Themes by tag: military

Serhii Kolesnichenko, a 40-year-old history teacher from Kropyvnytskyi, chose a path few would have expected. After graduating from the local Pedagogical University, he spent years teaching history at a secondary school. Up until russia’s full-scale invasion, he had no connection to military service. But when war broke out, Serhii felt compelled to act. He completed his last semester, set aside his textbooks, and enlisted in Ukraine’s Defense Forces just before the summer break. Following his training, Serhii joined the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade, where he took on the role of an infantry fighting vehicle driver. His assignment placed him at the forefront of ground operations during intense assaults.

However, family obligations soon interrupted his service. Serhii left the military to care for his disabled mother and returned to teaching. Yet after her passing, he made the difficult decision to rejoin his unit, driven by a sense of duty and solidarity with his fellow soldiers on the most active frontlines.

Today, Serhii Kolesnichenko is back in uniform and serving on the front lines once more. Despite the demands of his current role, he remains open to sharing his story and is available for interviews with journalists by prior arrangement.

• military

The Veteranka movement has launched a new chatbot, the Recruitment Guide Bot, designed to support women looking to enlist in the Ukrainian Defense Forces. This innovative tool offers step-by-step guidance for those seeking to join specific military units, addressing critical topics such as the distinctions between mobilization and contract service, and detailing the training process at military training centers.

A standout feature of the chatbot is that it was developed by women for women, providing tailored information on preparation for military service. Users can access resources covering the fundamentals of tactical medicine, a directory of platforms for locating military vacancies, and answers to legal inquiries. Additionally, the chatbot offers insights into women’s health considerations in combat zones, along with checklists for essential hygiene products and medications.

Veteranka highlights that the chatbot includes recommendations from seasoned female defenders, covering crucial aspects of initial and ongoing military service. It also offers guidance on how to respond to incidents of sexual harassment or violence.

Notably, interest in military service among women in Ukraine has surged, with women now representing approximately 20% of all applications to recruitment centers.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

Oleksandr Pivniev enlisted in the military at the age of 19. Before joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he studied at the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv University of Air Force but left before graduation to serve with the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. Later, he transferred to the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. In 2016, while stationed near Toretsk, he came under a mortar attack and sustained life-threatening injuries. Oleksandr survived four cardiac arrests, a shattered left leg, and the amputation of his right leg.

What followed was a two-year journey of rehabilitation and prosthetic fitting in the United States. 

Yet, in 2018, Oleksandr made the remarkable decision to return to active duty. At the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion, he took command of the anti-aircraft artillery unit of the 126th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade in Odesa. He attributes his comeback to his desire to reunite with his comrades. Sports, especially adaptive training under the “Games of Heroes” program and competing in various athletic events, played a crucial role in his recovery. Today, Oleksandr remains active in both sports and military service. 
Currently, Oleksandr Pivniev is abroad and available for online interviews. In November 2024, he plans to be in Lviv or Kharkiv and will be open to in-person meetings with journalists.

• military
• Kharkiv
• Lviv

Four years ago, Valerii received a German shepherd as a gift and decided to teach it basic commands. He was good at working with the dog, so when he was offered a place in the Ukrainian Armed Forces Dog Training Service, Valerii did not hesitate. Just before he started to collect the necessary documents, he bought another dog, Odin. He signed the contract with Odin at his side. Valerii and his four-legged companion underwent five months of training, during which the dog was trained to detect explosives. Soon after, Odin received a special certificate allowing him to serve in the military.

In addition to his service, Valerii manages his social media, posting videos of dog training and promoting Ukrainian cynology. His videos on TikTok have received millions of views. Valerii is also involved in volunteer work, raising funds for food and medicine for other animals.

Valerii lives in Western Ukraine. He is ready to talk with journalists, both online and offline.

• animals
• military

At 8:45 a.m. on October 1, the National Police of Ukraine will stop traffic on Maidan Nezalezhnosti to observe a nationwide minute of silence. The charity initiative “Vshanui” calls for personalization of the event. To this end, participants are invited to bring to the Maidan a photo of a fallen hero who fought on the front lines for Ukraine’s independence.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv

Vitalii Shepel is a biochemist by profession. Before the full-scale war, he served in the Chemical Service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and later in the State Emergency Service. After retiring, he worked in the Ternopil municipality, where he and his colleague Roman Repko helped young entrepreneurs secure grants.

With the start of the full-scale invasion, Vitaliy joined the defense forces, but within a few months he was forced to return to civilian life. At first he was unsure what to do, but his colleague Roman stepped in and they decided to start their own business together.

The idea for freeze-dried treats came from children who needed something tasty and healthy. This led Vitaliy and Roman to create the TM Tobi snack brand. Their children were the first to try the freeze-dried fruit and soon Vitaliy sent a batch of snacks to his comrades on the front line. Everyone loved them. Now Vitalii and Roman are working to export their products abroad. They are also reviving Roman’s snail farm and plan to produce freeze-dried snail meat.

Vitalii Shepel and Roman Repko live in Ternopil. They are open to communication with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Ternopil

Oleh Hural enlisted in the Ukrainian military in April 2020, signing a contract with the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He took part in the Kharkiv counteroffensive during the all-out invasion. In November 2022, a severe injury on the front line left him permanently blind.

Despite undergoing two surgeries, Oleh’s sight could not be restored. Unable to return to military service, he began working from home with his mother, producing and selling handmade dumplings. However, his career took a new direction when he trained to become a massage therapist. Today, Oleh works at the Halychyna Rehabilitation Center, helping fellow wounded soldiers on their path to recovery. His mother accompanies him to the bus, but he has since mastered navigating the commute alone, counting steps and memorizing landmarks over two years. While he continues his search for medical experts who might restore his sight, Oleh remains committed to his work. 

For reference: Oleh Hural lives in the Lviv region and is open to interviews, either online or in person, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

Leda Kosmachevska lived in Crimea until 2014. After the russian occupation of the peninsula, she moved to the capital. Today, Leda is a leading communications specialist at the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, living in Kyiv and raising her three-month-old daughter, Radoslava. She is fighting to have her daughter bear the surname of her missing father, Valentyn Dobryi.

Leda’s partner, Valentyn Dobryi, volunteered for military service in September 2022. He did so of his own free will, despite having undergone heart surgery as a child. Leda told Valentyn that he would become a father two weeks before he went missing.

On October 21, 2023, Valentyn Dobryi went missing during an attack between Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. His comrades told Leda that they had seen Valentyn’s body, but due to heavy shelling they were unable to recover it. Now the area is occupied, and Leda is fighting to give her daughter the Dobra surname. To do so, she must prove paternity in court, as she and Valentyn were not officially married. Leda is raising her three-month-old daughter with the help of Valentyn’s mother, Svitlana Dobra.

Leda Kosmachevska is in Kyiv. She is ready to talk to journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• children
• military
• women
• Kyiv

The Veteranka movement has launched the “Plan B Center of Strength” project, spearheaded by Tetiana Borys, whose husband, a soldier with the 58th Mechanized Brigade, was killed in action in February 2023. The initiative aims to reshape how Ukraine supports families of fallen soldiers, addressing their grief and guiding them toward healing.

The project’s key goal is to study the experiences of those coping with loss and use that insight to reform how government agencies work with bereaved families. As part of the initiative, families will receive a bereavement guide designed to help them re-engage with society and rebuild their lives.

Tetiana Borys also plans to share her personal story of loss in a series of articles that highlight the emotional journey of losing a loved one in war.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Tetiana in Kyiv to learn more about the “Plan B Center of Strength” project.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Feliks Rasko, a 36-year-old Ukrainian Armed Forces veteran, has a remarkable story of resilience. He enlisted in the military at 18, first serving through conscription before signing a contract to continue his service. After his military career, he worked as a conductor for Ukraine’s Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia.

When russia’s full-scale invasion began, Feliks promptly re-enlisted. For eight months, he fought in some of the most intense battle zones, including Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Rubizhne, and Yampolivka. In October 2022, while stationed in Donetsk, enemy missiles struck the building where Feliks and his fellow soldiers were sheltering. Trapped under debris and engulfed by flames, Feliks put out the fire on his burning hands himself, while his comrades helped extinguish the fire on his head. Despite their injuries, the soldiers managed to escape and were evacuated by medics.

Feliks sustained serious injuries, which greatly impacted his mobility. His wife learned about the Unburned project, a free rehabilitation program, and applied on his behalf, submitting photos of his burns. A month later, Feliks began his treatment. Today, after completing rehabilitation, he has returned to work with Ukrzaliznytsia, now as a service center engineer in Kyiv, rather than his previous role as a conductor.

For reference: The Unburned project, supported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and partners, offers free, comprehensive treatment for military personnel, volunteers, civilians, and children affected by burns and scars caused by the war.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv