Themes by tag: military

The program’s mission is to support women serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces, including those in combat zones, as well as female veterans and women who have returned from russian captivity. Support is provided through care, community building, and a safe space for recovery.

At the NGO Zemliachky, they believe that psycho-emotional recovery is not a luxury, but a necessity. In the mountains, surrounded by nature and among those with similar experiences, these defenders can finally breathe, release the tensions of war, and reconnect with themselves.

Since the NGO Zemliachky was founded, 270 female defenders and veterans have completed the rehabilitation program. Trips are led by the team and combine group recovery practices (singing, pottery, woodcarving), physical and relaxation exercises, outdoor activities (hiking and light sports), informal discussions, and shared experiences, alongside time for rest, silence, and recuperation.

• military
• psychological support
• women

Ivan Kucher dreamed of a military career from a young age. While he was completing his mandatory service, russia occupied Crimea and attacked Ukraine’s eastern regions. His family hoped he would be kept away from the front line, but Ivan had other plans; as soon as his mandatory service ended, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He told his mother he was undergoing training, even as he was already fighting russian forces in the Luhansk region.

After his contract expired, Ivan settled in Kyiv. However, following the start of the full-scale russian invasion, he rejoined his former “Donbas” battalion to defend Ukraine in the east once again.

In late April 2022, Ivan was taken prisoner. Later, reports emerged that he might have been killed, though his military unit refuted this information and officially declared him missing in action.

Released Ukrainian prisoners recounted hearing about Ivan Kucher while in russian detention, though they had not seen him personally. In February 2023, his mother spotted him in a piece of russian propaganda footage and provided the material to the Red Cross and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Ivan spent 1,388 days in captivity and was finally returned home on February 5, 2025, as part of a prisoner exchange. He is currently awaiting a medical clearance from the Military Medical Commission to return to service.

Interviews with Ivan Kucher can be arranged both online and in person in the Lviv region by prior appointment.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Lviv

NGO “Zemliachky” together with the Easy Drive driving school have launched a free training program for female service members and veterans. The initiative was created to help defenders gain new knowledge, master a profession, and expand opportunities for further employment. Within the framework of the program, participants can choose one of three directions:

• free training in traffic laws (5 spots for an offline course in Kyiv and 5 spots for an online course monthly). After successfully passing the theoretical exam, participants also receive a 2,000 UAH discount on practical training;
• free training as a traffic law instructor with subsequent internship and employment opportunities;
• free training as a driving instructor with the possibility of acquiring a new profession.

Reference: The program is part of the systematic work of NGO Zemliachky, aimed at supporting defenders not only during their service, but also in matters of professional development, adaptation, and creating new career opportunities.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

The program of this year’s festival includes discussions and public conversations, excursions and musical performances, theatrical and music-poetic performances. The festival participants and speakers are Oksana Zabuzhko, Serhiy Zhadan, Yuliia “Taira” Paievska, Pavlo Kazarin, Vakhtang Kipiani, Kateryna Kalytko, Mariana Sadovska, Svitlana Povaliayeva, Sasha Koltsova, Valeriy Puzik, Anton Slepakov, The Harmyder Theater, and the band Zhadan i Sobaky.

On the opening day of the festival, July 3, a press briefing for the media will take place on the lawn of Protasiv Yar with the participation of organizers and guests. Immediately after the briefing, the official opening will take place with an introductory speech by Oksana Zabuzhko.

Media accreditation is required.

Reference: The Protasiv Yar festival was founded in memory of public activist and scout of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade, Roman Ratushnyi (call sign Seneka).

• culture
• dead
• military
• Kyiv

On July 5, a tournament in memory of Maksym Kahal — Hero of Ukraine and platoon commander in the “Azov” Regiment (now the 12th Special Purpose Brigade of the NGU “Azov”) — will take place in Kyiv. Maksym was a world kickboxing champion. The soldier died during the defense of Mariupol and “Azovstal” as a result of a russian aerial bomb. Maksym lived for sports and the Ukrainian military — the soldier joined “Azov” in 2015. He taught his fellow soldiers kickboxing and CrossFit. 

The tournament is timed to the soldier’s birthday. Everyone interested can join the event. 

The mother of the fallen serviceman will be present at the tournament.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv

On June 27, a peaceful action titled “Voices of Silence” will take place in Bucha, Kyiv Oblast. Every day, hundreds of Ukrainian families live in painful anticipation of news from their loved ones who are in captivity or reported missing. This action serves as a poignant reminder that we remember everyone and continue to wait for their return home.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Olha Serhiienko is originally from the city of Bobrovytsia in the Chernihiv region. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Instead of the usual student routine, the young woman lived in barracks and underwent basic combined-arms military training. Olha was a first-year student when russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The female cadets were released to go home for a single day. That was how Olha found herself in her native Bobrovytsia, which was immediately occupied by russian troops. The cadet did not have time to return to Kyiv.

The young woman’s family hid the fact that she was a future member of the military. She even had to bury her uniform in the garden. She recalls living with a sense of guilt, knowing that her relatives could have suffered because of her, as the occupiers were constantly hunting for anyone connected to the Ukrainian army.

Following the de-occupation, she returned to her studies. After graduating from the institute, she took the oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people. Today, she serves as an officer in the psychological personnel support unit of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Interviews with Olha “Pingvi” can be arranged either online or in person in Dnipro, by prior appointment and coordination with the press officer.

• military
• occupation
• women
• Dnipro

To remind the public about the defenders of Azovstal and other military personnel who remain in enemy captivity, peaceful events are planned in 29 cities.

On June 20, rallies will take place in Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Irpin, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Bila Tserkva, Shpola, Volochysk, Lviv, Ostroh and Dnipro.

On June 21, events are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Uman, Mykolaiv, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Dolynska, Lozova, Kovel, Korostyshiv, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi and Odesa.

The events are being organised by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Ukrainians who have themselves been released from captivity also often take part in the rallies.

• military
• prisoners

Olha Rukavishnikova is a violinist and athlete. The veteran began studying music at the age of four, and by eighth grade she had taken up conducting. She performed, among other venues, at the Mykolaiv Philharmonic and the Grand Hall of the Kyiv Conservatory. Olha also dedicated 10 years of her life to sports, which earned her the military call sign “Karatyst”.

At 8 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2022, Olha was already standing in line at her local military enlistment office. By the evening, she had received a weapon, and the following day she used it against the enemy for the first time. Olha served in the ranks of Ukraine’s Armed Forces for four years. Her primary weapon was the RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher, although she is also trained to operate a sniper rifle, an automatic grenade launcher, a machine gun and a mortar.

During one combat mission, an explosion threw Olha several metres through the air, and one of the fragments, according to the servicewoman, fractured a cervical vertebra. As a result of the same injury, she lost her left eye.

Olha returned to her unit relatively quickly and continued her service. However, she recently left the military due to health reasons. She is now gradually readjusting to civilian life.

Olha Rukavishnikova is available for interviews with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• women

Nazari Krasovskyi signed a contract with the 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in 2020. The soldier was in Mariupol when the full-scale invasion began; he defended Azovstal and, alongside his brothers-in-arms, followed command orders and surrendered into captivity in May 2022.

Nazari spent 3.5 years in captivity. To keep his spirits up, the serviceman wrote poems, scratching the lines onto a piece of soap, and whenever the opportunity arose, he transferred the texts onto scraps of paper. He was returned home in August 2025 during a prisoner exchange.

Since then, Nazari has been undergoing rehabilitation at the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv. The soldier suffered a severe spinal injury while in captivity.

The serviceman shared that Ilona had been his friend for 15 years. During his rehabilitation, she immediately came to visit Nazari, and he realized he wanted to marry her. Ilona said yes to his proposal.

Interviews with Nazari Krasovskyi can be arranged either online or offline in Lviv by prior agreement. Photo and video materials of the marriage proposal moment are available for journalists upon request.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Lviv