Themes by tag: military

Oleksandr Zhavnenko is 36 years old. When the full-scale invasion began, he supported the Ukrainian army as a volunteer. In 2023, he was mobilized and joined the ranks of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov”, serving as a drone operator.

In October 2024, Oleksandr sustained severe injuries that resulted in the loss of both his legs. After undergoing rehabilitation, he dreamed of dancing with his wife again, this time with prosthetic legs. The couple had first fallen in love in a dance studio years earlier.

While recovering, Oleksandr participated in a business course for patients of the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv, organized by the ReStart project: “From an Idea to a Veteran-Owned Business”. After completing the course, he developed a business plan, applied for a state grant, and secured funding to open his own dance studio. Named Yavir Dance Space, the studio officially opened in Lviv on October 18.

Oleksandr is available for interviews, both online and in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

Andrii Madzharov, a Ukrainian veteran, public figure, and member of a veterans’ union, has been defending Ukraine since 2015. Following the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, he joined the Safari special forces unit of the Ukrainian National Police, participating in battles across the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions.

In August 2025, Madzharov embarked on a remarkable journey on foot from Ukraine to Brussels, aiming to amplify the voices of his comrades and remind Europe of the human cost of Ukraine’s struggle. Along the way, he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, presenting him with the chevron he wore during his service as a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience.

Andrii Madzharov is available to connect online for conversations about his journey and experiences.

• military

Roman Didera is a veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war who served as a paratrooper and machine gunner. In 2015, he was drafted into the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade. By the end of the year, however, Roman began to experience severe knee pain. He gradually lost the ability to walk, and faced the threat of amputation. Timely prosthetic surgeries provided him with two hip replacements and set him on a new path.

Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Roman discovered a passion for embroidery, inspired by his wife, Mariana. His first piece was a beaded image of Jesus Christ. He also created a Bayraktar shirt. Since then, Roman has mastered approximately 40 traditional stitches to create authentic vyshyvankas, traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts.

In three years, he has created 33 unique shirts, each a one-of-a-kind piece. In recognition of his skill, he was granted special permission to recreate a copy of Taras Shevchenko’s personal vyshyvanka. His expertise has earned him the title of Folk Master of Ukraine in Vyshyvanka and membership in the National Union of Folk Art Masters.

A dedicated online page, “Sorochka z rodu v rid” (A Shirt from Generation to Generation), now showcases and sells the embroidered works created by Roman and his wife.

Journalists can speak with Roman and his wife Mariana in Lviv or online, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

In western Ukraine’s Lviv region, local authorities are offering a unique form of rehabilitation for military personnel and their families, a chance to reconnect with nature through horseback riding and a mountain ascent.

The Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Oblast State Administration has announced two upcoming events as part of its Travel Therapy initiative. On October 18, defenders and their families are invited to take part in a horseback riding trip at a local ranch. A week later, on October 25, participants will have the opportunity to climb Pikui – the highest mountain in the Lviv region.

Media outlets are welcome to cover both activities by prior arrangement.

For reference: The Travel Therapy program was launched by the Department of Tourism and Resorts of the Lviv Oblast State Administration to promote emotional recovery and leisure for service members, female defenders, and their families. The initiative offers guided trips and outdoor activities across the region for those currently undergoing rehabilitation or on rotation.

• culture
• military
• Lviv

On October 11, media representatives are invited to witness a remarkable display of resilience and creativity in Lviv, where a Ukrainian veteran will set a new national record by creating a painting from his wheelchair.

Valentyn Oleksiienko, 28, a patient at the UNBROKEN Center, was a tank driver in Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigade. His life changed dramatically on the front lines when, after digging fortifications, he dove into a pond to wash off the dirt, struck his head on the bottom, and sustained a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him with no feeling from the chest down.

Once indifferent to art, Valentyn discovered a passion for painting during his rehabilitation. With the guidance of Lviv-based artist Zirka Savka, he developed a unique technique that allows him to create expressive, one-of-a-kind works with his wheelchair.

The upcoming event will offer journalists a rare opportunity to observe Valentyn’s creative process and document the moment he officially sets a new national record. 

Journalists are required to be accredited to attend.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

On October 13, Kyiv will host an interactive exhibition called RECONstruction, created by the 150th Separate Reconnaissance Strike Battalion. Since the beginning of 2024, this military intelligence unit has been engaged in combat in the east, including participating in the liberation of the Dobropillia salient.

Through information stands, photographs, art objects, and interactive zones, the exhibition will offer civilians a glimpse into the world of military intelligence. Visitors will be able to experience elements of a reconnaissance officer’s work, from piloting drones to signals intelligence.

The opening will also feature the introduction of the RECON FAMILY ambassador community. The first members are Olympic champion Olha Kharlan and actress and public figure Rymma Zyubina. They will represent military intelligence to the home front.

Media representatives are invited to attend the event.

• military
• Kyiv

In collaboration with the Invictus Games, the Ukrainian fitness app MadMuscles has created an adaptive training program for people with amputated limbs or limited mobility. The program focuses primarily on wounded veterans and those recovering from surgeries or other injuries.

The MadMuscles program provides everything necessary for safe, convenient, and effective training:

• Six training categories for different physical abilities.
• Exercises from professional adaptive sports trainers;
• Free video workouts that can be done at home.

The program was created by Oleksii Prokopenko, an endurance, mountain running, skyrunning, and cross-country skiing coach, and Nataliia Meleshchuk, a rehabilitation specialist, yoga instructor, and massage therapist. They were both involved in preparing the national team for the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada.

Veterans from the Invictus Games community also contributed to the project’s development.

Journalists can speak with the course creators in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Lee Byoung-Hoon, 58, from Seoul, South Korea, has been no stranger to discipline and danger. In the 1980s, he served in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. But nothing could have prepared him for the front lines in Ukraine, where he joined the international legion to defend the country during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

During one attack, a kamikaze drone hit him, costing him his arm. For 14 hours, he survived with only a tourniquet until his comrades managed to save his life.

Now, Lee channels his resilience onto the soccer field. He plays for “Bartka,” an Ivano-Frankivsk team for amputees and people with limb impairment. While he speaks English, communication with some teammates still comes through gestures, a reminder of how far he’s come and the barriers he continues to overcome.

Journalists can meet Lee Byoung-Hoon in person or online by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Ivano-Frankivsk

Maksym Kharkivskyi is a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier serving in the Zaporizhzhia sector. In the spring of 2023, a bull found its way to his position. His comrades sent a message: “You have visitors”, and the soldier saw the animal walking along a mined path towards them. That same day, Maksym and a comrade evacuated the bull, named Martyn, to a safe location. Maksym started posting videos with the animal on TikTok, and Martyn became popular.

Shortly after, the soldier’s comrades rescued a wild boar: the animal had been injured by enemy shelling. Maksym took the boar in and named her Mashka. After recovering, she became a social media star alongside Martyn. A malnourished roe deer, found in a Kyiv forest, also joined “Maksym’s Ark”, as the soldier calls his animal farm. The young animal had lost its mother, so caring people fed it from a bottle and later contacted Maksym for help.

Thanks to the animals’ popularity on TikTok, Maksym manages to meet his unit’s needs — the soldier hosts live streams to raise funds. Over five streams, he managed to raise enough to purchase 100,000 hryvnias worth of drones. Maksym calls his animals military volunteers. He hopes that after the war, people will visit the farm to meet the animals and learn their stories.

Interviews with Maksym Kharkivskyi can be arranged online or in person, by prior appointment.

• animals
• military
• Zaporizhzhia

Oleksii Prytula is a veterinarian from Odesa. During the full-scale invasion by russia, he defended the country. In September 2022, he sustained severe injuries and lost both legs. He received prosthetics and underwent rehabilitation at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. Subsequently, he returned to work as a veterinarian in Odesa.

Oleksiy joined the national team that represented Ukraine this year at the first-ever Winter Hybrid Invictus Games in Canada (disciplines: curling, skeleton, alpine skiing, rowing on simulators). He also participated in the All-Ukrainian wheelchair rugby competitions. Additionally, he practices archery and wheelchair basketball.

Upon prior arrangement, journalists can speak with Oleksii in person in Odesa or online.

• animals
• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Odesa