Themes by tag: Lutsk

Before the full-scale invasion began, Liudmyla Porfilenko lived in Kurakhove, Donetsk oblast, worked as a nurse at a local school, and in her spare time made toys and jewelry in a small workshop she set up in her apartment. Liudmyla’s husband was a doctor, and together they raised three children.

On February 24, 2022, Liudmyla could not believe that a great war had begun. But by the third week of the invasion, her family decided to evacuate. They packed their children, two dogs, and canisters of gasoline into the car. They took only a change of clothes and some of Liudmyla’s craft supplies. The family made their way to the Volyn oblast, choosing it on the advice of acquaintances who had evacuated from Donetsk oblast in 2014.

Later her parents were also evacuated to Volyn. Liudmyla’s husband found a job in a local hospital, and she revived her small studio. She starts working early in the morning, sewing toys and making jewelry from precious stones. She sells her creations on social media or through acquaintances. Some of her handmade dolls have traveled the world, with orders from France, Germany and England. Liudmyla also holds wool felting workshops for children.

You can speak with Liudmyla either online or in person by appointment.

Background: Kurakhove is currently under heavy fighting, and most of the population has fled the city.

• culture
• women
• Lutsk
• evacuation

Alla Senchenko is both a skilled tailor and a dedicated soldier. She joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2018, serving for three years before her initial contract ended. When russia launched its full-scale invasion, Alla wasted no time and reported to the military recruitment office, where she was mobilized as a rifleman.

In May 2022, while defending Lyman in the Donetsk region, she was captured by russian forces. Held in captivity for eight months and 11 days, Alla recalls relying solely on her faith and hope to endure. On February 4, 2023, she was finally released and returned to Ukraine. After completing her rehabilitation in late March, Alla was able to reunite with her family, whom she had not seen since the war began.

Today, Alla works at the Lutsk Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support. Alongside her current role, she dreams of designing clothing for soldiers and remains steadfast in her hope for Ukraine’s victory.

For those interested, Alla Senchenko is available for conversations both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Lutsk

Valentyn Shabunin worked as a driver and also repaired cars. In 2007, he was involved in a car accident and was seriously injured. Due to a fractured spine, he was forced to use a wheelchair. He was also unable to drive a regular car, so a colleague gave him a hand-cranked car.

The car needed to be repaired, but the garages refused to help Valentyn, so the mechanic set out to fix it himself. That’s how he came up with the idea of opening his own garage to repair cars for people with disabilities. In 2014, the authorities of Lutsk supported this idea and provided him with premises, tools and an elevator. Valentyn soon found other mechanics to join him. Together, they not only repair cars, but also install hand controls in vehicles for people with disabilities. Cars come to Valentyn’s shop from all over Ukraine, and one order was even completed for a resident of the United States. The workshop also retrofits cars for driving schools that train people with disabilities.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Valentyn’s garage has had more work, as the mechanics have also started repairing and maintaining regular cars for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They do this free of charge, the soldiers only pay for spare parts.

Valentyn Shabunin is based in Lutsk and is open to communication with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• Lutsk

Before the war, Mykhailo Sokolian worked as a wood processing plant operator. But when russia’s full-scale invasion began, he answered the call to defend his country. After completing military training, he joined the 4th Separate Tank Brigade as a sapper.

In August 2022, while on a mission, Sokolian suffered a serious injury that resulted in the loss of his leg. He was sent to the Netherlands for prosthetic treatment, where he received his first permanent prosthesis. Upon his return to Ukraine, he dedicated himself to mastering his new limb, with constant support from his wife and son.

Soon after, Mykhailo Sokolian found a new passion—adaptive sports. He began competing in events like the “Games of Heroes” and the “Invictus Games.” Most recently, he completed a 100-meter race using his prosthetic leg in an impressive 15 seconds.

Today, the veteran is not only focused on his personal achievements but also on helping fellow soldiers recover and embrace adaptive sports. Mykhailo hopes to promote these sports among the military community.
Currently based in the Volyn region, MykhailoSokolian is open to interviews, available for both in-person and online meetings by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Lutsk

Dmytro Bereziuk has been making musical instruments for over 10 years. During this time he has mastered the creation of 15 different types of instruments – flutes, bagpipes, lyres, violins, “vykrutka” pipes, and many others. At first Dmytro was interested only in foreign medieval instruments, but later he turned his attention to Ukrainian history.

The craftsman focused on studying traditional musical instruments from his native Volyn. Dmytro personally sources the materials for his instruments, searching for the necessary wood and working it himself.

Dmytro has become well known among connoisseurs of ethnic instruments. Musicians often approach him with requests to build various ancient instruments.

Dmytro Bereziuk is based in Lutsk and can be contacted for online or offline meetings by prior arrangement.

• Lutsk

Petro Antyp is an honored artist of Ukraine, who was born in Horlivka, Donetsk region. Now this city is occupied by russia.

Before 2014, the artist had lived and worked in his native town, and his works were displayed at international exhibitions. However, when russia started the war in the east of Ukraine 10 years ago, the man had to leave Donetsk region. He became a displaced person for the second time in 2022, when the full-scale invasion began. Then Petro was forced to leave Kyiv and move to Lutsk, where he took up the project aiming to break the Guinness World Record. Petro is painting a 2,000-square-meter painting called “Cosmogony” in the Korsaks’ Museum of Modern Ukrainian Art. The painting process is a real-time performance. The artist works in a museum, where every visitor can observe his work. The picture itself combines several types of art: painting, graphics, sculpture. And the artist’s intent is to show the process of creation of humanity and predict a possible future. In addition to the “Cosmogony” project, Petro also works on smaller canvases, and donates the proceeds from sales to provide medical support for the Armed Forces.

Petro Antyp is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person, by prior agreement.

• culture
• Lutsk

“Ukrainian Puzzles” is a social enterprise born from the idea of creating puzzles depicting objects destroyed or damaged in the war, such as the Chernihiv Youth Library, the An-225 Mriya, the Mariupol Drama Theater, and Karazin University. Symbolically piecing these puzzles together contributes to the real-life reconstruction efforts, as the net profits from Ukrainian Puzzles are allocated to restore these destroyed cultural monuments.

Founded in April 2022 by Vita Vorobchuk and Yaryna Zhurba, the company operates under the slogan “A puzzle to rebuild Ukraine.” The founders believe these puzzles offer a unique way for people worldwide to participate in Ukraine’s restoration. Additionally, the initiative aims to showcase Ukrainian culture and highlight the devastation inflicted by Russia on Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

Among the best-selling puzzles is the An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest airplane. Even President Volodymyr Zelenskyy owns one. Beyond the initial collection focused on destroyed landmarks, new series are in development, including Ukrainian Art, Discover Ukraine, and Glory to Ukraine.

Journalists interested in the initiative can arrange interviews with the founders in Lutsk, Lviv, Kyiv, or via online communication.

• culture
• reconstruction
• Kyiv
• Lutsk
• Lviv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Viktor Litovchenko served in the special forces. At the beginning of the big war, Viktor was drafted into the military. His unit operated in Kharkiv region, and together with his brothers in arms, the man searched for enemy positions. On May 7, 2022, Viktor was seriously injured. Then he was evacuated, and later Viktor underwent his first surgery in Kharkiv. At that moment, the doctors told Viktor that it was unlikely that he would restore his walking ability. Relatives helped the veteran to come to terms with the new reality: within two months of rehabilitation, he managed to master a wheelchair and began to take care of himself without help. Later, Viktor joined the “Group of Active Rehabilitation” NGO in Volyn region and became an instructor for those who are just learning to use a wheelchair – both civilians and military personnel.

• casualties
• military
• Lutsk

Lutsk resident Tetiana Pototska had been originally running a travel agency that specialized in organizing pilgrimage trips abroad until February 2022, Tetiana shifted her focus when the full-scale invasion began. Moved by a friend’s inability to transport her father’s body from Kharkiv to Lutsk, Tetiana stepped in to assist and has since been tirelessly evacuating fallen soldiers’ remains and transporting them to morgues.

Beyond her duties in retrieving the fallen, Tetiana extends her aid to Ukrainians trapped in occupied regions, particularly those with limited mobility, helping them return to government-controlled territory. Additionally, she devotes herself to caring for the children of fallen defenders, arranging celebratory events and outings to the seaside for them.

Those wishing to interview Tetiana can reach her both offline in Lutsk or through online channels. She is gearing up for another journey to Eastern Ukraine soon.

• dead
• volunteers
• women
• Lutsk

Viktor Dudko, a potter, holds clay therapy sessions for defenders who were injured or wounded in the war. Sessions take place at a pottery school near Lutsk. They are free.

Soldiers work at the potter’s wheel and create plates, cups, glasses or vases. Defenders often dedicate clay objects that they create themselves to their loved ones and sign them with “for my beloved wife” or “for my daughter.”

Such clay therapy sessions have been taking place for almost a year. More than a hundred defenders visited it during this time. For a fee everyone is welcome to Viktor’s workshops in pottery. The potter then sends the funds to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Background: Potter Viktor Dudko became famous in Ukraine last year when he made two clay models of the russian cruiser “Moskva,” which was sunk by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

• military
• volunteers
• Lutsk