Themes by tag: Lviv

Ania Kudzia is a Polish citizen who restores monuments for a living. For the past ten years, the woman and her team have been helping to restore Ukraine’s architectural heritage. The restorers have set up a workshop in Lviv where they work on sculptures.

With the beginning of the full-scale war, Ania together with a group of Polish-Ukrainian restorers founded the Ukraina Pomagamy initiative. They buy cars and medicines for the front and assemble first aid kits for soldiers in their workshop. Ania Kudzia delivers all of it to the front line by herself or together with a team of women. Since the initiative was created, volunteers have managed to send seven cars to the front, including an ambulance.

In addition, the restorers underwent a tactical medicine course in Poland, and now they plan to complete the next level of the course, because in the future they are considering the possibility of working as medics at the front.

Ania Kudzia and her team are in Lviv. Restorers are ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• volunteers
• Lviv

The Yanina Sokolova Foundation is set to host its 18th Red Brunch Donor Day in Lviv, a vital blood collection effort aiming to support Ukraine’s military personnel.

On August 29, both locals and visitors in Lviv will have the chance to donate blood, contributing directly to saving the lives of soldiers on the front lines.

The event’s mission is to save lives while raising awareness about the importance of conscious blood donation in Ukraine.

For reference: Since 2019, the Yanina Sokolova Foundation has been challenging stereotypes around blood donation. By organizing Red Brunch events in major offices of socially responsible companies, hotels, and community hubs, the foundation has created an environment that includes refreshments, networking opportunities, and incentive gifts for donors. To date, 2,981 individuals have donated, helping to save more than 8,943 lives.

• volunteers
• Lviv

Serhii Petchenko, along with his wife Anna, is spearheading the catering establishment project. The couple’s vision is to open a café offering breakfast, lunch, and desserts. They have secured a location and renovations are already underway, with plans to welcome guests in about a month.

Serhii Petchenko, a former combatant in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), sustained his first injury in 2015. When the full-scale invasion began, he volunteered to fight in the most perilous areas. 

On June 10, 2023, Serhii boarded a train from Kyiv to Kharkiv. Shortly thereafter, he was discovered on the tracks, having been struck by a train. As a result, he lost both arms and part of his foot. His family believes he may have been drugged, as he has no recollection of the harrowing night.

Journalists are granted prior permission to interview Serhii and Anna.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

A new recruitment center for the Unmanned Systems Forces, the latest branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has opened in Lviv. This facility provides information on service opportunities and enables interested individuals to enlist in this innovative military unit. Established in partnership with the Lviv City Council, the center’s primary role is to interview candidates and guide them to the territorial recruitment centers. It features drone simulators, allowing prospective recruits to experience and understand the technology firsthand. 

For context: The Unmanned Systems Forces, inaugurated in May 2024, represent a pioneering military branch, integrating air, sea, surface, underwater, and ground unmanned and robotic systems into its operations.

• Lviv

On July 25, Lviv residents are invited to participate in the 17th Red Brunch Donor Day, organized by the Yanina Sokolova Foundation. This event aims to collect blood to support the needs of Ukrainian soldiers.

The primary goal of the event is to save lives and promote a culture of conscious donation in Ukraine.

For reference: Since 2019, the Yanina Sokolova Foundation has been working to change stereotypes about blood donation by hosting Red Brunch events in major offices of socially responsible companies, hotels, and hubs. These events feature treats for donors, networking opportunities, and incentive gifts. So far, 2,887 donors have contributed, helping to save over 8,661 lives.

• volunteers
• Lviv

The Lviv region has launched its first inclusive retreat, Veteran Camp, designed for veterans and their families. This initiative is part of the League of the Unconquered sports rehabilitation project for veterans, offering free training and entertainment for the defenders.

So far, 47 veterans undergoing rehabilitation in local medical facilities have participated. The heroes engaged in various activities, including rope park challenges, fishing, swimming, and Nordic walking.

These camps will be held at the end of each summer month. 

Journalists can cover the camp tentatively set for July by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

A social project in support of Ukrainian defenders has been operating in Lviv and Ternopil, since the beginning of the full-scale war. The project makes it possible for couples to undergo a free infertility treatment program, as well as to cryopreserve (freeze) their biological material (sperm and eggs).

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more about this project by talking to the doctor of medical sciences, reproductive endocrinologist Stefan Khmil. And, if possible, with couples who used the services provided by the initiative.

• children
• doctors
• military
• Lviv
• Ternopil

On July 5, media representatives are invited to spend the day with operators of the Unified Veterans’ Line in Lviv. This is a unique, free telephone line created to provide comprehensive assistance to veterans, their families and families of fallen soldiers. Although the Line is currently working in test mode, operators receive thousands of different requests every day, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

During the open-door day, media representatives will be able to observe the work of operators in real time and find out what veterans ask about.

Speakers:

Ruslan Prykhodko — Deputy Minister of Veteran Affairs of Ukraine;

Maria Kutina — Head of the Information Center at the Unified Veterans’ Line.

Accreditation is open until 6:00 PM on July 4.

• Lviv

Before the full-scale war, 27-year-old Vadym Bartashchuk from Vinnytsia region worked in construction. On the second day of the invasion, he voluntarily joined the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and fought with them for nearly two years. Vadym participated in battles in the Kherson and Donetsk regions, including the defense of Avdiivka. He was injured on February 16, 2024, just before Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city. A bullet struck his right leg, and he couldn’t be evacuated for hours. With a tourniquet on for 11 hours, doctors at the nearest medical center had no choice but to amputate to save his life. After multiple hospital stays, Vadym arrived at the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv for prosthetics and rehabilitation. By his third week at the center, he had fully adapted to his artificial limb and now moves without crutches.

Vadym’s foremost wish is to return to his comrades in the 3rd Assault Brigade, confident he can still contribute effectively with his prosthesis.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Vadym in Lviv, though no filming is allowed.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

Peaceful demonstrations are planned in at least 20 cities to remind about the Azovstal defenders and other soldiers who are still held captive by the enemy.

On June 29, events will take place in Dnipro, Lviv, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia and Bila Tserkva.

On June 30, rallies are planned in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kremenchuk, Krolevka, Korosten, Ovruch, Obikhov, Sumy, Uzhhorod, Kryvyi Rih, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa.

The events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison.

• military
• prisoners
• Dnipro
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Odesa