companies, industry specialists and projects in 15 nominations, such as “Construction,” “Architecture,” “Business in the Construction Industry.”

The event requires accreditation.

• reconstruction
• Kyiv

A new recruitment information center for the Ukrainian army has been established at Kyiv Main Railway Station. Staffed by specially trained personnel from Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), the center will offer details on available positions within the Armed Forces and address common queries regarding roles in military units.

This pilot initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Ukraine’s railway network, aims to provide transparent guidance to individuals interested in supporting the Ukrainian Defense Forces effectively and to foster voluntary enlistment.

• Kyiv

Back in 2014, Tetiana Ovchar made waves by challenging the inclusion of Russian language teaching in her children’s Kyiv school. Her bold stance led to the removal of the subject from the curriculum. Passionate about promoting Ukrainian literature among youngsters, she spearheaded the “Reading with Pleasure” initiative, culminating in its final session on February 19, 2022. With the onset of the full-blown invasion, Tetiana has thrown herself into volunteering efforts, supporting both military personnel and civilians alike. Tetiana Ovchar, alongside her husband, selflessly offered their family’s former eco-tourism retreat as a refuge for those displaced by the war, accommodating up to 27 individuals in a single night. In their hometown of Kyiv, they mobilized with neighbors to provide vital aid to hospitals and the Territorial Defense Forces, distributing much-needed supplies such as food and medicine. Their outreach extended to villages like Moshchun and Horenka in the Kyiv region. Despite receiving a cancer diagnosis in December 2022, Tetiana remained resilient, channeling her energy into fundraising for military needs during her treatment sessions. Today, she continues to dedicate herself to volunteering, addressing military requests, supporting the families of servicemen, advocating for literacy, and confronting the challenges of her illness with unwavering determination.

• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

On May 14, Kyiv will host an open meeting for journalists with the finalists of the Gongadze Prize. During the “Power of Words” discussion, speakers and attendees will talk about how journalists of different experiences and specializations can join forces.

Speakers:

• Anna Babinets — Founder and Head of Slidstvo.Info independent investigative agency.
• Olga Rudenko — Editor-in-Chief and Founder of The Kyiv Independent,
• Tetiana Troshchynska — Director of the Department for Strategic Analysis and Development of Socially Influential Content at Suspilne, a journalist and a host at “Culture” Radio.

The event will be moderated by Larysa Denysenko, journalist, writer and human rights defender.

The event requires registration.

For reference: The Gongadze Prize is a major award for professional journalists in Ukraine. It was founded in 2019 by PEN Ukraine in partnership with the family of George Gongadze, the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School and “Ukrainian Pravda” media outlet. Vakhtang Kipiani (2019), Pavlo Kazarin (2020), Myroslava Barchuk (2021), Mstyslav Chernov and Yevhen Maloletka (2022), and Bohdan Lohvynenko (2023) won the Prize in previous years. In 2022, photojournalist Maks Levin received the Special Award posthumously.

• Kyiv

The NGO CAT-UA (Communication Analysis Team – Ukraine) is set to unveil its findings from a comprehensive study on the Ukrainian national narrative. This narrative serves as the cohesive force binding the nation together, offering a shared perspective on the past, present, and future. Crucially, it’s this narrative that shapes the strategic vision, rallying people to prevail in the ongoing war. 

The event will kick off with a concise overview of the research findings, followed by an open discussion.

Participants:

• Artem Zakharchenko, head of CAT-UA;
• Yevheniia Kravchuk, Member of the Verkhovna Rada;
• Anton Drobovych, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory;
• Kseniia Ivanyshyn, research manager of the UCBI4 project;
• Nataliia Kryvda, Head of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

Prior registration is required.

• Kyiv

At the briefing, among other things, the participants will discuss how to rescue the fighters of the “Azov” brigade from captivity: what is already being done, and what still needs doing. In particular, they will talk about the prisoners of war who were injured during the terrorist attack in Olenivka, because their fate still remains unknown, and the Day of Remembrance for the defenders killed in Olenivka has not been officially allocated yet.

Participants:

Maria Alieksieievych — representative “Olenivka Families Community” NGO, wife of a twice-wounded defender of Mariupol;

Hanna Lobova — representative “Olenivka Families Community” NGO, the wife of a twice-wounded defender of Mariupol;

Anastasia Hondiul — representative “Olenivka Families Community” NGO “, the wife of a twice-wounded defender of Mariupol;

Tetiana Katrychenko — representative of the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR),

Andrii Yakovlev — MIHR representative.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

On May 6, veteran Serhii Khrapko, who was seriously injured in 2015 when he lost his left arm and left leg, will go on a one-day walking marathon from Kyiv to Boryspil using a prosthesis. The goal is to raise funds to pay for the continuation of the rehabilitation of Oleksandr Nadtochyi, who was seriously injured in 2022 near Bakhmut. The required amount is UAH 650,000.

Serhii believes that he will be able to collect the required amount on the way to Boryspil, if not, he will be forced to make the return journey.

For reference: This is not Serhii Khrapko’s first walking marathon. In May 2023, together with his brother Oleksandr Shvetsov (a veteran with a prosthetic leg), they walked the distance from Zhytomyr to Kyiv to collect money for a gastroscope for the reception department of a Kyiv hospital. They were awarded by the National Register of Records of Ukraine for this achievement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Personal stylist, fashion influencer and an active public figure Frank Peter Wilde, together with the NAFO initiative collected EUR 20,000 as part of their latest fundraiser. These funds were used to purchase cars and drones for the Ukrainian army. The official handover will take place on May 3 (journalists are invited to learn more about it).

To mark this achievement, Frank Peter Wilde will hold his first press conference on May 7, in Kyiv: the stylist will be ready to answer all the questions that have accumulated during the two years of his activity.

Journalists must register for the event (the deadline for applications is May 4).

For reference: Berlin-based stylist Frank Peter Wilde is also known for his elevator photos in support of Ukraine.

• Kyiv