Themes by tag: military

An event dedicated to the fallen soldier Kostiantyn Yuzviuk will be held in 28 cities of Ukraine. The event is organized by the relatives of the Ukrainian defender and the NGO “Vshanuy” (“Honor”). January 18 marks six months since the death of serviceman Kostiantyn Yuzviuk, who was an activist, vegan, animal rights defender and photographer.

Kostiantyn joined the Revolution of Dignity as a teenager. At 14, he became a volunteer, and at 22, he enlisted as a volunteer in the Defense Forces.

Background: The NGO “Vshanuy” works on the development and implementation of new remembrance practices in Ukraine. One of the organization’s goals is to promote the observance of a moment of silence at the national level. One of their key mottos is: “Remember the fallen — support the living”.

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• military

Peaceful events are planned in 22 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On January 18, rallies will be held in Ochyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Bila Tserkva, Kolomyia and Pavlohrad.

On January 19, peaceful actions are scheduled in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Krolevets, Ovruch, Korosten, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Mykolaiv, Rivne, Berdychiv, Korostyshiv, Ternopil, Cherkasy and Kropyvnytskyi.

The events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison. The rallies are often attended by Ukrainians who have been released from captivity.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The national Invictus Games team, which will take part in the international adaptive sports event in Whistler and Vancouver, Canada, this February, has gathered for its fifth training camp.

This time, the team is meeting at a ski resort, allowing participants to practice winter sports in natural conditions. The 2025 Invictus Games will be the first Hybrid Games to include adaptive winter sports. During previous training camps, the Ukrainian team trained on water and on simulators.

Some team members admit this is their first time trying skiing. Others have rediscovered the joy of winter sports after recovering from injuries, while some are skillfully descending slopes on one leg.

The team has also been visited by Olga Kharlan, Ukraine’s most decorated Olympic fencing champion.

The training in Bukovel is coming to an end. Journalists can speak with team members in Kyiv and have access to photo and video materials.

Background: The Invictus Games were founded in 2014 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex. The international competition is for veterans and service personnel who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Maksym Kharkivskyi, a soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, serves on the Zaporizhia front. In the spring of 2023, a bull came to the position of his unit. His comrades reported, “You have visitors,” and Maksym saw the animal approaching them along a mined path.

That same day, Maksym and a fellow soldier led the bull, which they named Martyn, to safety. Maksym began posting videos of the bull on TikTok, and Martyn quickly gained popularity.

Soon after, Maksym’s comrades rescued a wild female boar that had been injured by enemy fire. Maksym took the boar in, named her Mashka, and cared for her until she recovered. She joined Martyn as a social media star.

Thanks to the animals’ popularity, Maksym has been able to support his unit’s needs. He hosts live streams to raise funds, and in just five sessions raised enough money to buy drones worth 100,000 UAH. Maksym affectionately refers to Martyn and Mashka as his “military volunteers”.

You can connect with Maksym Kharkivskyi online or in person by prior arrangement.

• animals
• military

Ukraine has launched its first-ever all-women mobile air defense units, known as the “Bucha Witches,” in the Kyiv region’s Bucha community. Formed entirely by volunteers, the units operate as part of the Bucha Territorial Community’s military volunteer force.

The group unites women from varied backgrounds—spanning different ages, professions, and education levels—who juggle civilian responsibilities with combat duties, serving every three days. According to the formation’s headquarters, their mission includes defending Bucha and occasionally the neighboring Hostomel community. The units primarily intercept enemy drones and missiles, with additional counter-sabotage operations as needed.

This version retains all essential details but is slightly more concise and adheres to professional reporting standards.

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• women
• Kyiv

Before russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Oleksii, known by his military nickname “Yogurt,” was a familiar face at festivals, culinary tours, and even a popular Ukrainian cooking show. But when war came, the former event organizer mobilized, bringing his skills to the battlefield in a unique way: revolutionizing how soldiers are fed.

Now serving with the 47th Magura Brigade’s anti-aircraft missile artillery division, Oleksii took it upon himself to elevate military dining. With community support, he raised funds and outfitted a mobile kitchen—a fully functional food truck capable of moving with the troops. This innovation has already made a tangible impact at the front, delivering meals to Ukrainian soldiers under challenging conditions.

The success of the first food truck has inspired Oleksii to expand. A second vehicle is en route to Kyiv, where it will be equipped with the necessary tools and supplies before heading to the front lines. His vision goes beyond the current conflict: Oleksii hopes these mobile kitchens will eventually replace traditional field kitchens and even dreams of showcasing one at a Victory Day parade in the future.

Currently stationed on the front lines, Oleksii is open to speaking with journalists remotely or, when feasible, in person.

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• military

Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and their families can enjoy free skiing, snowboarding, and adaptive ski chair training at Golosiiv Ski Park in Kyiv, courtesy of the Active Parks initiative. The classes, available through February, feature instruction from experienced trainers and utilize the Tempo Dualski equipment for seated skiing, a professional and secure tool designed to accommodate participants with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the State Institution “Sport for All” program, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, under the broader presidential project “Active Parks — Locations of Healthy Ukraine” program. 

The adaptive sit skiing training also aligns with Ukraine’s effort to create a barrier-free environment and is included in the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “Are You OK?” launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Maryna Zhdan is a 44-year-old Lviv resident and mother of four. Before the beginning of the full-scale war, Maryna was an avid traveler, running her own travel blog and visiting 40 countries. But she says her favorite place is in Ukraine: the village of Stuzhytsia in Zakarpattia, home to a 1,300-year-old oak tree. The majestic tree made a deep impression on her, as she has loved plants since childhood. When Maryna moved into her own home, she began transforming her surroundings into a lush indoor jungle.

In 2022, Maryna decided to sell her plants to raise money for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She created a social media page called “Khatni Khashchi” (“Home Jungle”). Through her efforts, she managed to raise 380,000 UAH to support the Ukrainian Army.

Later, Maryna and her daughter began to set up a place they named “MAZANKA Space”. Once renovations are complete, it will serve as a potted plant shop and her daughter will offer tattoo services.

You can contact Maryna Zhdan either online or in person in Lviv by appointment.

• military
• women
• Lviv

On January 17 the photo exhibition “Days of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Battle of Ilovaisk 2014” will be officially opened. Visitors can now view the photographs at the Museum of Kyiv Occupation.

The exhibition commemorates one of the most tragic events in Ukraine’s struggle against russia and honors those who were the first to defend the country in 2014. Visitors will see photographs that have become historical artifacts, taken by photographers who worked in the fiercest combat zones near Ilovaisk in the Donetsk oblast in August 2014. These photographers documented the battlefield positions of the Special Purpose Battalion “Donbas” of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The preservation of this photographic anthology is due to Maksym Dondyuk, Oleksandr Glyadyelov, Markiian Lyseiko, and Maksym Levin, who managed to survive the encirclement of Ilovaisk. Tragically, Maksym Levin was killed during the full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022 in the occupied Kyiv oblast while documenting russian war crimes.

The exhibition features more than 50 photographs – a fraction of the extensive collection depicting the Battle of Ilovaisk, from the events of August 10 to the “humanitarian corridor of death” on August 29, 2014.

For reference: The exhibition is organized by the NGO “‘Sarmat’ Military-Patriotic Association of Combatant”, the NGO “Invincible Mothers of Ukraine”, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, and the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

• culture
• military
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Ukrainian soldiers are now transferring to other units, accessing services, receiving training, and even reporting enemy attacks — all through a mobile app. What seemed like science fiction not long ago is now a reality. How is the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Army as a whole undergoing digital transformation? What’s working, what’s not, and why? These questions will be addressed on January 14, at the “Defense Talks” event organized by the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), with a focus on “Digital Fronts: Transforming Ukraine’s Defense Sector in Wartime”.

The “Defense Talks” format features keynote speeches and a panel discussion.

Speakers sharing their perspectives on the digitalization of the security and defense sector include

• Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization.
• Aliona Zhuzha, IT Advisor at DOT.
• Taras Doroniak, Deputy Head of the Change Support Office of the Ministry of Defense.
• Vitalii Masiuk, member of the Public Anti-Corruption Council of the Ministry of Defense, expert on social and personnel policy, and defender of the rights of servicemen and veterans.

Registration is required to receive the event address and to attend.

About Defense Talks: Organized by NAKO, these meetings bring together Ukrainian government officials, senior executives, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps to discuss key trends and challenges in the security and defense sectors, as well as progress in anti-corruption reforms.

About NAKO: Independent Anti-Corruption Commission is a non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s resilience against internal and external threats in critical areas of national security through independent research, effective advocacy, and public awareness campaigns.

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