Themes by tag: military

British citizen Viper served in his country’s military for four years. During his last year of service, he decided to join the Ukrainian Army.

In Ukraine, he chose to join the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard. He underwent a medical examination and signed a contract.  Already during his training, the soldier noticed many differences between the Ukrainian and British armies. However, he says, he easily adapted his skills to the new conditions of war. Viper is determined to serve in Ukraine until the end of the war, because he wants to protect not only Ukraine, but also the rest of the world from russian aggression.

Viper is currently on the front lines and is open to interviews with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• military

Peaceful events are planned in 26 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On 26 October, rallies will be held in Ochyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Bila Tserkva, Irpin, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia and Pavlohrad.

On 27 October peaceful actions are scheduled in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Mykolaiv, Uman, Uzhhorod, Korosten, Obukhiv, Krolevets, Ovruch, Korostyshiv, Kremenchuk, Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ostroh and Chernivtsi.

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.

• military
• prisoners

The Communications Department of the Territorial Defense Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (TRO Media) can help journalists with contacts for creating stories or articles. For example, it’s possible to highlight foreign nationals in the Territorial Defense Forces (including representatives from Georgia, USA, Australia and Hungary), female soldiers, chaplains, specific units or specializations. Coverage of Territorial Defense Forces training and other aspects of unit capacity building is also available.

Journalists can learn more and contact TRO Media for more information.

• military

Olha Chernilevska is a philologist who worked as a dubbing director and project manager for the translation of foreign films. In the village of Busha, Vinnytsia region, she once bought two houses, renovated them and rented them to visitors looking for a retreat. In civilian life Olha’s son, Illia Chernilevskyi, worked as a screenwriter, he translated songs for TV shows, and wrote poetry and music. Illia enlisted immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion and was killed two months later.

Illia did not tell his family what he saw and experienced during the war, but Olha says his work spoke for him. Olha published her son’s first collection of poems as a gift for his 21st birthday. The second collection was published posthumously. She called it “I am a bird among nets,” taking a line from Illia’s poem. Olha’s son’s body is still in the enemy-occupied territory, and she hopes to bring it back after the village of Kamianka in the Donetsk oblast is liberated.

This summer, a woman who lost her husband in the war came to Busha. After talking with her, Olha decided to invite mothers and wives of fallen soldiers to her estate. The stay is free for them. The initiative was supported by the village community: locals volunteered to cook and the staff of the Historical and Cultural Reserve promised to give them tours. Olha is expecting 15 guests soon.

For reference: Olha Chernilevska will be abroad until November 12, 2024. After her return, she is ready to talk to journalists offline.

• dead
• military
• women
• Vinnytsia

Gala Kozyutynska, a filmmaker and artist from Kyiv, had long dreamed of creating an artistic residence in a rural setting. Though she split her time between Kyiv and Lviv, her heart was set on buying a house in the countryside. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Gala felt it was time to turn that dream into reality. Her partner, Viktor Petrov, wholeheartedly supported the idea, and together, they began searching for the perfect spot. They found it in the small village of Latirka in Zakarpattia.

After purchasing the house, they began restoring it and even named their future creative space “The Attic.” But their plans took a devastating turn when Viktor was called to serve in Ukraine’s Defense Forces. In May 2023, Viktor was killed in combat near Bakhmut, leaving Gala to carry on their dream alone. Despite the heartbreak, she pressed forward with their vision.

In the year since Viktor’s passing, Gala has hosted over 20 gatherings with young creatives at the residence. Together, they’ve learned traditional crafts like weaving, whitewashing clay brick warming stove, foraging for mushrooms, and gardening. Gala is also focused on finding ways to offer relaxation and rejuvenation for those visiting the artistic space.

Today, Gala divides her time between Zakarpattia and Lviv, and she remains open to sharing her story with journalists, both in person and virtually.

• culture
• dead
• military
• women
• Lviv
• Uzhhorod

Before the full-scale invasion, Viacheslav Strazhets worked as a railway engineer and long-distance truck driver in European countries. On 25 February 2022 he joined the defense forces and became part of a separate machine-gun platoon of the Vinnytsia Angels rifle battalion, fighting on the Avdiivka front.

During one of his combat missions, Viacheslav was seriously wounded and lost his right arm. While in hospital, he wondered how he could help his fellow soldiers. So, during his rehabilitation, he took all the drone building courses he could find, ordered components and began assembling his first drone with his son and wife. The family spent a week building their first FPV drone: Viacheslav was still unable to hold a soldering iron with his prosthetic hand, so his wife took over.

Today, the veteran has fully mastered the use of his prosthetic arm and is adept with tools. He also received a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to support the production of FPV drones, purchasing a 3D printer, controller and goggles to control the drones, while his 14-year-old son tests the drones before they are sent to the front lines.

• casualties
• military

Before the war, Mykhailo Sokolian worked as a wood processing plant operator. But when russia’s full-scale invasion began, he answered the call to defend his country. After completing military training, he joined the 4th Separate Tank Brigade as a sapper.

In August 2022, while on a mission, Sokolian suffered a serious injury that resulted in the loss of his leg. He was sent to the Netherlands for prosthetic treatment, where he received his first permanent prosthesis. Upon his return to Ukraine, he dedicated himself to mastering his new limb, with constant support from his wife and son.

Soon after, Mykhailo Sokolian found a new passion—adaptive sports. He began competing in events like the “Games of Heroes” and the “Invictus Games.” Most recently, he completed a 100-meter race using his prosthetic leg in an impressive 15 seconds.

Today, the veteran is not only focused on his personal achievements but also on helping fellow soldiers recover and embrace adaptive sports. Mykhailo hopes to promote these sports among the military community.
Currently based in the Volyn region, MykhailoSokolian is open to interviews, available for both in-person and online meetings by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Lutsk

For over a decade, Oleksandr Chaika taught acrobatics with parkour elements to children. But when russia launched its full-scale invasion, he joined the Defense Forces and was deployed to the frontlines in Luhansk. He first fought in Lysychansk and later in Popasna. On April 6, 2022, a tank shell hit the trench where Oleksandr was stationed, injuring both of his legs. The damage was severe, and doctors had no choice but to amputate one limb.

Oleksandr traveled to the United States for a prosthetic fitting, receiving a waist-level prosthesis that demands immense physical effort and control over his back and core muscles just to walk.

After completing rehabilitation, he returned to Kyiv, where the parents of his former students urged him to start teaching again. He opened his own acrobatics studio, but demand quickly outgrew the space. The veteran soon expanded, opening a second location. Oleksandr not only plans to continue training children but also hopes to support fellow veterans in adapting to life with prostheses.

Oleksandr Chaika is currently based in Kyiv and is available for interviews with journalists both online and in person, upon request.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Inna Korolenko mobilized with the Defense Forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In the first two weeks of the great war, Inna lost her friends on the front line, so she joined the army to save the lives of other soldiers. Inna serves as a combat medic in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, organizing the evacuation of the wounded and dead from the battlefield. She has served in Vovchansk, Bakhmut, Soledar, and Marinka.

Last year, she suffered a shrapnel wound to the neck and a contusion.

During one of her rotations, Inna’s comrades suggested she apply for the Invictus Games. A friend collected her documents while Inna was still on duty. When the selection process began, Inna was in hospital recovering from a difficult rotation. But that did not stop her from competing in the qualifying events, and later it was sport that helped her find an environment where she was understood and supported. 

Inna Korolenko will represent Ukraine at the Invictus Games in Canada in February 2025, competing in skeleton, alpine skiing and swimming.

• military
• women

The Kyiv Unbroken Marathon will return to the capital on October 12-13, with ambitious plans to raise UAH 10 million for charitable causes. Since its inception in 2010, the marathon has centered on philanthropy, and this year, proceeds will benefit the Ukrainian army and various charitable initiatives.

The event will see participation from soldiers who are recovering from injuries, including Invictus Games champion Volodymyr Tovkis and marines Rostyslav Prystupa and Dmytro Tereshchenko, among others.

Participants can choose from multiple race distances, including 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, and a 1.6 km option, with children’s races also scheduled.

Although the race’s founder, Dmytro Chernitskyi, and project manager, Ivan Tretyakov, have been mobilized into the Defense Forces, the organizational team is committed to ensuring the event’s success.

• military
• Kyiv