Themes by tag: Lviv

Oleksii Polukhin is a resident of Kherson and an open representative of the LGBTQ+ community. In the first days of the russian occupation, the 21-year-old Oleksii joined the resistance movement in Kherson and began establishing contact with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and intelligence units.

By May 2022, Oleksii was gathering information in the city that was crucial for Ukrainian special services. On May 9, during one of his missions, he encountered a new enemy checkpoint. He is certain someone had informed the russians about his activities, as they were already waiting for him at the checkpoint. The occupiers took his phone and passport and forced him to undress. They then blindfolded him, put him in a car, and drove him around the city for several hours before taking him to a pre-trial detention center (SIZO), where interrogations continued.

When the occupiers learned that Oleksii was queer, they forced him to wear a dress. He was denied showers, prohibited from going outside, and was provided with no medical or legal assistance. While his captors did not use physical violence, they subjected him to constant psychological pressure. Oleksii was released after two months of this psychological torture. Despite this, he remained in Kherson for a long time afterward and only left his hometown after its liberation. Oleksii is currently receiving psychological support and continues to volunteer in support of the Ukrainian military.

Oleksii Polukhin is available for interviews, both online and in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

Background: Kherson was occupied by russian forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion (March 1, 2022). The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the city from russian troops on November 11, 2022. The occupiers continue to shell the city regularly.

• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Lviv
• LGBT

On November 6, Lviv will host a special pre-premiere showing of the play “Alone”. The play tells the profound story of a severely wounded defender’s journey to adapt to his injury and civilian life.

The play’s author, Mykhailo Fatieiev, is a veteran and a soldier of the 103rd Lviv Territorial Defense Brigade who received treatment at the UNBROKEN Center. He wrote “Alone” earlier this year during his rehabilitation after sustaining a gunshot wound to the spine. Drawing from his experience, Fatieiev explores the inner world of someone who has endured war, loss, and severe injury.

The play will be performed by three UNBROKEN Center patients. In addition to the author himself, two other severely wounded defenders, Oleksii Stoliar and Ruslan Kukhta, will take the stage. They are joined by rehabilitation center mentor Viktoriia Khemych and two professional theater actors with personal experience in the military.
Journalists are invited to attend the pre-premiere of “Alone”. Accreditation is required for the event. Journalists will also have the opportunity to attend the official premiere performances on November 7 and 8.

• culture
• Lviv

When russia’s full-scale invasion broke out, Maksym Levchenko, known by his callsign “Roger,” didn’t think twice about joining the Ukrainian army. In the early days of the war, he and his comrades defended the Kyiv region. Later, when he learned there was a chance to reach the besieged city of Mariupol by helicopter, Maksym volunteered without hesitation. 

He says his decision was simple, his friends were fighting there, and he wanted to stand by them. Maksym went on to defend Mariupol until May 2022, when, acting on his commander’s orders, he surrendered to russian forces and was taken into captivity. 

He spent the next 13 months in captivity. During that time, he and a fellow soldier often talked about what they would do once they returned home. Their shared dream was to open an airsoft club, a place for camaraderie, training, and purpose beyond the battlefield.

In June 2023, Maksym was finally freed in a prisoner exchange. While waiting for his comrade’s release, he decided to bring their idea to life. He launched an airsoft club in Lviv, turning their wartime dream into a reality. Part of the club’s mission, he says, is to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces by raising funds for the military.

Maksym Levchenko is available for interviews online or in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• Lviv

Oleksandr Zhavnenko is 36 years old. When the full-scale invasion began, he supported the Ukrainian army as a volunteer. In 2023, he was mobilized and joined the ranks of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov”, serving as a drone operator.

In October 2024, Oleksandr sustained severe injuries that resulted in the loss of both his legs. After undergoing rehabilitation, he dreamed of dancing with his wife again, this time with prosthetic legs. The couple had first fallen in love in a dance studio years earlier.

While recovering, Oleksandr participated in a business course for patients of the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv, organized by the ReStart project: “From an Idea to a Veteran-Owned Business”. After completing the course, he developed a business plan, applied for a state grant, and secured funding to open his own dance studio. Named Yavir Dance Space, the studio officially opened in Lviv on October 18.

Oleksandr is available for interviews, both online and in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

A new collection by designer Fedor Vozianov titled DIY will be unveiled at Lviv Fashion Week on October 25. The collection features adaptive, comfortable, and stylish clothing with innovative fasteners and functional details. It is designed to be inclusive of all people, regardless of their physical abilities or gender.

Patients and a mentor from the UNBROKEN Center will model this inclusive collection. Taking to the runway will be:

• Yevhen Shvab: A veteran and former police officer from the Zhytomyr oblast who voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, lost a leg at the front, and battled depression. He is now training to become a psychotherapist to help other severely wounded defenders overcome their trauma.
• Viktoriia Khemych: A Lviv resident who lost a leg after being hit by a bus on a pedestrian crossing. After completing her rehabilitation, she joined the UNBROKEN team as a mentor. Viktoria has previously participated in several fashion shows, including walking alongside Yevhen Shvab at Berlin Fashion Week.
• Viktor Meshcheriakov: A musician and soldier from the Ivano-Frankivsk region who lost an arm due to a severe combat injury. He is now mastering a high-tech bionic prosthesis and has returned to creating music.

Members of the press are invited to attend the show. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to speak with designer Fedor Vozianov, the models, and representatives of the UNBROKEN team.

Accreditation for the event is required.

• culture
• Lviv

Roman Didera is a veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war who served as a paratrooper and machine gunner. In 2015, he was drafted into the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade. By the end of the year, however, Roman began to experience severe knee pain. He gradually lost the ability to walk, and faced the threat of amputation. Timely prosthetic surgeries provided him with two hip replacements and set him on a new path.

Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Roman discovered a passion for embroidery, inspired by his wife, Mariana. His first piece was a beaded image of Jesus Christ. He also created a Bayraktar shirt. Since then, Roman has mastered approximately 40 traditional stitches to create authentic vyshyvankas, traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts.

In three years, he has created 33 unique shirts, each a one-of-a-kind piece. In recognition of his skill, he was granted special permission to recreate a copy of Taras Shevchenko’s personal vyshyvanka. His expertise has earned him the title of Folk Master of Ukraine in Vyshyvanka and membership in the National Union of Folk Art Masters.

A dedicated online page, “Sorochka z rodu v rid” (A Shirt from Generation to Generation), now showcases and sells the embroidered works created by Roman and his wife.

Journalists can speak with Roman and his wife Mariana in Lviv or online, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

Alto, a one-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever, now works at St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital alongside Inna Doroniuk, an educator and early childhood development specialist who volunteers with animals.

Therapy dogs are specially trained four-legged companions who support and comfort patients during treatment and rehabilitation. To qualify, an animal must complete specialized instruction, extensive training, and ultimately pass a behavioral test.

Alto passed his exam with flying colors. His mission at the hospital now includes:

• Aiding in children’s psychotherapeutic recovery;
• Assisting in physical rehabilitation;
• Providing comfort and calming influence;
• Helping to overcome social isolation;
• Offering solace during difficult moments.

By prior arrangement, journalists are invited to cover Alto’s work on-site in Lviv.

• animals
• children
• Lviv

In western Ukraine’s Lviv region, local authorities are offering a unique form of rehabilitation for military personnel and their families, a chance to reconnect with nature through horseback riding and a mountain ascent.

The Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Oblast State Administration has announced two upcoming events as part of its Travel Therapy initiative. On October 18, defenders and their families are invited to take part in a horseback riding trip at a local ranch. A week later, on October 25, participants will have the opportunity to climb Pikui – the highest mountain in the Lviv region.

Media outlets are welcome to cover both activities by prior arrangement.

For reference: The Travel Therapy program was launched by the Department of Tourism and Resorts of the Lviv Oblast State Administration to promote emotional recovery and leisure for service members, female defenders, and their families. The initiative offers guided trips and outdoor activities across the region for those currently undergoing rehabilitation or on rotation.

• culture
• military
• Lviv

The Lviv Defense Cluster (LDC) is a professional volunteer association that began its work in February 2022. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, the team united specialists, manufacturers, businesses, and volunteers to create high-quality personal protective equipment.

Through the joint efforts of the team, donors, and partners, over 100,000 bulletproof vests have been manufactured and donated free of charge to the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, critical infrastructure workers, journalists, Ukrainian Railway employees, and other specialists working in front-line or dangerous regions.

A separate focus for the LDC has been protecting civilian medics: since 2022, over 4,000 specialized bulletproof vests have safeguarded medical workers in front-line areas.

Another important initiative is evacuation kits for children (comprising a bulletproof vest and a helmet). 550 such kits are used by units, including the White Angels crew, during the evacuation of children from combat zones.

Currently, the LDC continues to provide bulletproof vests on a targeted basis to utility workers in the Kherson and Sumy oblasts, who perform critically important work under shelling.

The Lviv Defense Cluster financially contributes to a number of social and rehabilitation projects, such as the “Tytanovi” project (prosthetics for Ukrainian soldiers) and the “Heroes Among Us” project (helping businesses adapt to working with veterans and facilitating their return to civilian life). Furthermore, the cluster’s specialists provide organizational and advisory support to defense technology startups, helping them find investors and establish cooperation with other manufacturers.

By prior arrangement, journalists can speak with LDC representatives in Lviv or online. It is also possible to see children’s and medical bulletproof vests and obtain photo and video materials.

• volunteers
• Lviv

On October 11, media representatives are invited to witness a remarkable display of resilience and creativity in Lviv, where a Ukrainian veteran will set a new national record by creating a painting from his wheelchair.

Valentyn Oleksiienko, 28, a patient at the UNBROKEN Center, was a tank driver in Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigade. His life changed dramatically on the front lines when, after digging fortifications, he dove into a pond to wash off the dirt, struck his head on the bottom, and sustained a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him with no feeling from the chest down.

Once indifferent to art, Valentyn discovered a passion for painting during his rehabilitation. With the guidance of Lviv-based artist Zirka Savka, he developed a unique technique that allows him to create expressive, one-of-a-kind works with his wheelchair.

The upcoming event will offer journalists a rare opportunity to observe Valentyn’s creative process and document the moment he officially sets a new national record. 

Journalists are required to be accredited to attend.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv