Themes by tag: Kyiv

Andriy Zelinskyy, the priest, is one of the first army chaplains in Ukraine. In June 2014, he was offering spiritual support to Ukrainian soldiers in the east of the country. In particular, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine units near Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Staroihnativka, in the Avdiivka industrial zone, in Pisky, Debaltseve, Shyrokyne and Vodiane of Donetsk region. And in Kyiv, he visited the first wounded soldiers in the Central Military Hospital.

Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine need hundreds of chaplains for the army. In October, Ukraine even established a military chaplaincy service, which organizes the training of chaplains. The course is provided that should help to acquire the basic competencies of a serviceman in a very short time, so that it is easier to integrate the team. 

For reference: Army chaplains are clergymen who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a Ukrainian citizen with a degree in theology, who is a clergyman of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. He must also receive a mandate from his church to be entitled to carry out chaplaincy activities.

• military
• religion
• Kyiv

On December 23, Ukrposhta will put into circulation a postage stamp in honor of the world-famous Christmas carol. “Shchedryk. Carol of the Bell” is the final one in the cycle of stamps issued by Ukrposhta in 2022. The issue of the postage stamp was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the presentation of the musical piece “Shchedryk” on the Carnegie Hall stage in New York. It was after this that “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych became a symbolic holiday anthem for a number of countries.

The new stamp will be canceled with a special postmark in Kyiv on Sofiiska square by Ihor Smilianskyi, General Director of Ukrposhta, and by Mykola Kochubei, the Honored Artist of Ukraine, the author of the postage stamp. Also, the folk choir “Vesnianka” will perform the famous holiday song on the square.

• culture
• Kyiv

Due to invaders’ missile attacks and the following power cuts, hundreds of people across the country are getting stuck in elevators. Residents of apartment buildings often leave special boxes with food and water in elevators to make it more comfortable for the stuck people to wait for “liberation”.

For example, in Lviv, dispatching services received almost 1,300 appeals about getting stuck in elevators during November alone. Previously, based on one of the municipal enterprises, additional emergency teams have been formed, which, in particular, rescue people.

• blackout
• casualties
• Kyiv
• Lviv

Police stations, post offices, and even gas stations — the Internet is full of videos and photos of locations where Ukrainian teachers conduct online lessons due to the lack of electricity and the Internet.

Alla is a primary school teacher. Due to the lack of electricity, the woman is often forced to go to an Invincibility Center (in Kyiv region) to conduct lessons. From there, Alla teaches first-graders who still want to get a Ukrainian education even though they are in Poland because of the war.

For reference: Invincibility Centers are places set up by local authorities where people can get warm, get access to water, electricity, internet, etc. 

• blackout
• Kyiv

In order for the Christmas tree to light up at the capital’s railway station this year, you need to spin the pedals of a mechanical generator. And the main Christmas tree of the country located on Sophia Square is decorated with energy-saving lamps. Most likely, the Christmas tree will be lit up at certain hours of the day. Among other things, points for recharging gadgets will be set up next to the generator.

The “Indomitable Christmas Tree” was installed in Mykolaiv. It is made of a camouflage net that covers the monument to St. Nicholas. Previously, this monument had been covered with sandbags to protect it from destruction. On St. Nicholas Day, December 19, people are encouraged to bring their toys with wishes to put them up on the unusual Christmas tree. And in Kharkiv, the New Year tree was placed underground. A Christmas tree was put up at one of the metro stations.

• culture
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv
• Mykolaiv

Ukrposhta plans to open up to 1,700 “safety centers” inside its branches. There, people will be able to warm up, charge their phones and connect to the Internet.

The press service of the company noted that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved a grant of EUR 4.5 million to create such “safety centers.” In addition, Ukrposhta will allocate EUR 1.5 million euros of its own funds to purchase heating furnaces, Wi-Fi routers and lighting equipment.

• blackout
• Kyiv

The women’s football team “Mariupol” was forced to leave their home town after russia’s full-scale invasion. Now the girls live and train in Kyiv. They also earn money to keep the team on their own. The football players have been trying to be financially independent for 4 years now. Back in Mariupol, during their training-free time, they were preparing semi-finished products for sale: they were making meat and other dumplings, meat pastries and baked pancakes. In Kyiv, they try to restore the production, but in Mariupol, the athletes have lost their production shop. So now they need new equipment. The girls receive assistance from the Keep Going project, which provides material support to the Ukrainians who bring victory closer. The project collects UAH 350,000 for the athletes to buy equipment that will allow the team to resume the business and continue to represent Mariupol in football competitions.

• occupation
• women
• Kyiv
• Mariupol

Generators, potbelly stoves were bought, and operation of the boiler house was arranged — the Kyiv Zoo is preparing for a difficult winter. So, for example, for the gorilla named Tony, a modern wood-burning stove (bullerjan) was installed. Therefore, his house will be warm if there is no electricity or gas. In addition, battery-powered lighting was installed for zoo visitors, so that in case of power cuts, they could come to the animals.

This year, 200 displaced animals who have been rescued from the war will also spend winter in the Kyiv Zoo.

• animals
• blackout
• Kyiv

Journalists can visit a retirement facility in the village of Prybirsk, Kyiv region, together with “Yulyni Babusi” (Yulia’s Grannies) charitable foundation. There are 30 pensioners living there who cannot take care of themselves (disabled or bedridden). The foundation plans to organize a small celebration for these people on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, December 18

For reference: a presenter of the morning show on the radio helps pensioners in Kyiv region, particularly, those living in settlements that suffered from the russian occupation. To do this, the girl founded Yulyni Babusi charity foundation. One of the foundation’s main activities is to care for elderly and lonely people. There are five employees in the foundation, they regularly go to retirement homes in Kyiv region, provide help and simply talk to the retirees.

• occupation
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

A school damaged by the russians at the beginning of the invasion is being restored in the village of Maryanivka in Kyiv region. A new roof is being constructed over the part of the building that was affected the most. The restoration is supported by the Government of Canada and the SURGe project. The work is to be completed by December 25.

For reference: the russians destroyed a part of the school in Maryanivka on February 26 during their invasion into the north of Kyiv region.

• occupation
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Kyiv