Themes by tag: Lviv

Oleksandr Miroshnikov, a 62-year-old master jeweler, has spent more than half his life crafting intricate designs. Recognized as an Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine and a full recipient of the prestigious Fabergé Memorial Foundation awards, Miroshnikov has taken on a unique challenge since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion—creating jewelry from titanium salvaged from russian missile wreckage.

The titanium, extracted from downed Kalibr and Kh-101 missiles provided by Ukrainian forces, is far more challenging to work with than gold or platinum, Miroshnikov says, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

His creations have found homes in museums and private collections across Ukraine, Europe, the United States, and the UAE, and they’re frequently featured at exhibitions. Currently, he is finishing a piece titled “Fleur de Fougère” (Fern Flower). 

Those interested in connecting with Oleksandr can meet him in Mykolaiv or the Lviv region, either in person or online, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• weapon
• Lviv

Maryna Zhdan is a 44-year-old Lviv resident and mother of four. Before the beginning of the full-scale war, Maryna was an avid traveler, running her own travel blog and visiting 40 countries. But she says her favorite place is in Ukraine: the village of Stuzhytsia in Zakarpattia, home to a 1,300-year-old oak tree. The majestic tree made a deep impression on her, as she has loved plants since childhood. When Maryna moved into her own home, she began transforming her surroundings into a lush indoor jungle.

In 2022, Maryna decided to sell her plants to raise money for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She created a social media page called “Khatni Khashchi” (“Home Jungle”). Through her efforts, she managed to raise 380,000 UAH to support the Ukrainian Army.

Later, Maryna and her daughter began to set up a place they named “MAZANKA Space”. Once renovations are complete, it will serve as a potted plant shop and her daughter will offer tattoo services.

You can contact Maryna Zhdan either online or in person in Lviv by appointment.

• military
• women
• Lviv

For the first time in Ukraine, surgeons have performed a groundbreaking facial nerve reconstruction using the most advanced method available. This unique procedure was successfully performed by specialists at St. Panteleimon Hospital of the First Medical Association of Lviv. On January 13, journalists are invited to meet the patient and the surgical team in Lviv.

The patient, 33-year-old Olha Rudenko from Kherson, faced a life-changing challenge. Several years ago, doctors discovered and removed a cyst from her left parotid gland. Unfortunately, the cyst came back, and a second surgery in this high-risk area damaged the trunk of the facial nerve. As a result, the left side of Olha’s face was completely paralyzed.

Reconstructive surgeons from Lviv, in cooperation with international specialists, performed a complex procedure known as facial nerve reanimation. This cutting-edge method is considered the most advanced and challenging in the world, with a 99% success rate. It was a first for Ukraine and a resounding success.

Three months after the surgery, the results are already visible. Olha has started to smile again. Her cheek is gradually regaining movement and her left eye can now close. However, nerve recovery is a long process, and the final results will not be seen for up to a year after the surgery. Olha is currently in rehabilitation.

Journalists must register to attend.

Additional materials: Footage of the patient before surgery and images of the procedure will be available.

• doctors
• women
• Lviv

World Central Kitchen (WCK) has opened its first community kitchen in Lviv, providing vital cooking facilities for a shelter housing families of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The kitchen was established in a dormitory that previously lacked any cooking infrastructure. To create the space, WCK renovated a former assembly hall, constructing an additional wall to accommodate a fully modern kitchen.  

The facility is equipped with electric stoves, ovens, refrigerators, exhaust hoods, workstations, a dishwashing area, and a generator to ensure uninterrupted operation. The shelter can host up to 300 residents, including 100 children, 100 adults, and 100 elderly individuals. Thanks to the new kitchen, residents can now prepare nutritious meals in a safe and comfortable environment.  

Before the kitchen’s opening, WCK had provided over 157,000 meals to IDPs at the shelter from June 1, 2022.  

For reference: Since the onset of russia’s all-out invasion, WCK has prepared more than 274 million meals, including 68 million hot meals. The organization has also distributed over 10.1 million food parcels, totaling 109,037 tons of aid. 

Founded by acclaimed chef José Andrés, WCK has a long history of responding to crises worldwide, from natural disasters to wars, delivering meals and hope to those in need.  

• casualties
• food
• Lviv

To raise awareness about the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still held in enemy captivity, a performance entitled “Third Christmas in Captivity” will be held in Lviv, accompanied by peaceful rallies in 24 cities across Ukraine.

Scheduled events:

December 21: Peaceful rallies in Okhtyrka, Pivdennoukrainsk, Chernihiv, Irpin, Vinnytsia, Kolomyia, Zhytomyr, Obukhiv, Poltava, Pavlohrad, and Zaporizhia.

December 22: Peaceful rallies in Kyiv, Uman, Krolevets, Korosten, Ovruch, Cherkasy, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Korostyshiv, Kovel, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Ostroh, and Lviv.

The events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison. The rallies are often attended by Ukrainians who have been released from captivity.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Odesa

During the Christmas season a number of events are held in Lviv. On Christmas Eve, December 24, at 12:00, the main Lviv didukh (Christmas decoration) will be installed on Angel Square near the Garrison Church.

From December 25, 2024 to January 12, 2025 the “Great Carol” festival will take place. New this year is the Grand Christmas Tour. Lviv tour guides have prepared a special themed route through the central streets of the city for the holiday season. Residents and visitors are also invited to attend the “Christmas Prayer” performance on the northern side of Rynok Square.

Honoring those who gave their lives for Ukraine: this year a memorial carol will be sung at the Lychakiv cemetery. On the last Saturday of the month (December 28), families of Ukraine’s fallen defenders will gather to pay tribute to those who made it possible to celebrate Christmas at home through their ultimate sacrifice.

• culture
• Lviv

On December 7, Lviv will witness the grand opening of Vrazhaye (“Amaze”) café, a heartfelt venture launched by veteran Serhii Petchenko and his wife, Anna. Their young son has become the symbolic face of the café, which aims to inspire resilience and hope.

Serhii’s military journey began during the ATO, where he sustained his first injury in 2015. When the full-scale invasion erupted, he volunteered again, defending Ukraine in high-risk areas. Tragedy struck on June 10, 2023, when Serhii boarded a train from Kyiv to Kharkiv. Hours later, he was discovered on the tracks, having been run over by the train. The incident left him without both arms and part of his foot. His family suspects he may have been drugged, as Serhii has no memory of the horrific events of that night.

Journalists can schedule interviews with Serhii and Anna by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

As part of the “St. Nicholas for Children in Need” campaign, the Maltese Relief Service has received more than 2,000 heartfelt letters from children across Ukraine. The letters come from children with disabilities, those who lost their parents to the war, whose parents are held in captivity, and children facing difficult life circumstances or without parental care.

In many of the letters, children ask St. Nicholas for peace and victory for Ukraine. Some requests are deeply personal—a child wishes for their father to receive a new leg, while another hopes their mother will return from captivity. Others even express concern for the saint’s safety, warning him to be careful amid the missile attacks. Alongside these touching pleas, children also ask for traditional gifts such as toys, scooters, and bicycles.

The letters are sorted by benefactors, who fulfill the children’s wishes by delivering gifts to the Maltese Relief Service’s office, which serves as St. Nicholas’ residence for the campaign’s duration.

Volunteers are now completing the final stages of gift packing. Deliveries have already begun, with gifts sent to locations in the Lviv and Kharkiv regions. The main distribution events will take place from December 2 to 7.

Journalists are invited to cover the gift distribution in Lviv and surrounding areas and can also meet with St. Nicholas’ helpers to learn more about the campaign.

• casualties
• children
• Lviv

Anastasiia Saksman, 32, took an unconventional path into the military. She prepared for service in the Armed Forces by attending paid military training courses, where she learned first aid and weapons handling. Meanwhile, she sent her resume to various units, determined to find her place.

Unexpectedly, her opportunity came through a dating app. A soldier she connected with reviewed her resume and forwarded it to his unit. After passing the interview, Saksman joined the army as a UAV operator in early 2023.

Tragedy struck in September 2024 when Saksman’s vehicle hit an enemy mine. The doctors had to amputate her left limb, while the battle to save the right one continues. Waking up in intensive care, “Ada” made a remarkable request: she asked not to be discharged, vowing to return to the front lines with a prosthetic leg.

Currently, Saksman is undergoing rehabilitation in the Lviv region as she awaits prosthetics.

Those wishing to speak with Anastasiia Saksman, either online or in person, can do so by arranging approval through the unit’s press officer.

• casualties
• military
• women
• Lviv

The “Instrument” by Zhanna Kadyrova is a unique installation at the Lviv railway station, featuring a pipe organ crafted from fragments of exploded russian missiles that fell in the Kyiv oblast.

“Instrument” is a series of musical performances by the project’s creator, artist Zhanna Kadyrova. She has invited Ukrainian and international musicians to perform weekly original programs on this unique organ.

Concert schedule:

November 30 / December 1, 2024 – Kateryna Hazho, Uzhhorod

December 6 / 7, 2024 – Bohdan Demianenko, Kyiv

December 13 / 14, 2024 – Insomnia Taxxi (Iryna Novikova), Kyiv-Gothenburg

December 20/21, 2024 – Sandor Schreiner, Olha Chundak, Uzhhorod

December 27-28, 2024 – Ivan Sarajishvili, Georgia-Norway

January 3 / 4, 2025 – Lviv Organ Hall

January 10-11, 2025 – Nils Henrik, Norway

January 17 / 18, 2025 – Oleksii Shmurak (Kyiv), Vitalii Dvorovyi (Lviv)

• culture
• russian crimes
• Lviv