Themes by tag: 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

For Vyshyvanka Day, one of the capital’s shopping malls together with SVARGA, Ukrainian embroidered clothing brand, and Zemliachky NGO initiated a charity photo exhibition “Embroidered Ukraine.” The official opening of the exhibition will take place on May 2. The event will include introductory speech from the organizers and participants of the photo project.

Defenders, paramedics, veterans, and military volunteers took part in the project. The women dressed in embroidered shirts from the “Embroidered Ukraine” collection, which includes ornaments from all regions of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The goal of the project is to once again remind that there is no eastern and western Ukraine, there is only one whole and unified country, as well as to emphasize that regardless of whether we are at the front lines or in the rear, this is our joint struggle for freedom.

Each photo has a QR code with the account of Zemliachky NGO. All funds raised during the exhibition will be directed to sewing women’s tactical uniforms for the military.

The exhibition project will last up until May 16.

• culture
• Kyiv

Next week, a press event will be organized for media representatives to raise awareness of the operation of the temporary waste sorting site in Bucha, Kyiv region. This project is focused on the disposal of waste from destroyed objects that had piled up after the occupation of the Bucha community. (The volume of construction waste is 75,000 m3).

Almost all the equipment for the operation of the temporary waste sorting station was provided by UNDP Ukraine. Currently, there is a construction waste sorting machine, a crusher, a screener and a front-end loader. Later, the site will be equipped with additional equipment. The unique project will make it possible to grind and sort waste by type, and later use it for the needs of the community.

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming press event.

For reference: Bucha, Kyiv region, was under enemy occupation for more than a month. On March 31, 2022, the city was liberated from the russian military.

• ecology
• occupation
• reconstruction
• Kyiv

Alona Kyryliuk is from Kharkiv region, and she currently lives in Poltava region. She is the mother of two children: 11-year-old Anastasiia and Timur, who is only one year old. The woman is a military officer.

Alona’s husband, Denys, is a lieutenant colonel, a fighter pilot (Deputy Squadron Commander, Squadron Flight Navigator). The man was called to duty on the night of February 23-24, 2022. He asked his wife to stay at home with the daughter. Later, Alona heard the first explosions.

Denis flew over 80 sorties. He was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the third class, as well as the “Firearms” award of the Ministry of Defense. The man died on March 27, 2023 while performing a combat mission. The enemy shot down his plane over Chernihiv region. The pilot was taking the plane away from a settlement and did not have time to eject.

By prior agreement, journalists can talk to Alona Kyryliuk in Poltava region or in Kyiv.

For reference: Currently, the family is being cared for by the Children of Heroes Charity Fund. It helps children who lost one or both parents as a result of russia’s full-scale invasion. The fund provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and helps with the education and development of children until they reach adulthood.

• children
• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv
• Poltava