Themes by tag: military

Olha had been working as a military psychologist from 2014 to 2018 when she resigned from service and together with her team started the Veteran Hub (a space that provides support to war veterans and their loved ones).

At the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Olha joined the ranks of the patrol police (just when the enemy was breaking through to the capital). Later, together with the police, she went to the territories of the Kyiv region liberated by the Ukrainian military, and helped local residents. And already in the summer of 2022, she joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, where she continues to work as a military psychologist. Olha was in Bakhmut and in the Zaporizhia sector. For now, she is in the capital.

Olha provides a full cycle of psychological support: selection, training, support during combat missions, crisis assistance, etc.

For reference: February 24, 2024 marks 2 years since the beginning of russia’s illegal full-scale invasion. The attack marked the culmination of the war of aggression, which the russian federation had been waging against Ukraine for 10 years at that point. This war began on February 20, 2014 when the russians invaded the territory of the Ukrainian Crimea without identification marks and occupied the peninsula. After that, russia started a war in the East of Ukraine. 

• military
• psychological support
• women
• Kyiv

In 2014, the russians occupied Artem Kariakin’s hometown of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov), Luhansk region. At the time, 17-year-old Artem published posts about how the city lived under occupation on an anonymous Twitter account. He also published a map of Kadiivka with markings indicating places of concentration of the russians. He also wrote about the movement of occupation troops.

Later, Artem began to do covert work for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All this time, Artem lived a very private life: he forbade himself to trust people and even to fall in love. After all, anyone could report on his activities to the occupiers, Artem believed.

In 2020, his mother died, and a year later, Artem’s grandmother and father died as well, so the young man left for Kyiv. He had lived in the capital for only a few months when the full-scale war began. In March 2022, Artem joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in June he fought near Bakhmut.

As a soldier, Artem continues to collect information about the occupiers from the temporarily occupied territories — this is now his official duty. Now it is he, to whom spotters and adjusters provide intel that can help the Armed Forces. In addition, in February 2023, after 9 years of fighting covertly, Artem revealed his identity in social media.

Artem Karyakin is at the front line. The serviceman is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

For reference: February 24, 2024 marks 2 years since the beginning of russia’s illegal full-scale invasion. The attack marked the culmination of the war of aggression, which the russian federation had been waging against Ukraine for 10 years at that point. This war began on February 20, 2014 when the russians invaded the territory of the Ukrainian Crimea without identification marks and occupied the peninsula. After that, russia started a war in the East of Ukraine. 

• military
• occupation

Oleksandr Matiash is a veteran and entrepreneur. The man was mobilized in 2015, when russia attacked Ukraine in the East. During his service, Oleksandr discovered that the military did not have comfortable underwear. So, he decided to create it himself. During one of the rotations, Oleksandr and a friend developed a model of men’s underpants and started production. Later, the Regata Club brand began to produce t-shirts, hoodies and even tracksuits. Oleksandr approves all models personally, and checks if they are convenient for himself and his brothers in arms.

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr returned to the army, and production had to be suspended. In May 2022, Oleksandr’s wife, Tetiana, together with a friend, began to take care of the business. It was not easy to resume production, because the lion’s share of earnings went to the needs of Oleksandr’s division. So Tetiana came across a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, applied, and the couple’s project won the grant. Fabric and sewing equipment were purchased with UAH 2.5 million received for business development. The Regata Club brand continues to support Oleksandr’s unit and other military units, both financially and with clothing. In addition, the business donates some of the clothing to military hospitals.

• military

Oksana Vinnik, 56, an agronomist by profession, was born in the Lviv region but moved to Volyn almost 40 years ago. She has 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren. With the full-blown war outbreak, Oksana turned to volunteering: cooking borscht and dumplings for the military in her kitchen and sending the food to the front line.

Later, she saw an advertisement by Volyn Territorial Defense Brigade looking for people to fill various positions, including a cook. It hit Oksana that this offer was right for her. Nobody but Oksana’s husband knew about her decision to mobilize, but she told her children and grandchildren after she received her military ID.

Oksana is currently stationed in the Lyman area, where she and a team of cooks prepare home-cooked meals for soldiers, including those who have been wounded at the front.

• food
• military
• women

Oleksii Prytula is a veterinarian from Odesa. During the full-scale invasion, he decided to join the defense of the country. In September 2022, he was seriously injured and lost both legs. Despite this adversity, he returned to work.

The man received prostheses and underwent rehabilitation at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. The veteran’s employer arranged a special workplace for him. So Oleksii can resume his work treating his four-legged patients.

• animals
• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Odesa

Andrii Tkachuk comes from Zakarpattia region. The man devoted his life to sports, in particular, to running and trail running (cross-country and off-road running). Andrii holds Ukraine’s 24- and 48-hour running record. He also participated in European and world championships. Andrii holds the title of master of sports in athletics.

He joined the Defense Forces in 2014 when russia attacked Ukraine for the first time. Later, he got discharged and returned to sports. However, when the full-scale invasion began, Andrii joined the army again. As part of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, he fought in the South and received shrapnel wounds in the shoulder and forearm. After treatment, he was transferred to the Carpathian Sich battalion.

Andrii was diagnosed with a heart defect, so he had to undergo a surgery. Afterwards, the veteran returned to training. In December 2023, he became the bronze medalist of the IAU 24 Hour World Running Championship, which took place in the Taiwanese city of Taipei. The athlete ran more than 284 kilometers in one day.

• military

On January 27, an exhibition titled “UKRAINE WAITS FOR ITS HEROES” dedicated to sharing the stories of Mariupol defenders will open in Dnipro. This first-ever exhibition recounts the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the ‘Mariupol’ garrison, aiming to draw attention to the abhorrent detention conditions of Ukrainian prisoners of war who have been held in enemy dungeons for over 1.5 years, will open its doors in Dnipro. 

At the exhibition opening, journalists will have the opportunity to talk to family members and friends of the prisoners of war.

For reference: Every week, families of POWs, those dead or missing and veterans who have survived the hell of captivity themselves gather at peaceful rallies all across Ukraine cities to remind and raise awareness of Ukrainian service members who are in Russian prisons.

The defense of Mariupol lasted for 86 days. A military command order has been given to Ukrainian defenders to “stop defending” the city, leave the Azovstal steel plant, and surrender to the enemy. On May 20, 2022, Mariupol came under Russian occupation.

• military
• prisoners
• Dnipro

Since 2020, Vladyslav “Samurai” Yeshchenko has been engaged in humanitarian demining. The man dealt with defusing mines in eastern Ukraine. In the wake of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, Vladyslav mobilized and took up the position of sapper. In August 2022, the soldier was blown up when performing a combat mission, Vladyslav survived 84 mine explosions. The man fell into a coma and lost his eyesight and partially his hearing. However, despite his severe injury, Vladyslav did not give up: he underwent a rehabilitation program, got married, and founded the “Let’s See the Victory” charity organization. Vladyslav supports other soldiers who have suffered eye injuries. In addition, the charity launched an educational project for school students called Phoenix Visual Rehabilitation out of the Darkness. Together with his wife, the soldier visits educational institutions to give practical classes on accompanying the blind and visually impaired. Vladyslav has already visited three schools in Kyiv and taught classes for 170 students.

• casualties
• military

Pavlo Sakhno has been doing pottery for more than 13 years. He opened his own workshop and participated in various festivals both abroad and in Ukraine. With the beginning of the full-scale war, the man volunteered for the army. At first he joined the territorial defense forces and defended Kyiv region. Then he went to Kharkiv region, where Pavlo fought as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In order to distract himself from the constant shelling on the front line, Pavlo decided to try carving spoons. The military man ordered special tools and also read up on this craft.

The man gave his first spoons to his brothers in arms, and then orders started coming in from other soldiers and civilians. Pavlo makes five to eight spoons per month, sells most of them, and donates the money to the unit in which he serves. The serviceman calls it “dugout art” and says the process helps him stay in touch with civilian life.

For reference: Pavlo Sakhno is on the front line. The soldier is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• military

On January 20, Lviv will host a presentation of the Pokrova Lviv AMP club soccer. Its players are Ukrainian war amputees. 

A team of 14 members has an athletic field training twice a week. The players on the pitch are lower-extremity amputees, and the goalkeepers are upper-extremity amputees. The field players use forearm crutches and play without prostheses.

During the event, the team will tell more about the team’s participation in this year’s international championship. The journalists can also talk to the players and coach Bohdan Melnyk.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv