Themes by tag: military

Taras Ishchyk decided to join the Defense Forces in 2021. Even then, the man felt that there would be a big war: he submitted documents to become a soldier in reserve and got into the 103rd brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces, where he is currently serving.

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, Taras had been responsible for the communications of his brigade and served as a press officer. Later, the military man began to receive requests from various military units that related to his civilian work, namely graphic design. At that time, almost every brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had its own pages in social networks, and they all differed in design. So the work that Taras performed for his brigade was scaled to the entire Armed Forces. The man created a guiding document – the Brandbook of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a book of graphic rules for the military to follow. It was Taras who initiated the appearance of the official pages of the Defense Forces, which are seen by users of social networks.

The man is not yet thinking about returning to civilian life. Taras has many plans, which he dreams of implementing in the army.

For reference: Taras Ishchyk is in Lviv. The military man is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• military

Anatolii Mytskan joined the Defense Forces with the beginning of the full-scale invasion. And already in April 2022, together with his brothers in arms, he defended the Zaporizhia direction. The veteran was on the front line for more than a year. During this time, he got numerous concussions, which eventually led to a stroke. Anatolii explains that he was lucky, because the stroke did not happen at the frontline.

Currently, the man is in Ivano-Frankivsk and is rehabilitating with the help of drawing. The theme of his paintings is war. In mid-June, Anatolii will bring 15 of his works to Lviv to hold a personal exhibition. He plans to buy drones and EW equipment for the army with the money he will get from the sale of paintings.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Ivano-Frankivsk

Launched in the summer of 2023, the spiritual recovery program at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, known in English as the Monastery of the Caves has seen participation from 700 soldiers and 20 chaplains. Set within the historic confines of the reserve, the initiative aims to rejuvenate soldiers by immersing them in Ukraine’s rich cultural, historical, and spiritual heritage.

The program unfolds in two stages. The first stage is a 10-day program where military personnel engage in activities such as archaeological excavations of ancient walls and a glassmaking workshop dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. They also visit exhibitions at the Treasury of the National Museum of History and the Museum of Books and Printing, participate in an icon painting master class, explore the Upper and Lower Lavra, and join in worship services. The second stage, titled “Day at the Lavra for Military,” involves groups of veterans spending a day at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra with a lecturer-guide. They explore the grounds, take guided tours, participate in reserve activities, and visit local shrines. Additionally, the program offers support for the families of active duty servicemen and prisoners of war.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• religion
• Kyiv

The Media Initiative for Human Rights examined the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, capture, and death of soldiers from various units, including the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. Between April and June 2022, these soldiers were involved in intense battles near Novotoshkivske and Toshkivka in the Sievierodonetsk district of the Luhansk region. They later participated in the defense of the Kherson and Donetsk regions. The team spoke with relatives of the missing and deceased soldiers, as well as soldiers who directly took part in these events.

Participants:

– Maria Klymyk, MIHR journalist, author of the article “Missing from the 57th Brigade: heavy fighting, deaths, captivity, and search”;

– Olena Zavalna, daughter of Oleh Khodak, who went missing during the battle for Bohdanivka, Donetsk region;

– Mariia Plaksii, representative of the initiative group of the NGO “Find and Return. 57/34”, whose brother was released from captivity in January 2024;

– Liliia Lukianiuk, representative of the NGO “Wives of Toshkivka prisoners”;

– Valentyn Zabolotnyi, deputy commander for moral and psychological support, 57th Brigade. 

• casualties
• military
• prisoners

Before the outbreak of all-out war, Oleksa Melnyk managed a comic book store he co-founded with his wife in Kolomyia, a western Ukrainian city. Alongside his civilian pursuits, he lent his voice to films, TV shows, video games, and advertisements. Despite being called to duty at the onset of the conflict, Melnyk continued to nurture his creative passions even on the front lines. Over a decade ago, the concept for his book took root in his mind. Penned in a trench amid the chaos of war, Melnyk’s dystopian novel, titled “And I Will Tear the Fabric of Being,” was meticulously crafted during brief breaks between military duties. Remarkably, within four months, he completed the manuscript. Currently available for pre-order through Publishing 333, the book’s official release is slated for post-2022.

For reference: For media inquiries, Oleksa Melnyk, stationed at the front, is open to interviews with journalists, both online and offline, with prior arrangement.

• culture
• military

Since the onset of the full-scale russian invasion, Olha Konoval has dedicated herself to volunteering. Initially, she focused on purchasing drones and thermal imagers for the Defense Forces. It was during her first trip to the East that Olha met her future husband, Serhii, the commander of the Steel Hundred company, known by his call sign Nord. What was intended to be a brief volunteer mission turned into a four-month stay with Serhii. To buy a thermal imager for him, Olha sold her car. Additionally, she began crafting jewelry from spent shell casings, using the proceeds to support the soldiers. Serhii soon embarked on a project to manufacture FPV drones, aiming to supply the military with high-quality equipment.

In January 2024, the couple married and soon after produced their first batch of drones.

Tragedy struck shortly after their wedding when Olha learned that Serhii had been killed during a combat mission in the Donetsk sector. Despite her profound loss, Olha continued their work, setting up a drone workshop and assembling a team of engineers. To date, they have produced 250 drones. She named her business NORD-DRON in honor of Serhii. Olha views this endeavor as her form of revenge against the enemy for the loss of Serhii and other fallen soldiers.

For reference: Currently, Olha Konoval is in Ternopil but plans to return to the East soon.

• dead
• military
• volunteers
• women

Dmytro Bigas comes from a town in the north of Moldova. The man moved to Ukraine 15 years ago. Here he graduated from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and later received Ukrainian citizenship. While still a student, the man managed to work in a craft bakery and a restaurant. It was then that he realized what he dreams of doing – he wants to bake bread. In 2021, Dmytro was a chief in the kitchen in Lviv at a new focacceria (an establishment specializing in baking traditional Italian bread). However, due to the Covid epidemic, the focacceria had to be closed, so Dmytro began to teach cooking to people in Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk and Chernivtsi.  

In October 2023, the man was drafted to the Defense Forces. In the army, he received the call sign “Chief.” At first, the military man became a sniper, but later he worked as an assault scout in Klishchiivka district of Donetsk region, where he took part in the first serious assault. At that time, Dmytro lost his brother in arms and vowed to take revenge.

Dmytro recently changed his military profession and became an operator of attack UAVs. In order not to lose himself in the war, he turned to his subscribers on social networks asking them to help him purchase a bread machine. After all, he wanted to continue doing what he loves. So now, between combat missions, the soldier bakes four to eight loaves of bread. “Chef’s” brothers in arms enjoy his craft bread.

For reference: Dmytro Bigas is currently in the Donetsk sector. The soldier is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• military

Prior to 2014, Pavlish served as an assistant judge until Russia’s aggression sparked his call to arms, leading him to join the 53rd Brigade for over a year of frontline combat. Upon demobilization, Pavlish pivoted to entrepreneurship in his native Lviv region, venturing into farming where he cultivated wheat, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Following a successful initial harvest, Pavlish entered the #VARTO competition hosted by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, vying for funding to acquire an agricultural drone for his farm. His proposal secured approval, securing the necessary funds. Empowered by the foundation’s support, Pavlish procured his inaugural agricultural drone, employing fellow veterans of the Russia-Ukraine war to operate it effectively.

Amidst the escalation of the conflict, Ivan once more answered the call to arms while simultaneously overseeing his sweet potato farm from a distance. In a recent development, he successfully secured another victory in a competition sponsored by the UVF. With his sights set on expanding operations, Ivan intends to purchase a second drone and assemble a new team of veterans to bolster farm productivity by the end of the summer. 

For reference: Ivan Pavlish remains stationed on the front line, available for online interviews with journalists.

• military

The Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families and the Animalism by UAnimals Shop have launched a unique clothing collection—animals waiting for their owners’ release from captivity series. Two years ago, following orders, Mariupol’s defenders left the Azovstal plant, and most have been held captive since. The entire country, along with their Ukrainian fighter’s families, friends, and pets, eagerly awaits the return of these heroes.

The Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families partnered with the Animalism by UAnimals store for this collection. Kateryna Prokopenko, head of the Association and wife of soldier Denys “Redis” Prokopenko, created the drawings. A talented illustrator designed a series, inspired by real animals waiting for their pet parents to come home freed from captivity.

For example, Chiara the female pit bull eagerly awaits Taras during his walks, always excited to see someone who resembles her owner from a distance. Oleksandr constantly carried his cat Marta in his arms, and before the full-scale invasion, he dreamed of taking her to a military base. Rem, the dog, enjoyed walking in the woods with his friend Serhii, but he became highly stressed by the noise of explosions after the invasion began. Sadly, Rem passed away before Serhiy was released from captivity. There are similar stories about other animals.

All proceeds from the T-shirt sales will go to the UAnimals humanitarian movement, which rescues animals affected by the war.

For reference: Denys Prokopenko, known by his call sign “Redis,” is a colonel and the commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard of Ukraine. A participant in the Russia-Ukraine war and a Hero of Ukraine, Prokopenko was captured by Russian forces in May 2022 after leaving the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. At that time, the highest military command had ordered the city’s defense to cease to save the soldiers’ lives. He was released from captivity in September 2022. 

The defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days and concluded on May 20, 2022.

• animals
• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

At 39 years old, Victoriia Prokhorenko resides in Kryvyi Rih with her son and daughter. Her husband, Anton, swiftly mobilized upon the commencement of the full-blown invasion, rising to the rank of squad leader in a Special Forces battalion of the National Guard within months. However, upon his return home a year and a half ago, Victoriia noticed a stark transformation in Anton’s demeanor. Afflicted with PTSD, he struggled to reintegrate into family life despite her efforts and the assistance of a psychologist. Anton’s sleeplessness and subsequent alcohol consumption culminated in hospitalization due to a micro-stroke, instilling fear even in their children. Consequently, the couple made the difficult decision to part ways, navigating the challenges of PTSD recovery and family dynamics.

In the midst of adversity, Victoriia hit the ground running, taking up educational training and delving into the field of psychology. Determined to sustain her relationship with her beloved, she faithfully communicated with him daily. After several months, Anton reconnected and began applying the psychological techniques imparted by his wife. Within a month, Victoriia won her husband back home. 

Presently, Victoriia is on the cusp of completing her studies and is already strategizing her approach to support military spouses and children. She is eager for her experiences to resonate with women who may feel isolated in their struggles amid the backdrop of war.

Victoriia Prokhorenko is available for interviews, both in-person in Kryvyi Rih and online. 

• casualties
• military
• psychological support
• women
• Dnipro