Themes by tag: military

For a man nicknamed “Mohyla,” the choice to fight was never in question. When russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, he mobilized immediately, leaving behind his wife and six children in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region.

Before the war, military service was far from his life. But on the day he volunteered, his brother joined as well. At first, they served side by side, but eventually were assigned to different units.

Over the course of the war, Mohyla has rotated through several brigades and roles. Today, he serves in the National Guard of Ukraine’s 13th Khartiia Brigade as a mortar maintenance specialist.

He doesn’t dwell on his combat experiences, viewing war as the same everywhere: it’s either you or your enemy. Still, despite being entitled to a discharge as the father of six, he has stayed in uniform. 

At home, his wife is raising three boys and three girls, the youngest of whom has barely seen him. His children, he says, are the driving force behind his decision to stay, as he wants them to be able to remain in their home.

He plans to stay in the army for as long as his health allows.

Interviews with the soldier can be arranged online or in person with prior coordination through a press officer.

• military

Daniil, whose call sign is “Taiets” (Thai), is from Shostka in the Sumy oblast. He has been passionate about sports since childhood, practicing Muay Thai and being an avid football fan. At age 14, Daniil experienced the football fan sector for the first time and saw that the supporters were true Ukrainian patriots. When russia first attacked, most of these fans became volunteers. “Taiets” recalls that they were his role models.

After finishing school, Daniil moved to Kyiv to study to become a coach and was there when the full-scale invasion began. He immediately joined the Defense Forces, first defending the Kyiv oblast, then Izium, and later the Donetsk oblast. In Bakhmut, says “Taiets”, he learned what real war is. He currently serves in an unmanned systems battalion and is responsible for FPV drone operations.

Over time, Daniil began thinking of ways to help finance drone repairs for his battalion. He decided to try creating merchandise. First, he made challenge coins featuring his photo from Bakhmut, and then he started producing T-shirts with custom prints. Daniil  explains that every T-shirt purchased is a donation to the battalion’s drone workshop. “Taiets” does not deduct his own expenses from the sales. Instead, he invests all the profit directly into repairing drones.

Daniil is available for conversations online and in person in Kyiv until September 22 by prior arrangement.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

On September 17, Ukraine will witness a new attempt to set the national record for the “Most unsupported one-leg squats in one minute” near Odesa. The record attempt will be made by 34-year-old war veteran and assault pilot Oleksandr Revtiukh of the 47th Mechanized Brigade ‘Magura’, who has endured the loss of both an arm and a leg.

In 2023, during a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporizhia region, Revtiukh and his unit entered a minefield. A mine first took his leg, and as he attempted to crawl to safety in a state of shock, another mine detonated just a meter away, claiming his arm and injuring his torso. Despite the field being heavily mined, his comrades were able to evacuate him.

Last year, Revtiukh set a national record by completing 34 unsupported sit-ups on one leg within a minute. This year, he is aiming to surpass his own achievement.

The event is open to accredited media only. For security reasons, the precise location will be shared exclusively with credentialed journalists.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Odesa

Mykhailo Purin, 62, hails from Odesa but was in Kyiv when russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, he worked as a journalist, contributing articles to a Ukrainian media outlet. When the first explosions shook the capital, he volunteered for the army, drawing on his prior experience as a medical instructor in the Soviet military to serve in a similar role with the Navy’s river flotilla.

During his service, Purin patrolled rivers and participated in combat missions in the Kherson region, particularly around Krynky. After several years on the front lines, he retired in August 2024 upon reaching retirement age. Rather than settling into a quiet pensioned life, he sought a role that would give him purpose.

With guidance from Lobby X, an organization supporting veteran employment, Purin explored opportunities that aligned with his passions. He first took a position at Pethouse, a company specializing in pet food and shelter support, where he now manages supply chains. Beyond his day job, he volunteers with UAnimals, helping rescue and evacuate animals from conflict zones.

Purin is available for interviews both online and in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• animals
• military
• Kyiv

Andrii Prots knew the path he wanted to follow from an early age. Inspired by his grandfather, a skilled carpenter, he took up woodworking himself and eventually built a business producing cabinets, kitchens, and commercial furnishings for shops and offices. His dream was to grow into a mass manufacturer – until russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine forced him to put everything on hold.

When the war broke out, Prots mobilized with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He carried out combat missions in the Serebrianskyi Forest, Torske, Zarichne, and near Lyman. It was while serving on the front line that he learned his wife had given birth to their daughter. He still recalls returning home on leave, dirty and exhausted, straight from the forest, to meet his newborn child.

By 2023, Prots decided to leave the military for family reasons and turn back to civilian life. Almost immediately, he began rebuilding his business. He repaired his workshop, which had been damaged in an enemy strike, and reopened his furniture factory, which he fittingly named “Combatant.”

Over time, Prots realized he wanted his work to serve a greater purpose. He has invested his savings and secured a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation to buy land and build a barrier-free production facility for veterans with disabilities. He aims to complete construction by the end of 2025 and create a workplace where veterans feel safe, valued and comfortable.

Those who wish to meet with Andrii Prots can do so either online or in person in Lviv, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

On September 13, Kyiv will host a peaceful motorcycle and car rally organized by the “United Biker Front” war veterans’ motorcycle club. The rally will be accompanied by a photo exhibition titled “Our People Are Not Home Yet” to show support for missing and captured soldiers of the 32nd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Background: The event is organized by the community of families of missing and captured soldiers from the 32nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, which is part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

“Cap” had planned to join the military right after finishing school. However, things didn’t work out that way, so she first pursued a medical education as a dental technician and later taught pop vocals. When the full-scale invasion began, “Cap” was in her hometown of Bila Tserkva in Kyiv oblast. She volunteered, supported the military, organized fundraisers, until she realized she could be more useful in the armed forces.

After the first year of the full-scale war, “Cap” took time to prepare: she worked out at the gym, lost weight, improved her physical health, and simultaneously looked for a unit she wanted to join. That’s how she learned about Khartiia and, after several training sessions, put on the uniform.

During her service, she held several positions and eventually became an infantry battalion planner. She emphasizes that the army is open to everyone — women and men alike — to fight for a common goal. In her free time, “Cap” dreams of peace, a loving husband, a house of her own, and three children.

Interviews with “Cap” can be arranged online or in person, by prior agreement and coordination with the press officer.

• military
• women

Before the full-scale invasion, Taras Ostapchuk worked in electrical installation and manufactured lighting poles. As early as 2017, he had learned to pilot drones to inspect streetlight supports. After February 24, 2022, he used the same drones to fly over the Kyiv oblast and assist reconnaissance units. He later joined an aerial reconnaissance unit himself.

Taras noticed that soldiers were forced to carry anti-tank mines manually, which added unnecessary risk to their lives. This inspired him to create kamikaze robots that could transport explosives. Given his background in metalworking, building the robots’ chassis posed no challenge. In the workshops where he once crafted lighting fixtures, he began assembling the internal components.

Taras spent all his savings — approximately $270,000 — on the first 50 robots and donated them to the front lines free of charge. A friend who believed in the Ratel project invested in it, enabling the team to launch serial production.

Today, a single robot can carry 40 kilograms of explosives, reach speeds of up to 24 kilometers per hour, and be operated remotely. In addition to kamikaze robots, Taras has also developed two drones to improve logistics and evacuate the wounded.

Interviews with Taras Ostapchuk can be arranged online or in person in Kyiv, by prior agreement.

• military
• Kyiv

Oleksandr Demenko, a native of Zaporizhzhia, first served his mandatory term in the military before signing a contract with the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard, named after Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada. In the months leading up to russia’s full-scale invasion, he was assigned to guard facilities near Mariupol, and on February 24, 2022, his unit was redeployed to defend the city.

By the end of March 2022, he had sustained a shrapnel wound, and on May 12 of that year, he spoke with his mother for the last time before being taken prisoner. Demenko remained in captivity for more than 20 months. He finally returned home on January 31, 2024.

More recently, Demenko was elected head of the Ukrainian LGBT Military for Equal Rights NGO. On August 23, 2025, his partner Artur proposed, and the two became engaged. The couple plans to wait until lawmakers adopt a bill on registered partnerships before marrying.

Demenko is available for meetings both online and in person in Kyiv by appointment.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv
• LGBT

HAB | Lviv Habilitation Center is Ukraine’s first habilitation facility dedicated to veterans, their families, and civilians affected by the war. Its mission is to provide a recovery environment that blends physical rehabilitation, psychological support, creative activities, and community engagement. Here, individuals can not only regain physical strength but also discover inner resilience, motivation, and new opportunities for life.

The center features eight fully accessible rooms designed for people in wheelchairs and their families. It also offers five sports programs: swimming, CrossFit, jiu-jitsu, archery, and yoga. HAB functions as a community hub, where veterans, their families, and civilians can connect, share experiences, and support one another. Over the past two years, the center has assisted more than 800 residents.

Journalists can visit HAB | Lviv Habilitation Center by prior arrangement and, when possible, speak with residents and specialists about their work and experiences.

For reference: Habilitation follows treatment and standard physical or mental rehabilitation. Its primary goal is to help individuals with amputations, complex injuries, or disabilities adapt to new circumstances, develop independence, and practice essential self-sufficiency skills.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv