Themes by tag: Lutsk

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

More than five hundred couples in love throughout Ukraine will create new families on Valentine’s Day. Currently, Civil Registry Offices continue to receive applications for registration of marriages. So far, the majority of applications to get married on this day have come from Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Volyn, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa regions and Kyiv.

In addition, Civil Registry Offices participating in “Love Will Win” event will work extra hours on Valentine’s Day.

Journalists are invited to talk to the employees of Civil Registry Offices and, if possible, film marriage registration.

• Dnipro
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Kyiv
• Lutsk
• Lviv
• Odesa

At the beginning of the full-scale war, Mykolaiv Zoo didn’t have enough money to even feed the animals, because it didn’t have any income. It is located in the center of Mykolaiv, and there were no people willing to come to the zoo under fire. So the zoo management suggested that Ukrainians buy tickets to the zoo online. This led to raising UAH 3 million for the animals, Volodymyr Topchiy, Zoo Director says.

In addition, Lutsk Zoo, which is far from the front line, decided to employ refugees from Donbas. For example, a man, who used to work at a factory, bottle-feeds even-toed ungulates now, and a cook prepares food for monkeys.

• animals
• Lutsk
• Mykolaiv

Volodymyr Alyokhin, a shepherd from the village of Pavlivka in Donetsk region, single-handedly herded 400 sheep to the village of Novostav in Volyn region. The man walked the first 50 kilometers. Then the flock was transported by a special truck for animals. There is still active combat in the man’s native village, his home was destroyed by russian troops, and more than 100 sheep were killed by mortar fire from the occupiers.

Volyn farmer Vasyl Melnyk is currently helping the shepherd from Donetsk region. Their sheep are now in a single flock, and, as the men say, they themselves do not know which is whose.

• casualties
• Lutsk