Themes by tag: Lviv

To help children and their parents cope with the psychological effects of the war, mobile teams of psychologists from the Voices of Children charity foundation travel to villages and small towns where there are no specialists, relevant institutions or reliable public transport. They organize individual and group psychological and psychosocial support for children and parents affected by the war (IDPs with destroyed homes and other losses).  

By prior arrangement, journalists can cover the group sessions and talk to the participants (children and their parents).

Coverage can focus on the work of the mobile psychological teams in the Kyiv region (on 30 September at the modular town for temporarily displaced persons in the village of Liubymivka), as well as in the Mykolaiv and Lviv oblasts.

Background: Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 102,000 children and parents have received various types of support. In Ukraine, the Voices of Children Foundation currently operates 13 centers and an online helpline providing free psychological support. Over 200 psychologists and psychotherapists are working to preserve the childhoods and smiles of Ukrainian children.

• children
• psychological support
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Mykolaiv

Oleh Hural enlisted in the Ukrainian military in April 2020, signing a contract with the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He took part in the Kharkiv counteroffensive during the all-out invasion. In November 2022, a severe injury on the front line left him permanently blind.

Despite undergoing two surgeries, Oleh’s sight could not be restored. Unable to return to military service, he began working from home with his mother, producing and selling handmade dumplings. However, his career took a new direction when he trained to become a massage therapist. Today, Oleh works at the Halychyna Rehabilitation Center, helping fellow wounded soldiers on their path to recovery. His mother accompanies him to the bus, but he has since mastered navigating the commute alone, counting steps and memorizing landmarks over two years. While he continues his search for medical experts who might restore his sight, Oleh remains committed to his work. 

For reference: Oleh Hural lives in the Lviv region and is open to interviews, either online or in person, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

On September 26, Lviv residents are invited to take part in the 19th Red Brunch Donor Day, an initiative led by the Yanina Sokolova Foundation to gather blood donations for Ukrainian military personnel. 

The event aims to save lives while promoting a culture of responsible donation across the country. 

For reference: Since 2019, the Foundation has been breaking down stereotypes surrounding blood donation by hosting Red Brunches at major offices, hotels, and hubs. These events feature refreshments, networking opportunities, and incentive gifts for participants. To date, 2,887 donors have contributed, helping to save over 9,156 lives.

• volunteers
• Lviv

During russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church priests Bohdan Heleta and Ivan Levytskyi continued to serve their parish in occupied Berdiansk, located in the Zaporizhia region. On November 16, 2022, russian forces abducted them. The soldiers reportedly came directly to the church, offering Father Bohdan a chance to cooperate—an offer both priests declined. Soon after, the russians claimed they had allegedly discovered weapons inside the church.

Father Bohdan spent nine months imprisoned in Berdiansk before being transferred to a penal colony in Horlivka, within the occupied Donetsk region, where he endured another ten months. In total, he spent a grueling year and a half in captivity. Throughout his imprisonment, Father Bohdan endured harsh conditions, often sleeping on the floor and being subjected to the constant sounds of others being tortured by the russians. While in solitary confinement in Berdiansk, he was forced to listen to Soviet-era music playing through a speaker for hours on end, an experience that pushed him to the edge of sanity. The abuse only worsened in Horlivka.

On June 28, 2024, both Father Bohdan and Father Ivan were finally freed during a prisoner exchange.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Father Bohdan, either in person in Lviv or virtually, by prior agreement.

• occupation
• prisoners
• religion
• russian crimes
• Lviv

The Bridge of Trust team is building an ecosystem for Ukrainian startups and international investors. They are bringing nearly 100 investors from 12 countries to the IT Arena tech conference.

The Bridge of Trust is a non-profit organization that aims to channel support from Western countries to Ukraine, in particular by bringing together international investors and Ukrainian startups. The organization was founded by Jussi Muurikainen, a Finnish venture capitalist, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“We want to build a long-term ecosystem based on trust, which means creating connections, structures and channels through which Ukrainian startups can get contacts and mentoring support. International investors, in turn, can make good investments in promising local startups and help Ukraine,” Jussi said.

Journalists can learn more about the company’s activities and speak with Jussi Muurikainen. Interviews with foreign investors are also possible by prior arrangement.

• Lviv

Irena Danysh is an American with Ukrainian roots. She has traveled the world teaching English in various countries. She first visited Ukraine in 2003, and in 2022 she left Seattle and moved to Lviv. Irena says she wasn’t afraid of the war because she had worked extensively with humanitarian organizations and understood that Lviv was quite safe.

The American got a job as a teacher at one of the higher education institutions. She also volunteers at a charity working with young people. Irena says she feels not only American, but also Ukrainian, and plans to continue living in Ukraine.

For reference: You can talk with Irena Danysh online. On November 17, the American will return to Ukraine and will be available for offline meetings.

• volunteers
• women
• Lviv

On September 27, Lviv will host IT Arena 2024, a three-day, English-language technology conference. The event, which annually attracts over 5,000 entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders, offers a platform for discussions, business networking, and inspiration.

Since its inception over a decade ago, IT Arena has played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of Ukraine’s tech industry. This year’s edition will expand its focus, offering new opportunities for startups and local companies.

Journalists are invited to explore the program and cover the event, with accreditation required for attendance.

• Lviv

The “Homefront Affairs” residency program, run by the Lviv Municipal Art Center, brings together artists to  create projects aimed at supporting and rehabilitating veterans and those impacted by the war.

According to WHO research, interaction with culture and art positively affects mental and physical health and promotes the socialization of those who are in a state of trauma.

Over seven weeks this summer, 12 multidisciplinary artists attended lectures, participated in practical seminars on art therapy, studied the principles of nonviolent communication, learned about inclusive transformations of cities, and acquainted themselves with successful rehabilitation project cases.

Ten artist-led projects for veterans and their families are currently underway as part of the “Homefront Affairs” initiative. These projects include a range of activities, such as a tattoo training course for military personnel and veterans, painting 3D models of military vehicles to illustrate their service, art courses for the wives of fallen soldiers, a graffiti workshop for veterans, and interactive performances for veterans’ families and displaced persons in collaboration with the Lviv Puppet Theater, among others.

Journalists can arrange in advance to report on the ongoing “Homefront Affairs” project.

For reference: The “Homefront Affairs” programme was developed by the NGO “Cultural Agency “Liniya Vtechi”, as part of UNESCO’s ongoing efforts to support the mental health and well-being of people in Ukraine. It is implemented with the support of the Lviv Culture Hub, the Lviv Municipal Art Center and is financed by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

• culture
• Lviv

To speed up the restoration of buildings destroyed by russian forces, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi has called on Ukrainian and international businesses to adopt one of these damaged buildings. In less than a day, two Ukrainian companies and one international organization have already joined the “Adopt a House” campaign.

On September 4, a massive missile attack on Lviv killed 7 people. 188 buildings were damaged by russia, 20 are in critical condition. These include historical monuments, residential buildings and schools.

The “Adopt a House” campaign is ongoing, and the Lviv City Council continues to call on local and international businesses, as well as international charitable organizations, to help restore the buildings destroyed by the enemy. What is important: the city does not announce a fundraising campaign, but invites participants to take responsibility for a building and restore it.

• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Lviv

On August 29, St. Luke’s Hospital in Lviv will mark a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new modular Mental Health Center. Media representatives are invited to attend this event at Lviv’s First Medical Union.

The upcoming Mental Health Center will offer specialized psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care to both civilians and military personnel, including local residents and internally displaced persons. 

The 900-square-meter, fully accessible facility will feature two main sections: an inpatient unit with 32 beds and an outpatient area equipped for individual and group therapy sessions. A 65-square-meter glass terrace is also planned, providing a serene space for inpatients to relax. The building will be designed without thresholds, with handrails and optimally wide doorways, ensuring ease of movement for patients using wheelchairs, prostheses, or other assistive devices.

Speakers:

• Andriy Sadovyi, Lviv Mayor;
• Vasyl Trunkwalter, St. Luke’s Hospital Director
• Christian Schuchardt, Mayor of Würzburg, Lviv’s sister city in Germany.

Prior accreditation is required for media attendance.

• doctors
• Lviv