Themes by tag: Lviv

Lviv has inaugurated its first social home for severely wounded soldiers undergoing rehabilitation at the UNBROKEN Center. The new housing facility is designed to accommodate up to 60 people at a time, including both patients and their relatives.

The six-story building features 24 fully accessible apartments—20 two-room units and four one-room units. Each apartment is equipped with a kitchen and a bathroom, ensuring a comfortable living environment. The entire facility is barrier-free, designed to meet the needs of residents using crutches, wheelchairs, prosthetics, or those with visual impairments. Each unit is also fitted with a panic button for emergency assistance.

The primary goal of the social housing project is to support patients through the critical adaptation period following their injuries in a comfortable and accommodating environment.

The first residents, along with their families, have already moved in. In the coming months, the building will be further equipped with shared community spaces, and the terrace will serve as a public area for events. This is just the beginning—seven more buildings are planned for social housing to support the UNBROKEN Center’s patients.

Background: The initiative is managed by NEFCO as part of the “Housing for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Reconstruction of Liberated Cities in Ukraine” project, funded by the European Union.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

13-year-old Ukrainian Yana Stepanenko, who lost both her legs in a rocket attack on the Kramatorsk railway station in 2022, will run in the Tokyo Marathon on March 1, following her triumph in Boston last year. Media representatives are invited to attend her open training session in Lviv on February 19.

In Japan, Yana will run 5 kilometers on running prostheses to raise funds for two sports prostheses for Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Zhavnenko, who lost both legs on the front line. Oleksandr dreams of returning to an active lifestyle – playing sports, running and dancing. He was a dancer before the war, and his greatest wish is to return to the dance floor and waltz with his wife again.

Media accreditation is required for this event.

Background: In 2024, Yana completed a 5K run in the Boston Marathon and successfully raised funds for a sports prosthesis for Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Riasnyi.

On April 8, 2022, Yana Stepanenko lost both her legs as a result of a terrorist attack by russian forces on the railway station in Kramatorsk. A photo of her being carried in the arms of a surgeon from the First Medical Association of St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital in Lviv went around the world.

• casualties
• children
• russian crimes
• Lviv

From February 14 to 16, Ukrainian Railways is bringing back its “Train to You” romantic express, offering Ukrainian military personnel and their loved ones a unique railway experience.  

This year’s journey promises an unforgettable ride, with vintage steam locomotives setting the scene for a special celebration in both Kyiv and Lviv. The trip will last just over two hours, giving couples time to enjoy a private compartment with romantic music and a themed game designed for two. A charming tea party is also planned, along with special gifts for those traveling on Valentine’s Day, February 14.  

• culture
• military
• Kyiv
• Lviv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion outbreak, 58-year-old Halyna Hlobchasta was a math and physics teacher and served as the village elder of the Krasnorichenske community in Luhansk Oblast. But her life changed dramatically in late February 2022, when russian forces occupied her village, Makiivka.

On March 12, Halyna was abducted. Her captors took her to a local school and demanded to know where she had hidden weapons. When she refused, they beat her and subjected her to electric shocks. Eventually, she was released—but only under the condition that she would gather intelligence on her fellow villagers and report back to the occupiers.

The next day, Halyna and her husband made the difficult decision to flee, leaving behind everything, including money and documents. They managed to reach Dnipro, while her blind mother remained in the occupied territory until a neighbor later helped her escape to Kharkiv.

Now living in Lviv, Halyna has undergone extensive rehabilitation after enduring torture and displacement. Despite everything, she remains hopeful that one day she will return to her home village.

Those wishing to speak with Halyna can arrange a meeting with her in person or online.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• women
• Lviv

How can we talk about pain and loss without causing further trauma? How can the media report responsibly on sensitive issues? Which words help the reintegration of veterans? These questions will be the focus of a discussion in Lviv on February 11. The event will take place on the eve of the anniversary of the outbreak of full-scale war and the anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity, two events that have shaped the new Ukrainian reality and made the issue of responsible communication even more relevant.

The discussion will bring together psychologists, media professionals, volunteers, representatives of civil society organizations, and veterans.

Speakers include

• Orest Suvalo, Deputy Head of the Working Group for Program Development, Coordinator of the Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Mental Health for Ukraine”, Executive Director of the UCU Institute of Mental Health, Consultant for the Malteser Relief Service
• Halyna Bordun, Head of the Counseling and Coordination Center for Internally Displaced Persons in the Lviv oblast
• Nataliia Ivanchenko, Coordinator of the “How are you?” program in the Lviv oblast

Registration is required to participate in the event.

• Lviv

A dog-assisted therapy program to help rehabilitate both military personnel and civilians is currently underway at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. For two weeks, police dogs from the Dog Training Center of the Main Department of the National Police in the Kyiv oblast will work with patients at the center.

The dogs Vanda, Bentley, Ares and Polia worked during the de-occupation of the Kyiv oblast. They were used to search for saboteurs and looters and in demining operations.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, these trained assistance dogs have been actively working in hospitals across the Kyiv region and other areas, providing emotional support to patients. They have undergone special certification and are trained to assist in rehabilitation. Patients can play with, feed and pet the dogs as part of their therapy. The specialists who run the program use unique methods that combine psychological techniques and canine assisted therapy to help patients recover.

Journalists interested in covering these sessions in Lviv next week can arrange access by prior arrangement.

• animals
• casualties
• psychological support
• Lviv

Liudmyla and Ihor lived in the Lviv oblast and raised two sons. When the full-scale invasion began, Ihor did not hesitate to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, even though he had no previous military experience.

A month after Ihor went to war, his father died. A few months later, Liudmyla’s uncle also died, and just three weeks after that, she suffered another devastating loss — her mother died of cancer.

Ihor served in the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of Galicia, where he carried out duties as both a soldier and a medic. His unit participated in the liberation of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, as well as in intense battles near Kreminna and Bakhmut. In one of these battles Ihor was killed.

The loss of their father was very hard for the children. Their eldest son, who was six at the time, became withdrawn, he often cried remembering his father, grandmother and grandfather. There were moments when he lost interest in life altogether, answering every question with “I don’t care” or “I want to go to daddy in heaven”.

For Liudmyla, this was the time of her greatest trial. In March 2024, the family suffered another loss: her stepfather, who had been a wonderful grandfather to the children, died. It felt as if she had no strength left. But eventually Liudmyla realized an essential truth: in order to give to others, you must first restore yourself.

She turned to psychologists, doctors, and to God. Thanks to various charitable foundations and NGOs, the family attended psychological and spiritual camps and retreats. This helped Liudmyla and her children to return to life.

Background: The charitable foundation Children of Heroes is currently assisting Liudmyla’s family. The foundation assists children who have lost one or both parents to the full-scale russian invasion. It provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and helps with education and personal development until the children reach adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Lviv

The Lviv State University of Internal Affairs has a driving school for people with disabilities. Since the launch of the “Without Barriers” project, 20 students have received their driving licenses. Among them are seven servicemen who were injured on the front lines.

In September 2024, the driving school began training people with hearing and speech impairments. The students completed the theoretical course with the help of sign language interpreters. Currently, some students have already passed the theoretical exam and are preparing for practical driving lessons. Driving practice is also carried out with the help of interpreters.

You can communicate with the project participants and instructors of the driving school for people with disabilities online or offline by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

In a remarkable blend of art and healing, an organ built using fragments of enemy missiles that struck the Kyiv region is being used to aid the psychological and physical rehabilitation of wounded defenders. Over the next two months, musicians from the Lviv Organ Hall will conduct a series of master classes for patients at the Unbroken Ukraine’s National Rehabilitation Center. These sessions will allow participants to play this extraordinary instrument and learn about its history and mechanics.  

The organ, currently installed at the Lviv railway station, is the creation of Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova. It was developed as part of the Instrument project, a series of performances that brought together Ukrainian and international musicians. Over the course of two months, performers delivered their programs at the station every Friday and Saturday, using the organ as a centerpiece.  

For reference: The rehabilitation initiative for Ukraine’s wounded defenders is a joint effort supported by Ukrzaliznytsia, the Lviv Organ Hall, and the Lviv City Council. 

• casualties
• culture
• military
• psychological support
• Lviv

Andriy Stanko lost his eyesight as a child. A year ago, he became a mentor for blind people in an inclusive library in Lviv called Sensoteka. This inclusive space is equipped with everything needed for the visually impaired: the floors have tactile tiles with raised dots to help blind people navigate with a cane. The library also prints books in Braille.

Twice a week, Andriy visits Sensoteka, where he teaches digital literacy to blind people. His mentees include veterans who lost their sight on the front lines.

Using a specialized program called NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA), Andriy has already added accessibility features to a laptop, desktop computer, and two tablets in the inclusive space.

You can talk to Andriy both online and offline by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• Lviv