Themes by tag: military

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Mykyta Kozachynskyi lived and worked in Dnipro. In 2016, he and his friends launched a Module nightclub, which later evolved into a music label. Kozachynskyi recorded up-and-coming artists and released vinyl records.

On the second day of the war, he reunited with the club’s bartender and administrator at the enlistment point for the 128th Territorial Defense Brigade, known as “Dyke Pole.” They were assigned to the same battalion. Not long after, another co-founder of the club joined their ranks. Following their first combat operations in April 2022, Kozachynskyi and his comrades began forming an eponymous drone unit, Module. Initially focused on aerial reconnaissance, the unit eventually became an assault force.

Today, Kozachynskyi is leading the development of a training center that prepares drone pilots for all five battalions of the brigade. There, service members are trained on existing platforms and introduced to emerging technologies being adopted across the Ukrainian military.

Interviews with Mykyta Kozachynskyi can be arranged in advance, online, or in person in Zaporizhia, with approval from the brigade’s press officer.

• military
• Zaporizhzhia

Before the full-scale invasion, Svitlana worked as an intensive care nurse at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro. In the early days of the war, she joined the Ukrainian military as a combat medic.

In May 2024, her unit was stationed at a stronghold in Donetsk oblast when russian forces surrounded their position. While her comrades held the line, Svitlana grabbed a grenade launcher and maneuvered toward the enemy. She flanked the building where the russians were stationed and fired, eliminating the entire hostile group in one strike.

Her actions allowed Ukrainian forces to conduct a rotation and evacuate personnel from the besieged positions. For her bravery, Svitlana was awarded the Cross of the Land Forces.

Journalists can interview Svitlana online or in person in Zaporizhia, by prior coordination with her press officer.

• doctors
• military
• women
• Zaporizhzhia

In 2018, Alina Shukh claimed the world junior title in javelin and became the European heptathlon champion at both junior and senior levels. She trained intensively and competed on international stages.

Following russia’s full-scale invasion, Alina balanced her athletic career with volunteer efforts, supporting both Ukrainian civilians and military personnel. She also gave interviews to international media, aiming to raise global awareness of the war.

Several months ago, she made the decision to enlist. After just two and a half months of training, Alina joined the ranks of the Khartiia 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. She now works alongside international fighters, assisting with their integration and accompanying them through recruitment and combat deployment.

Alina Shukh is available for interviews both online and in person, subject to prior coordination and approval from the unit’s press officer.

• military
• women

Andrii Novosad is a physical therapist by profession, though he had never worked in the field. When the full-scale invasion began, he started volunteering by making Molotov cocktails and weaving camouflage nets for the military.

One day, a friend who worked at a rehabilitation center called Andrii to tell him about the shortage of specialists working with severely wounded soldiers. Without hesitation, Andrii began working as a physical therapist. While working, he saw a soldier who had lost both hands being fed by his wife. This inspired Andrii to start thinking about adaptive devices that could help the wounded eat independently.

He discussed the problem with his parents, who are engineers and manufacture rehabilitation equipment. Together, they developed a prototype of adaptive tableware and gave it to soldiers for testing. The design includes two types of special cuffs — one with a fork and one with a spoon. Soldiers can put on and take off these utensils without assistance.

Currently, Andrii and his family provide them free of charge to those with double amputations or anyone in need.

You can contact Andrii Novosad online or in person in Lviv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• volunteers
• Lviv

On June 7, Kyiv will host a rally and public action titled “Ours Are Not Home Yet” in support of Ukrainian soldiers who are missing or held in captivity.

The event is organized by the community of families of missing and captured servicemen from the 32nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the AFU. 

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, Vladyslav Trotsiuk lived in Kherson and worked as an IT professional. On February 25, 2022, he evacuated his mother and sister from the city. While his family fled abroad, Vladyslav and a friend enlisted in the Defense Forces.

He served as a combat engineer, operating in the Kyiv and Donetsk regions. In the summer of 2023, he was wounded by a landmine. Vladyslav was transferred to Volyn for treatment. There, he met his future wife. Trotsiuk recalls seeing Maryna for the first time while lying on the operating table, she was working as a nurse. A month later, they met again, and have remained in contact since.

Following the injury, doctors were forced to amputate his leg. He later adapted to a prosthetic, proposed to Maryna, and in January 2025, the two were married.

Vladyslav Trotsiuk is available for interviews, both online and in person in Lutsk, by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Lutsk

The Marine Corps’ psychological obstacle course is a unique test granting soldiers the right to wear the navy beret — a symbol of endurance, strength, and moral fortitude.

The obstacle course begins with individual physical fitness assessments, followed by challenges testing the marines’ will, endurance, stability, and the support of fellow soldiers in challenging situations. The event takes place twice a year. 

Journalists may attend the event and interview participants by prior arrangement with the battalion’s press officer.

• military

Volodymyr, known by the call sign “Willie,” is 21. He faced the full-scale invasion as a teenager. When he turned 18 in March 2022, he immediately reported to the Territorial Recruitment Center. Initially, officials tried to dissuade him from enlisting. But soon after, he learned about an open recruitment for a combat unit, passed the interview and training, and joined the Defense Forces just a month later.

Volodymyr went on to serve in several units, carrying out missions both at the front and in the rear. In 2023, he and his fellow soldiers began working with ground-based robotic systems. After a year of hands-on experience, they joined the FLCN SQUAD team and shifted their focus to advancing military robotics. Their first major application of the technology was in logistics: using robots to deliver food and ammunition to positions, helping to reduce risks to human life.

Today, FLCN SQUAD is developing robotic systems capable of evacuating the wounded and the fallen from the battlefield. Although Volodymyr was discharged from the military in February 2025, he remains actively involved, supporting his former unit and helping troops deploy robotics on the front lines.

Volodymyr and the FLCN SQUAD team are available for interviews or discussions both online and in person, subject to prior coordination and management approval.

• military

Ivan Soroka enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine after russia launched its full-scale invasion. On February 24, the military enlistment office was recruiting soldiers for the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after the Black Zaporozhians — the unit Ivan joined. He defended the village of Moshchun in the Kyiv oblast before his unit was redeployed to the eastern front. 

In August 2022, an enemy mine exploded just steps away from him. His comrade was killed instantly, while Ivan lost his sight. “Who needs me blind?” was Ivan’s first thought when he regained consciousness. The answer came from his fiancée, Vladyslava, whom he had met online in April 2022. She visited the wounded soldier in the hospital. The couple had hoped that Ivan’s vision would return, but it never did. In September 2023, Ivan and Vladyslava were married.

Today, Ivan is confidently adapting to his new reality and striving for independence. He launched his own blog, where he explores unusual foods and drinks. He says he has discovered a new way to “see” — through taste, sound, and touch. Last year, Ivan joined the charity foundation “Let’s See The Victory”, where he supports fellow blind veterans and others who are adjusting to life without sight.

You can speak with Ivan Soroka online or meet him in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

At just 24, Yevhen Hromadskyi is a seventh-generation soldier who earned the title of Hero of Ukraine for his extraordinary courage under fire. His first battle came on the very first day of russia’s full-scale invasion, as he defended the Kharkiv region while serving in the National Guard of Ukraine.

Then a platoon commander, Hromadskyi was ordered to hold the line. Among his unit, he was the only one trained to operate a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher (RPG). When a russian convoy advanced on their position, Hromadskyi acted alone, and managed to stop it.

His father, retired colonel Oleh Hromadskyi, fought in the same battle and was killed on February 24, 2022. The loss marked a turning point for Yevhen, making the war deeply personal.

In recognition of his bravery and steadfast defense of Kharkiv, Hromadskyi was awarded the Hero of Ukraine title at the age of 21. Since then, he has seen combat in some of the most intense areas along the front line. He now aspires to rise through the ranks and one day become a general.

Currently based in Kyiv, Yevhen Hromadskyi is available for interviews with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Kyiv