Themes by tag: military

Mariana Mamonova, a military medic serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces, was taken captive while pregnant by enemy forces. Despite her ordeal, she has since established a charity foundation to aid women who have survived russian captivity.

Aged 32, Mariana, a captain in the Medical Service, had been deployed to Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO)/Joint Force Operation (JFO) zones since 2018. 

Initially stationed in Mariupol, she discovered her pregnancy amidst the full-scale invasion in mid-March 2022. Undeterred, she continued her life-saving work and was among those held at the Illich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, under Ukrainian military control, before being captured by occupiers on April 4th. An expectant mother endured nearly six months of captivity in a Donetsk region colony, finally being released during a prisoner exchange on September 21, 2022. Just four days later, she welcomed her daughter into the world.

Mariana is now available for interviews in Lviv or online, offering insights into her remarkable journey.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• women
• Lviv

Vladyslav Kushniruk, a skilled implant surgeon based in Kyiv, stepped up to the challenge as the full-scale invasion loomed. When the opportunity arose to contribute to a charity initiative aimed at aiding the military, Kushniruk wasted no time in joining forces.

The Swiss corporation, Straumann, generously donated 5,000 implants and accompanying components to the Ukrainian armed forces, enabling Kushniruk and his team to address the dental woes plaguing soldiers. These issues stem not only from combat injuries but also from subpar water conditions and inadequate hygiene facilities on the front lines. Additionally, philanthropists extend their support to soldiers captured by russian forces.

The process begins with a comprehensive assessment by the medical team, followed by consultations, treatment planning, and the procurement of necessary implants. Soldiers then undergo a rigorous treatment regimen, including surgeries and rehabilitation.

In a touching gesture of gratitude, soldiers leave their signatures on Ukrainian flags, with over a hundred such mementos collected. One of these flags will find a permanent home in a Kyiv hospital, while the other will journey to Switzerland.

• doctors
• military

“Swimming from 0 to 1,000 Meters in 2 Months” is a rehabilitation initiative designed to help injured military personnel regain physical and mental confidence. This program, based in Kyiv, focuses on intensive swimming training, specifically catering to soldiers who have lost limbs. Over two months, participants engage in rigorous pool sessions aimed at building strength and endurance.

Training occurs three times a week, with rehabilitation and massage therapists providing additional support twice a week. Since October 2023, the program has seen over 100 participants.

The current cohort is preparing for the Oceanman open water competition, scheduled for June 28-30 in Kyiv. This weekend, they will be practicing at a local lake.

Journalists interested in covering the “Swimming from 0 to 1,000 Meters in 2 Months” project can do so by prior arrangement.

For reference: The program is an initiative of ONE TEAM FORCES, a public organization committed to offering personalized, comprehensive recovery opportunities for wounded soldiers. Its community supports combatants who served before and/or after February 24, 2022, and were injured or traumatized due to the armed aggression of russia.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

The Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi 36th Marine Brigade was one of the units defending Mariupol until the very end. In April-May 2022, about 1,300 servicemen from this unit were captured by the enemy. According to their families, the International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed the detention of about 800 of these servicemen.

The enemy is especially reluctant to exchange Mariupol defenders, who are subjected to daily torture, beatings, hunger, and moral humiliation. For over two years, these prisoners of war have endured terrible conditions in pre-trial detention centers and colonies. Relatives of the POWs from the 36th Marine Brigade believe that the prisoners’ endurance is nearly depleted, and their health is in critical condition.

During the press conference, the relatives will provide detailed accounts of what they have learned about the prisoners of war and their conditions of detention.

Participants:
– Tetiana Katrychenko, Executive Director of the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR);

– Milana Kompaniets, mother of Yurii Hulchuk, a POW from the 36th Marine Brigade;

– Yuliia Petryk, wife of Mykyta Petryk, a POW, and Major of the 36th Marine Brigade;

– Hanna Bei, wife of Pavlo Bei, a POW, and Senior Sailor of the 501st Separate Battalion of the 36th Marine Brigade;

– Maryna Holinko, Major of the Medical Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who survived captivity in 2022.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

The Sercevir Veterans’ Space has been operating remotely for over a year without a physical location. This April, the founders and participants, including military personnel, veterans, and their families, began renovating a former women’s clinic. Once completed, “Sercevir” will offer its services in-person. Currently, dismantling work is in progress. Injured soldiers, some using prostheses, are personally contributing to the renovation efforts to expedite the opening. Plans include a modern, inclusive gym, an entire floor dedicated to psychological counseling and support, legal assistance, and a children’s playroom for families to use while attending the gym or training sessions.

• casualties
• military
• psychological support
• reconstruction
• Chernihiv

Oleksandr Shvachka first mobilized to the Defense Forces in 2015 when russia initially attacked Ukraine. He served in the 79th Air Assault Brigade and was transferred to the operational reserve after demobilization. Oleksandr voluntarily rejoined the military during the full-scale invasion, serving with the 95th Brigade.

In March 2022, while in the Kyiv region, Oleksandr was struck by a tank shell, resulting in the loss of his leg. Initially, he was determined to quickly adapt to a prosthetic and return to his unit. However, his recovery required extensive treatment and rehabilitation. To maintain muscle strength, Oleksandr began exercising and was later contacted by the Strongman Federation of Ukraine.

Driven by a mission to support fellow veterans in their training and recovery, Oleksandr co-founded TRENVET, a mobile app designed to help military personnel locate nearby training facilities or connect with trainers, rehabilitation therapists, and massage therapists, all at no cost.

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

For reference: The TRENVET app was developed with support from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, as part of a project by the NGO Association for the Promotion of Physical Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities “Zvytiaha Neskorenykh” (Victory of the Invictus).

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, Oleh Slyvar was a professional folk dancer in Lviv region. Oleh changed his life radically in the summer of 2022, when he decided to join the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. Together with his brothers in arms, Oleh fought in the Donetsk direction. During one of the assaults, the man received numerous shrapnel wounds. Due to shelling, it was not possible to evacuate the soldier immediately. Later, at the stabilization point, the man’s heart stopped, however, doctors managed to bring Oleh back to life. The soldier lost his leg, but thanks to rehabilitation at the medical center, he learnt to live with an electronic knee prosthesis. And recently he returned to the stage.

Oleh is ready to communicate with the media online or in person in Lviv.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

Liubov Kovalchuk’s husband, Dmytro, made the ultimate sacrifice in battle. A dedicated member of the Joint Forces Operation, Dmytro, a fearless airborne assault troop of the 95th Brigade, valiantly served in the Donetsk sector until his untimely demise on July 12, 2022. Despite the chaos of warfare, Dmytro managed to impart his farewell words to Liubov before departing, leaving behind their infant daughter, Ameliia, just six months old at the time.

In the depths of grief, Liubov turned to her passion for writing to navigate the harrowing aftermath of loss. Through poignant poetry and heartfelt memoirs, she channeled her anguish onto paper, culminating in a poignant manuscript aptly titled “To You, My Hero!”—a poignant tribute to her beloved warrior.

For Liubov, this literary endeavor serves as a poignant homage to Dmytro’s memory, offering solace amid the void left by his absence. Moreover, she envisions her book as a beacon of hope for fellow war widows, providing them with a source of solidarity and resilience in the face of profound loss.

Journalists seeking to delve deeper into Liubov’s poignant journey are invited to connect with her in Rivne by prior arrangement.

For reference: The Kovalchuk family receives support from the Children of Heroes charity fund, which extends a helping hand to children orphaned by the ravages of russia’s full-scale invasion. The foundation offers vital financial assistance, psychological and legal counsel, and fosters the educational and personal development of these resilient youngsters until they reach adulthood.

• children
• dead
• military
• women
• Rivne

Lieutenant Oleksandr “Biker” Voznyi was commanding a platoon in the Air Assault Division during an attack on the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhia. A shell exploded two meters away from him, shredding his lungs, spine and limbs. Oleksandr experienced significant blood loss and suffered 7 cardiac arrests. The MOAS team performed desperate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in their ambulance while racing him to the nearest hospital for life-saving treatment. The team consisted of Stanislav Geranin (anesthesiologist), Volodymyr Vahonin (paramedic) and Serhiy Goldovansky (driver).

“I’d lost too much blood and they couldn’t inject any medicine because my veins were buried. But the MOAS medic somehow believed he could keep me alive. He said he would keep pumping me and transfer me to the regional hospital. I’m extremely grateful to the team. Every day I thank God that I’m alive. I’m so happy my children will not be orphans,” says the fighter.

In addition, on June 14, Oleksandr Voznyi will speak in Kyiv at the presentation of the book “Sirens of Hope: The MOAS Mission to Save Lives in Ukraine,” which highlights the heroic work performed by the organization’s Ukrainian medical teams.

Last November, President Zelenskyy awarded Oleksandr with the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Third Class. He was also awarded medals by the Mayor of Kyiv and the Commander of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for his bravery and selfless commitment to preserving the lives of his brothers in arms. Oleksandr is still undergoing intensive rehabilitation therapy.

Oleksandr’s meeting with doctors will take place in a small room, so we recommend applying for media accreditation in advance. The MOAS team can also provide media representatives with photos and videos of Oleksandr’s rescue.

For reference: MOAS, the international humanitarian non-governmental organization, has been working in Ukraine since the start of the war and has now saved more than 45,000 lives. It employs 150 teams of all-Ukrainian medics in 50 ambulances supplied with state-of-the-art life-saving equipment. MOAS receives no government funding and relies entirely on fundraising to keep its operation costing USD 1 million a month on the road.

• casualties
• doctors
• military

Marcus Smith from the UK is 32 years old. In order to join the Ukrainian army, Markus first flew to Budapest, and from there he walked to Chop, a Ukrainian border town. The journey took the British man eight days.

For the past two years, Marcus had watched the full-scale invasion unfold on the territory of Ukraine when he finally decided to join the foreign legion and become a combat medic, because he has the necessary knowledge.

Before coming to Ukraine, Marcus honed his hunting skills and went on long mountain trips without gear. Currently, Markus is in the Zakarpattia Regional Territorial Recruitment Center, where he is undergoing training. During his service in the army, Markus plans to learn the Ukrainian language.

• military