Themes by tag: military

Anna and Andrii met four years before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The couple had planned to marry in 2022, but the war upended their plans. After the invasion began, Andrii joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, serving in the 47th Magura Brigade as a senior mechanic and driver of a Bradley fighting vehicle.

The couple finally wed in March 2023. That summer, Andrii was wounded in combat. He was fortunate: shrapnel missed his carotid artery by mere millimeters. After recovering, he returned to the front lines. Anna saw him for the last time in the fall of 2023. On October 19, 2023, Andrii Lukivskyi was killed in action in the Donetsk region.

Anna was notified of his death the following day. She was told the bodies of the fallen had been brought to Kyiv, but she received no further updates. Desperate for answers, she launched her own search. For ten months, she looked for any trace of her husband. Eventually, she found him—his body was listed among the unidentified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database.

What led to the breakthrough was a handwritten note Anna had given Andrii the day before his final mission. He had taken it with him, and it was found with his remains. That note became the key to confirming his identity.

Later, Anna learned that a DNA match between the “unidentified soldier” and Andrii’s family—his mother and sister—had already been established. But the relatives were never informed.

Anna Lukivska is available for interviews both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, the man who now goes by the call sign “Leshy,” named after a forest spirit from Slavic pagan mythology, worked as a forester and crafted wooden furniture. He had no ties to the military and never imagined himself in uniform.

That changed in Mariupol, where “Leshy” found himself at the outbreak of war. When the first shells hit, he joined the territorial defense forces, helping to evacuate the wounded and administer first aid.

In March 2022, a 120-millimeter russian mortar exploded just three meters away from him. The blast cost him his arm—but not his life.

Even while hospitalized, “Leshy” was determined to support his fellow soldiers. Just days after his injury, he launched a fundraiser to help his unit.

A year of rehabilitation followed. Fitted with a prosthetic arm, “Leshy” eventually rejoined the army.

He is available for conversations both online and in person, by prior arrangement. 

• military
• Mariupol

On April 7, at the Media Center Ukraine, the Media Initiative for Human Rights will present the research “Interaction with military units and support for families of fallen and missing service members”. 

The event will address the most common problems faced by families of fallen and missing servicemen in their interactions with military units and territorial recruitment centers; as well as how the state can improve its interaction with families and make it less traumatic.

Speakers:

• Olena Kopina, Author of the Analysis, Expert, MIHR;
• Olena Bieliachkova, Coordinator for Groups of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing Soldiers, MIHR;
• Yulia Sharapaniuk, Head of the Association of Families of Missing Soldiers and Prisoners of War; 
• Dmytro Bohatiuk, Head of the Department for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances of the Secretariat of the Ombudsman;
• Oleh Neshchadim, Head of the Search Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Registration for the event is required.

• dead
• military

Anna’s husband, Illia, was half Ukrainian and half Georgian. His mother’s family was forced to flee the war in Abkhazia, so his childhood was spent in Ukraine.

In 2014, Illia began his compulsory military service, and when russia occupied Crimea and attacked Ukraine in the east, he voluntarily went to fight in the Donetsk oblast. Illia was demobilized in 2015. He met Anna, they got married, and later had a daughter, Polina.

On February 24, 2022, the family woke up to explosions. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Illia defended the Kyiv oblast, participated in the liberation of Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts. His comrades tell how he shot down enemy helicopters, assisted reconnaissance groups, defended positions even in the most dangerous conditions. 

During one of those missions he was seriously wounded and could not be evacuated from the battlefield. Illia’s family is convinced that his merits should be recognized at the highest level. His wife is making every effort to secure for him the title of Hero of Ukraine, as his deeds are examples of courage and self-sacrifice for the sake of the country.

Background: Currently, the family is supported by the charitable foundation “Children of Heroes”. It helps children who have lost one or both parents as a result of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation. The foundation provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and promotes education and development for children until they reach adulthood.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Oleh Leliakin took up arms to defend Ukraine in 2014. He joined the volunteer battalion “Aidar”. At the front, he saw how important it is to be able to provide medical assistance in combat conditions.

After returning to Kyiv, Oleh continued to study tactical medicine. Eventually, he became an instructor at a training center, and over time, he became a lecturer in tactical medicine at the National Academy of Internal Affairs.

On February 25, 2022, Oleh returned to military service. He participated in the liberation of the Kyiv oblast and fought in the Mykolaiv, Kherson and Donetsk sectors. Initially, he worked as a platoon medic and later became the senior medic of a company. In Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast, Oleh was injured and gradually began to lose his hearing. Eventually, the veteran was discharged from service due to health reasons.

Oleh mastered the skill of lip-reading, learned to manage his own voice, and soon became a tactical medicine instructor at SICH, the largest Ukrainian tourniquet manufacturing company.

You can interview Oleh Leliakin both online and offline in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• Kyiv

Oleksandr Androshchuk and Oleksii Tiunin, members of Ukraine’s national team for the 2025 Invictus Games, are launching wheelchair rugby training sessions for military personnel and army veterans in Kyiv.

This marks the first time such training has been offered in Ukraine, presenting a unique opportunity for soldiers to engage in an adaptive sport that promotes both physical and emotional recovery. Participants can experience the thrill of team play, feel the support of their fellow soldiers, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a supportive environment.

• casualties
• military

On April 3, Kyiv will host the Ukrainian premiere of Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk, a powerful documentary offering an unfiltered glimpse into the war in Ukraine through the lens of a foreign volunteer. The R. T. Weatherman Foundation and the War Museum in Kyiv are behind this exclusive screening.

The film is the work of Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta, a foreign volunteer who joined the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in 2022, participating in three major military operations. Among them was a daring crossing of the Dnipro River aimed at recapturing the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. Gino also fought near Kupiansk, where he sustained severe injuries. His life was saved by Thomas ‘Tommy Gun’ Harris, a fellow soldier whose bravery inspired Gino to create this documentary. After undergoing rehabilitation, Gino returned to Ukraine to document the war’s harsh realities from the perspective of those fighting for freedom and independence.

Tommy Gun: On the Road to Kupyansk has already garnered international acclaim, earning multiple awards and accolades at prestigious film festivals.

Following the screening, viewers will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with director Mark ‘Gino’ Jannetta and Thomas Harris’s father, who will join the conversation online.

Journalists are required to obtain accreditation to cover the event.

For reference: The R. T. Weatherman Foundation, recognized globally for its support of Ukraine, is organizing the screening as part of its extensive FOR FREEDOM project. This initiative, featuring a documentary exhibition running until the end of May at the Motherland Monument, seeks to highlight the struggle of foreign volunteers fighting for freedom. The film’s premiere marks a crucial effort to share the truth about the war and underscore the vital role international volunteers continue to play.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

“Solar power plant installer” is a course for veterans under the UNIT 6.0 program of the Reskilling Ukraine project. During the course the participants will get acquainted with the main elements and principles of operation of autonomous, grid-connected and hybrid solar power plants, as well as learn how to select the necessary equipment for each type of system. They will study the process of installing solar panels, configuring inverters, and connecting solar power plants.

The training will take place in Kyiv from April 14 to May 2. 

Background: The UNIT 6.0 program is designed for veterans to provide them with more opportunities for professional development as they transition back to civilian life.

Reskilling Ukraine is a project of the Swedish non-profit organization Beredskapslyftet, implemented in Ukraine. The initiative focuses on free training programs for women and veterans to help them start a career in a new field.

• military
• Kyiv

On April 12, Kyiv will host a unique event – the “Steel Guard” festival. Combining a medieval combat sports tournament, veteran inclusivity, and family-friendly cultural activities, the festival aims to support veterans and promote the historical and sports movement.

As part of the festival, two medieval combat tournaments will be held:

• The tournament for novice veterans, “Knights of the New Era”, where anyone interested – regardless of experience, physical condition or level of preparation – can enter the arena. Men and women can participate, including those with amputations or in wheelchairs. All participants will receive the necessary equipment and support from instructors. There is a rule of equal opportunity – the fights will take place in a safe format focused on rehabilitation and community building.
• The professional “KyivGrad Cup” tournament in full steel armor will be the spectacular part of the event, where experienced fighters will show their skills.

Additional Activities during the festival will include workshops (calligraphy, chainmail weaving, and more) and medieval board games (entertainment for the whole family in the style of ancient strategies).

Background: The organizers of the event are Kyiv Military Hub, BuhurtSich and the NGO Historical Patriotic Society Kyivgrad. The festival is supported by the Kyiv City State Administration and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

A commemorative race honoring Maksym Kahal, a Hero of Ukraine and soldier with the Azov Special Forces detachment, is scheduled for March 30.

Known by the call sign “Piston” (Percussion Cap) Kahal was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. He served as a senior lieutenant with the Azov Special Forces, commanding a fire support platoon within the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion. Beyond his military service, Kahal was a decorated athlete, crowned ISKA World Kickboxing Champion among adults and earning numerous other sports accolades.

Kahal was killed on March 25, 2022, while defending Mariupol. He was just 30 years old.

The race is being organized by the Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families. 

Registration for the event is required.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv