Themes by tag: military

Myroslav Chornomor is a choreographer by profession who danced and toured abroad with a folk ensemble. In 2016, he received his draft notice, and after completing his mandatory military service, he signed a contract. He then mastered the profession of scout.

Myroslav enrolled at Ostroh Academy to study national security, then at the Security Service of Ukraine Academy, and in June 2022, he was to receive two diplomas.

The soldier met the start of the full-scale invasion at his position near Mariupol as commander of the reconnaissance unit of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. On April 12, Myroslav, along with his comrades who were defending Azovmash, decided to surrender. For the next two years, the soldier’s family did not know where he was or what had happened to him.

The Ukrainian soldier was one of those whom the russian occupiers illegally sentenced to life imprisonment on fabricated charges of alleged crimes against civilians in Mariupol. In the russian colony where he was serving his sentence, his cellmates included a serial killer, and the cell next door held the perpetrator of the Beslan terrorist attack. Myroslav was returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange on February 5, 2026. The soldier plans to seek medical treatment, see his father, who is serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and resume his studies to obtain his diplomas.

Journalists can speak with Myroslav Chornomor online or in person near Kyiv from March 20, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Serhiy Petrenko, a soldier with the pseudonym “Bashnya” — Natalia Petrenko’s son — died on the night of July 29, 2022. The soldier encountered a full-scale invasion in Mariupol, defended the city, then Azovstal, and before being taken prisoner on orders, he called his parents and told them to prepare his ammunition so that he could rejoin the army upon his return.

Serhiy Petrenko’s name was on one of the first lists of those killed during the russian terrorist attack in Olenivka. His mother, Natalia, decided not to shut herself away in her grief and to support Serhiy’s comrades. In memory of her son, she created the online platform “Basht,” which helps military personnel find their place in civilian life.

Natalia and her like-minded friends gathered useful information for veterans in one place: from medical, psychological, and legal assistance to courses and training.

Journalists can speak with Natalia Petrenko both online and in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• dead
• military
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

General military training for civilians at the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Charter” will begin in April. The training will last three days and will take place in Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The training for civilians will be conducted by experienced veterans from various brigades. The program for recruits will include weapons training, tactical medicine, basic military training, terrain orientation, small group work, and planning.

Anyone interested in gaining new skills and understanding how the Ukrainian army functions can join the training.

Journalists can cover the training by prior arrangement and agreement with the press officer.

• military

Ahead of March 8, International Women’s Day, the VETERANKA Movement is launching a large-scale communication campaign called “Women Can Do Anything!”, which tells the real combat stories of four Ukrainian female soldiers in comic book format. The main mission of the campaign is to change society’s perception of the role of women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to highlight their impact on civilian safety.

As part of the project, throughout March and April, social advertising will be displayed in the capital’s metro, on billboards in Kyiv, and on screens in shopping malls.

The heroes of the campaign:

• Eva “Yunga” — FPV drone operator for the Rubizh brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Eva joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the age of 18 after graduating from school. During her first 1.5 years of service, she managed to destroy 250 enemy targets. Her superpower is to see in the dark and hit targets that pose a threat to our cities.
• Anya Tatu “Ksenia” — UAV operator of the 37th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Her story is one of unconditional love for life and Ukraine. A Polish woman with a Belgian passport who chose our country as her destiny. Despite living with a prosthesis, she chose the front line and earned the right to serve in the marines. Her superpower is her incredible accuracy and ability to be the first to spot threats in the night sky, saving thousands of lives.
• Oksana “Oksi” is the commander of the combat group of the special forces unit “OMEGA.” First, she wrote her will, evacuated her two children abroad, and then joined the army. A successful entrepreneur in civilian life, she turned her strategic talent into a weapon of the future in the military. Today, she is the first female commander of a group of robotic complexes in the special forces unit “OMEGA.”
• Yana “Multik” is the commander of the women’s platoon of the 141st Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She is a symbol of resilience and sisterhood. Having survived the occupation of her native Kherson region and numerous injuries, Yana not only returned to the ranks, but also headed the first female unit of UAV operators. She is breaking down prejudices and building a new army where every woman is protected and heard.

The author of the visual part is Ukrainian illustrator Anna Ivanenko, known for her collaboration with The New Yorker, The Guardian, The Economist, Forbes, and other international media.

In addition, the communication campaign aims to close a large charity fundraiser for 6,000,000 hryvnia. The funds will be used to equip mobile air defense groups of the 37th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to purchase Heavy Shot bomber drones for the Rubizh Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.

By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to talk to the heroines of the campaign, as well as representatives of the VETERANKA movement.

• military
• women

On March 12, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II will host an event to commemorate Benjamin Asher, a volunteer of Hungarian and Jewish descent who fought and died for Ukraine.

Benjamin was born on May 10, 2004, in Budapest, Hungary. In 2019, he moved with his father to Toronto, Canada, and became a permanent resident of that country.

In 2021, he signed a contract with the Hungarian Armed Forces, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. In March 2023, despite being diagnosed with “high-functioning autism” and serving in the military in another country, he went to Ukraine, where he joined one of the units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In January 2025, he transferred to the Third Army Corps, where he joined the logistics unit of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd OSBr, while also serving as a combat medic and rifleman.

Benjamin quickly made friends and brothers-in-arms in both units where he served. For his silence and concentration, he was given the nickname “Nemo.” He took part in battles in the Donetsk and Kharkiv directions.

He was killed on May 24, 2025, in the Kharkiv direction as a result of an enemy drone attack while helping another wounded foreign volunteer.

Benjamin was buried on November 27, 2025, at the National Military Memorial Cemetery (village of Markhalivka) with full military honors in the presence of representatives of the Hungarian and Jewish communities of Ukraine. The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Asman, led a prayer over his coffin together with the military chaplain.

Benjamin Asher was posthumously awarded the Iron Cross by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Order of Courage, 3rd degree. On February 25, 2026, in the hall of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Toronto), Benjamin was also awarded the “For Self-Sacrifice” medal.

Benjamin’s father, Nathan Asher, will be present at the memorial event.

• dead
• military
• Kyiv

Nazarі Krasovsky signed a contract with the 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in 2020. The soldier encountered a full-scale invasion in Mariupol, defended Azovstal, and, together with his comrades, carried out the command’s order and surrendered in May 2022.

Nazari spent 3.5 years in captivity. To keep himself going, the soldier wrote poems, scratched lines on a bar of soap, and when the opportunity arose, transferred the texts to scraps of paper. The man was returned home in August 2025 during a prisoner exchange.

Since then, Nazarі has been undergoing rehabilitation at the UNBROKEN center in Lviv. The soldier has a serious spinal injury, which he sustained while in captivity. The soldier said that he had long wanted to sing with Khristina Soloviy. During a gala evening organized by the rehabilitation center, Nazarі managed to fulfill this dream. On stage, they performed the song “Who, if not you?”, and the audience gave them a standing ovation.

You can speak with Nazari Krasovskyi both online and in person in Lviv or Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv
• Lviv

Before the full-scale invasion, Volodymyr Savelyev worked in 3D design. After the war began, he started volunteering, and in the summer of 2023, he signed a contract and became a combat medic. Later, he became the commander of a reconnaissance platoon in one of the rifle battalions of the 116th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

While carrying out a mission in Donetsk Oblast, Volodymyr stepped on a mine and was seriously wounded. Volodymyr lost both legs, underwent 12 operations, but rehabilitated himself and mastered prosthetics.

After returning to civilian life, he started doing 3D design again. This job involves sitting in front of a monitor for hours, so the veteran missed live communication. He found few inclusive places for veterans, so he decided to create his own. This is how the Bereg coworking space appeared in Lviv, where veterans can work and socialize. The space is inclusive and suitable for people with injuries.

Journalists can arrange an interview with Volodymyr Saveliev either online or in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

Daria Ulman is the wife of soldier Kirill Ulman, who died on February 15, 2024. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, her husband joined the ranks of the Volunteer Territorial Community Formation in Dnipro, which was created by veterans of the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” In December 2022, he joined the ranks of the Third Separate Assault Brigade as part of an anti-tank battalion. Kirill was killed by a sniper’s bullet.

Daria says that her husband was fascinated by military affairs. After his death, she regretted not having started training with Kirill. Within a year, Daria completed six courses and underwent two full training programs. She later created her own community that provides military training for women. She named it Community Ulman in honor of her deceased beloved.

To date, more than 80 women have completed the training, and thanks to the project, 115,000 hryvnias have been donated to Kirill’s comrades-in-arms.

Journalists will have the opportunity to cover the training.

Daria Ulman is available for interviews both online and in person in Kyiv, upon prior arrangement.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Veterans with musculoskeletal injuries or limb amputations can take part in the “Drivers” project. The initiative aims to provide veterans with disabilities the opportunity to acquire driving skills to ensure their mobility. It also creates opportunities for employment or for using these skills in their own business or civic activities. The project was launched in June 2024 and is implemented by the NGO “Employment Center of Free People”.

The second phase of the project started this February. Around 20 veterans will join the initiative. The programme begins with theoretical classes, followed by practical training.

By prior arrangement, journalists may cover the training in Kyiv or the Kyiv region.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Five Ukrainian veterans will participate in the international open-water swimming competition Oceanman Lago d’Orta (Italy). They will compete in the 2 km and 5.5 km distances.

All members of the team are veterans with amputations and severe injuries. Each has gone through war, prolonged medical treatment, and rehabilitation. They are currently preparing for the international competition and train four times a week.

Team Members:

• Ivan Khalupa — veteran of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. He lost a leg in combat. Swimming became part of his systematic rehabilitation. He has experience in international competitions.

• Ihor Oliinyk — veteran of the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He began swimming after being wounded to restore psychological balance.

• Serhii Khrapko — lost an arm and a leg in 2015. Participant of the Invictus Games and Warrior Games. Has extensive experience in sports rehabilitation.

• Volodymyr Shanayda — was wounded in 2023. After a year of treatment, he began swimming. Oceanman will be his first international competition.

• Ihor Bystryi — combat veteran since 2016. He was wounded in 2022 by a cluster munition. After rehabilitation, he continues his sports training.

The project aims to support veterans’ participation in an international sporting event and highlight the role of sport in physical and psychological rehabilitation. It promotes the development of veteran sports and raises awareness of recovery through sport.

By prior arrangement, journalists may cover training sessions in Kyiv.

Background: The project is implemented by the charitable foundation YANKO Fund. Logistical support is provided by the concierge service FlyPoint. The team trains under the supervision of medical specialists, coaches, and rehabilitation professionals. The Oceanman organizing committee has provided the athletes with complimentary entry passes for the competition.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv