Themes by tag: Kyiv

Mikael Colville-Andersen, a renowned Danish urbanist, designer, writer, and TV presenter, is making waves in Ukraine with his philanthropic efforts. Founding the non-profit organization Bikes4Ukraine, Colville-Andersen has facilitated the delivery of used bicycles from Europe to Ukrainians in need. Bikes4Ukraine inception was the very reason for Dane’s first coming to Ukraine in June 2022. His initiative already delivered 1000 bicycles for now. 

Currently stationed in Kyiv, Mikael’s tirelessly working on the development of a Nordic Therapy Garden-inspired environment, set to grace the district of Podil. This unique project aims to provide solace and healing to those affected by the stresses of war. More than just a green space, a therapy garden is meticulously crafted to offer comfort and security, providing a sanctuary for individuals grappling with the trauma of war.

Journalists eager to delve deeper into Colville-Andersen’s endeavors, including the creation of the therapeutic garden and other initiatives, can arrange interviews with the urbanist.

Adding to his contributions, from March 1 to 9, an exhibition titled “SNAFU” is on display in Kyiv, showcasing collaborative works of Colville-Andersen and Ukrainian artist Kalyna Seriakovska. The exhibit explores the pursuit of normalcy amidst the chaos of conflict, drawing inspiration from the military abbreviation “SNAFU,” a WW2 military acronym meaning “Situation normal: all fucked up.”

• culture
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On March 3, the national team of Ukraine will journey to Las Vegas to participate in the United States Air Force and Marine Corps Trials 2024. On that occasion, a briefing will be convened in Kyiv with team members and trip organizers.

Media representatives will have the opportunity to delve into the Ukrainian team’s preparation for the competition, their aspirations, and the goals of the veterans and military personnel representing Ukraine in the United States.

Speakers at the briefing include members of the national team: 

• Yevhenii OMELCHUK, an AFU serviceman,
• Tymur LEON, an AFU serviceman,
• Yurii HAPONCHUK, a National Guard of Ukraine serviceman,

And also:

• Olena YANOVSKA, head coach of the national team of Ukraine,
• Oleksandr PORKHUN, Acting Minister of Veterans Affairs,
• Matvii BIDNYI, Acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. 

Accreditation is required to attend the event. 

For reference: The United States Air Force and Marine Corps Trials is an annual domestic competition for veterans and U.S. military personnel who have sustained injuries, wounds, or illnesses during their service. This year, the organizers extended an invitation to the Ukrainian team, comprising both veterans and active military personnel, to join the event.

From March 4 to 16, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the Ukrainian team will vie in sports such as archery, athletics, cycling, powerlifting, rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, and wheelchair basketball.

• Kyiv

The 2402 Foundation will launch a unique safety training program for everyone who lives and works in war conditions. Immersion in a lifelike stress inducing situation will allow participants to experience a similar situation in the future without exposing themselves to danger.

This hands-on training will focus on threats, risks and security situations typical for those operating in war zones and frontline areas: journalists, representatives of humanitarian organizations, war crimes documentarians, human rights defenders and volunteers. VR-scenarios were developed by the partners of the 2402 Foundation – the British company Headset Immersive and certified specialists on security, emergency medical and psychological first aid, who used their experience of working at the frontline.

VR training is designed to minimize the risk of getting confused, unable to control oneself and being completely helpless and defenseless in a critical situation in real life.

Participants:

• Katerina Sergatskova, Co-Founder, and Executive Director of the 2402 Foundation;
• Anton Skiba, 2402 Foundation expert, risk assessment trainer;
• Kate Parkinson, Co-Founder and CEO of Head Set, winner of the Women in Innovation Award.

The press conference will be held on February 29 at Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform. Pre-registration is required.

• Kyiv

The founders of the T4P (Tribunal for putin) initiative — the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the Center for Civil Liberties, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union— and Ukrainian Crisis Media Center invite journalists to discuss the issue of mass abduction and detention of Ukrainian civilians by the russian military on February 27 in Kyiv. The scale of the problem indicates that it is a target policy of the russian authorities to destroy the Ukrainian people.

Topics for discussion:

▪ Large-scale detention of Ukrainian civilians by the russian occupation authorities is a war crime committed by the russian federation

▪ What happens to civilian hostages after detention?

▪ What to do if your loved one is taken hostage? Instructions for relatives of civilian hostages

▪ What to do to facilitate the release of civilian hostages?

▪ Where should the family turn for psychological support?

Speakers:

• Yevgeniy Zakharov, Director at the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
• Oleksandr Pavlichenko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
• Nataliia Yashchuk, Project Management Coordinator at the Center for Civil Liberties
• Tetiana Marina, a representative of Civilians in Captivity NGO
• Olena Tsyhipa, the wife of illegally convicted activist Serhii Tsyhipa
• Anna Mushtukova, “Our Closest People” initiative group

The event requires accreditation.

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Maryna and Mykola are both military, they met in 2019 in the army. The woman had two daughters from a previous marriage — Olena and Oleksandra. Mykola also has a daughter named Milana. At first, the family lived in Mariupol, Donetsk region (now the city is occupied), then they moved to Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region (now the city is occupied).

The couple served in the Azov brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. In 2020, Mykola resigned from the Azov and joined the marines. Maryna’s contract ended in November 2021, but she did not want to leave her brothers in arms.

When the full-scale invasion began, Maryna, along with other Azov defenders of Mariupol ended up at the Azovstal plant (i.e. Iron and Steel Works where fierce battles with the enemy took place in the spring of 2022). Mykola wanted to switch with Marina and go to Azovstal instead of her. The woman persuaded him not to do this, because at the checkpoint the russians shot three guys who were on the way to meet their girlfriends, and many others who broke through to the plant went missing. Even then Maryna understood that she and other military personnel were unlikely to get out of the Azovstal alive. And she asked her husband to take care of her daughters. On May 8, 2022, the woman died in a fire at the Azovstal.

Now Mykola is fighting for the right to adopt his deceased wife’s daughters and give them a happy future. He is purchasing a three-room apartment for the girls in Kyiv region so they could live together as a family.

With the help of the Children of Heroes Fund, Maryna’s daughters received gifts and visited a rehabilitation camp, which helped them to distract themselves from terrible memories and disturbing thoughts.

For reference: the defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days. Following the order of the command, the Ukrainian defenders stopped putting up the defense, left Azovstal and surrendered to the enemy. On May 20, 2022, Mariupol was occupied by russia.

The Children of Heroes Charity Fund supports children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s full-scale invasion. The fund offers financial aid as well as psychological and legal support. The organization helps these children with education and development until they reach adulthood.

As of the beginning of February, 7,889 wards are under the care of the Fund. Of them, 1,062 are IDPs, 151 children have lost their mother and father, 177 are children with disabilities, 970 are children from large families. Every week about 80 children are included into the list of the recipients of the fund’s help. Among the fund’s children, 88% are kids of military personnel, while the remaining 12% are civilians.

• casualties
• children
• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

In Ozera village, Hostomel community, Gurtum Charity Foundation created a unique “space shelter.” Children from the local kindergarten and two neighboring schools can hide there during rocket alerts. In general, the bomb shelter can accommodate 160 people. What makes it special is that its walls are painted in a space theme.

The benefactors involved a professional artist in the creative process, and the work lasted almost 2 weeks. Paintings cover about 70 square meters of walls. In addition, a special paint that is safe for babies was used for the paintings.

Today, some of the things you can see on the walls of the shelter include planets, an astronaut and even a raccoon in a spaceship. There are also RGB lights in the shelter to enhance the feeling of immersion into space.

The Ukrainian diaspora in Japan (NPO “Krayany”) helped to create the shelter.

As reported, Gurtum Charity Foundation earlier built a shelter in the form of a Hobbit house for schoolchildren in Hostomel. The photos are available here.

• children
• Kyiv

“Generation U” NGO in partnership with the Kharkiv Puppet Theater named after V. Afanasieva and Bray Area Partnership (Ireland) started a large-scale project titled “My Doll Stories” for children and teenagers whose families were forced to escape the war zone.

In Kyiv, Kharkiv and Bray (Ireland), the project team conducts classes in puppetry and music therapy. Through these practices, organizers aim to help children, particularly teenagers, to overcome trauma and stress caused by a change in environment. And later, the organizers want to use the achievements of their project to create a full-fledged puppet therapy course that can be scaled and developed further.

The project is initiated by Kristina Liulchenko, Creative Director at Generation U NGO, and Olha Pinaieva, teacher of puppet therapy, Founder of the “Bag of Dolls” project.

The project will work until March 24.

For reference: Generation U is an NGO established by a group of cultural representatives to solve various pressing social issues. The NGO’s activities include setting up an art residency, running social projects and holding master classes. 

• children
• psychological support
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv

On the morning of February 24, just as two years ago, the Irpin city council will hold a session. Just as then, the session will be short. The only issue on the agenda is the allocation of additional aid for the military.

A moment of silence will be observed in the city. Later, everyone will gather on the “Road of Life” – Romanivka Bridge to express gratitude to those who helped save thousands of citizens, defended the hero city of Irpin, and to commemorate those who gave their lives for Ukraine.

Journalists can find out more about the start time of the events.

For reference: in February-March 2022, the city of Irpin, Kyiv region, became a battlefield in the russian offensive on Kyiv. One third of Irpin was occupied, and it was here that the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Territorial Defense Forces managed to stop the russians.

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, the civilians of Irpin were being evacuated through the Romanivka bridge. Then the russian army attacked the bridge, which made evacuation even more difficult. The Romanivka bridge was restored in November 2023, and opened for all types of transport.

The reconstruction of Irpin is still ongoing.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

With backing from the Ukrainian President and spearheaded by the Ukrainian State Film Agency, the Ukrainian National Film Festival “Cinema for Victory”, showcasing films created during the Russia-Ukraine war, commemorates the tenth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the second anniversary of full-blown warfare.

The primary objective of the 2024 Cinema for Victory Film Festival is to promote documentary works created during the Russia-Ukraine war. This year’s lineup will spotlight films exposing Russian war crimes and presenting firsthand accounts of Ukrainian experiences.

Positioned as a platform for informational resistance countering Russian aggression and facilitating the development of wartime content, the Cinema for Victory Film Festival aims to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the film community.

Attendance requires pre-accreditation. 

Further information to be disclosed post-accreditation for security purposes.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On February 21, Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform will host a presentation of the analytical report entitled: “Rescue mission: what is happening in russian captivity and how to prevent captured Ukrainian soldiers from dying.”

During the presentation, the Media Initiative for Human Rights will present the analytical report on the testimonies of prisoners released in prisoner exchanges, who claim that Ukrainian soldiers died in russian captivity as a result of beatings or torture. They also claim that some prisoners committed suicides due to psychological, sexual or other types of violence in captivity. In response to the MIHR’s inquiry about the number of Ukrainians who died in russian captivity from February 24, 2022 to November 16, 2023, the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine stated 49 people.

Participants:

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

– Maria Klymyk, MIHR journalist;

– Anastasiia Hondiul, wife of an Azov regiment soldier who was heavily injured in the Olenivka barrack, Olenivka Families Community NGO;

– Bohdan Slobodian, witness to a Ukrainian serviceman’s death in russian captivity;

– Andrii Yakovlev, lawyer, MIHR international law expert;

The event requires registration.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv