Themes by tag: military

On May 23, Kyiv will host a commemorative gathering marking the Day of the Marine Corps of Armed Forces of Ukraine, bringing together families of prisoners of war, veterans, fellow service members, and supporters from across the country.

Observed annually, Marine Corps Day honors Ukraine’s elite fighting force – soldiers who are first to respond, operate in the most dangerous conditions, and remain steadfast in their duty.

This year, the date carries added weight. For the third consecutive year, hundreds of Ukrainian marines remain in enemy captivity. These are the defenders of Mariupol, Vodiane, Pavlopil, and Shyrokyne, soldiers who followed orders in the fiercest battles and were taken prisoner. Many are still unaccounted for.

The Kyiv event will offer a space for remembrance, solidarity, and public support. The program includes:

– A formal ceremony honoring the Marines;

– A moment of silence for the fallen;

– Remarks from recently released POWs and families who have endured three years of waiting;

– A musical and spoken-word segment featuring veterans, artists, and volunteers;

– Open mic: an opportunity for attendees to share words of support;

For reference: Organized by the “Marine Corps Strength” Association

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Rusudana Pavlichenko is of Georgian descent. When the full-scale invasion began, she was abroad for her father’s funeral. For the first time in her life, Rusudana had to flee the war (the war in Abkhazia) when she was only 10 years old. She then came to Ukraine and has lived here her entire life.

Rusudana’s husband, Serhii Pavlichenko, defended Ukraine from the occupiers since 2014. He held the defense of Azovstal during the beginning of the full-scale invasion and was captured afterward. He died in a terrorist attack in Olenivka (a village in the occupied Donetsk oblast) on July 28-29, 2022. The couple had two children: 12-year-old Adeliia and 8-year-old Nazar.

Journalists can arrange to interview Rusudana in Cherkasy or online.

Currently, the family is being supported by the charitable foundation “Children of Heroes.” The foundation helps children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s full-scale invasion. The foundation provides financial assistance, psychological support, legal support, and promotes education and development for children until they reach adulthood.

Background: On July 29, 2022, russia committed a terrorist act by detonating an explosion in a barrack of a correctional colony in Olenivka where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held. At least 50 Azovstal defenders were killed in the attack.

• dead
• military
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Cherkasy
• Mariupol

Yevhen is originally from Mariupol. He began serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2014 when russia first attacked Ukraine. He was carrying out combat missions near the village of Pisky in Donetsk oblast when the full-scale invasion began. At that time, Yevhen’s family was still in Mariupol. They only managed to escape russian encirclement in mid-April 2022.

The idea to start his own business came to Yevhen before the full-scale war began. However, he only began to implement it after his family found safety in the Kyiv oblast. Together with his sister and her husband, Yevhen applied for a grant from the Ukrainian Veteran Fund and received financial support to open a café.

Their family-run burger café, “Domakha,” now welcomes guests in Hostomel, Kyiv oblast. The name “Domakha” refers to an old term for the region where Mariupol, now temporarily occupied, is located. Yevhen envisions the café as more than just a place to enjoy good food; he also wants it to be a hub where veterans can gather, host charity events, and hold workshops.

Yevhen is currently in the Chernihiv oblast. You can communicate with him online or offline by prior arrangement.

• culture
• food
• military
• Chernihiv

A new initiative, Heroes Glory Golf, has launched in the Kyiv region, providing free golf training for Ukrainian military veterans. Tailored for those with combat experience, the program offers:

– golf instruction;

– participation in tournaments and competitions;

– outdoor recreation in a nature reserve;

– peer support and new connections within the veteran community.

The program aims to help veterans transition to civilian life through physical activity, skill-building, and a sense of community. Participation is entirely free of charge.

Eight women veterans have already enrolled, and recruitment for additional teams remains open.

Journalists may attend training sessions near Kyiv by prior arrangement.

Background: Heroes Glory Golf is organized by Heroes Glory, a veteran service organization, and is supported by the DTCare Foundation and the Women Veterans Movement.

• culture
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Daniel, 35, arrived in Ukraine from Sweden and now serves with the Hospitallers medical volunteer battalion.

A seasoned traveler who has visited 50 countries, Daniel studied nursing at Malmö University and later worked as a private nurse in Sweden.

He first came to Ukraine in 2010 and returned in 2013, inspired by the video game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and a desire to visit Chornobyl.

Last year marked his third visit to the country, this time to join the Hospitallers Medical Battalion. Daniel is currently learning Ukrainian and plans to enroll in an online Ukrainian language course this summer through Lund University in Sweden. He also has a girlfriend in Ukraine.

Now serving on the front line, Daniel is available for interviews, either in person or online, by prior arrangement and with the approval of the battalion’s press officer.

• doctors
• military

Amnesty International Ukraine, in cooperation with the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, is launching an open-air photo exhibition entitled “Deafening Silence”, dedicated to the stories of Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families. The exhibition is based on extensive research into the rights abuses of POWs held by russia. The opening will be on May 9.

This project is part of an international campaign to raise awareness of violations of international humanitarian law and to strengthen the protection of prisoners of war by mobilizing civil society.

The purpose of the event is to highlight systematic violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the russian federation, to support initiatives aimed at protecting their rights, and to raise global awareness of these humanitarian challenges.

Media accreditation is required to attend.

• culture
• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Vitalina “Baba Yaga” is a junior sergeant with the 208th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion. Every day, she prepares care packages for soldiers that are then airlifted by units of the 114th Brigade’s Strike Drone Company to the front lines where they’re needed most.

The drones deliver anything that can’t be sent by other means — as long as the payload doesn’t exceed the drone’s weight limit. Typical packages include medicine, sleeping mats and thermal blankets. Vitalina has also perfected special packaging techniques, such as freezing drinking water beforehand because bottles can break on impact during the drop, wasting precious cargo.

Sometimes soldiers make special requests, like one soldier who asked for birthday cake and milk. Thanks to the drone, his request was delivered directly to his position.

Vitalina is currently stationed on the Kupiansk axis. You can contact her online or in person, subject to prior coordination with the press officer.

• military
• women

Mykola Velychko from Khmelnytskyi oblast became interested in pottery even before the full-scale invasion. He planned to open a pottery residency next to his workshop. The website of the residency was supposed to be launched on February 24, 2022. However, the full-scale war began and Mykola joined the military.

In the summer of 2023 he returned home and decided to revive the residency project — but now for active soldiers and veterans, giving them a place to recover after the frontlines. Mykola started making and selling mugs and investing the proceeds in the construction of the residence. Now he is finishing the construction and still needs to buy furniture and equipment.

This summer, Mykola plans to start pottery classes with soldiers who come to the residency.

You can contact Mykola Velychko online or offline in Khmelnytskyi oblast by prior arrangement.

• culture
• military
• Khmelnytskyi

Before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Viacheslav Kut’in was living and working abroad. When the war began, he returned home and was mobilized into the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He served on the front lines, including in the defense of Zaporizhia.

During a combat mission near the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhia region, Viacheslav sustained severe leg injuries and was captured by russian forces. He spent over a year in captivity before being released and brought home on January 15, 2025.

Since his return, he has undergone intensive treatment and rehabilitation. Now adapting to life with prosthetic legs, Viacheslav has already made remarkable progress. On the day he was discharged from the rehabilitation center, he proposed to his longtime partner – the woman who had waited for him through his captivity and stood by him during his recovery.

Viacheslav Kut’in is available for interviews both online and in person in Kharkiv by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• Kharkiv

After the beginning of the full-scale war, Viktoriia lost her job and turned to working with clay. The young woman created numerous pieces, including tableware. Her work caught the attention of a company that was looking for a craftswoman to make platters. The key feature of these plates is their pins, which help to secure food so that it can be cut with just one hand.

Viktoriia studied the necessary information, consulted with an occupational therapist, and created her first inclusive plate. Today, she donates her creations to restaurants, hospitals, and veterans who have lost an arm in combat. She doesn’t charge the military for her work – instead, her social media followers cover the cost.

You can contact Viktoriia Beliavska online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• women
• Kyiv