Themes by tag: military

January 2026 began with high-profile exposures: law enforcement uncovered a 3-billion UAH scheme involving defective mortar shells, while an investigative report revealed thousands of cans of inedible meat approved by official labs for frontline troops. This is only the tip of the iceberg regarding substandard defence supplies in the fifth year of the full-scale war.

Why did the decades-old “Military Representation” system fail to prevent systemic malpractice — from substituting meat with tendons to delivering faulty ammunition? How will the new reform, built on NATO standards and launched in Ukraine this year, put an end to this era of failure?

On April 21, as part of the “Defence Talks” series, the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), in partnership with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT), will analyze a fundamental shift in the rules of the game: the Government Quality Assurance (GQA) system. This event serves as a milestone in the strategic roadmap between the Public Anti-Corruption Council (GARC MoD) and the Main Directorate for GQA, who have joined forces to implement anti-corruption policies and new control standards within the Armed Forces.

SPEAKERS:

• Mstyslav Banik, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine (TBD);
• Viktor Byvalkevych, Colonel of Justice, Department for Prevention and Detection of Corruption, MoD;
• Stanislav Haider, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT);
• Anastasiia Shuba, Representative of the Public Anti-Corruption Council (GARC), MoD;
• Yevhen Krasnikov, Head of the Main Directorate for Government Quality Assurance, MoD;
• Olena Tregub, Executive Director of NAKO.

Accreditation for the event is required by April 20, 9:00 PM (the address will be provided upon confirmation of accreditation). 

Background: “Defence Talks” is a high-level discussion platform organized by NAKO for government officials, diplomats, and civil society to address critical challenges in the security and defence sector.

NAKO (The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission) is an NGO dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s resilience through independent research and advocacy. NAKO provides institutional, legal, and communication support to the MoD’s Main Directorate for Government Quality Assurance in its mission to implement NATO-compliant reforms.

• military
• Kyiv

On April 16 The War Museum will host an event dedicated to the establishment and activities of the Kyiv Regional Center for National Resistance Training. This is one of Ukraine’s largest projects focused on preparing civilians for resistance.

The Center was the first to recruit veterans of the russo-Ukrainian War as instructors, achieving significant results through their dedicated work. Today, national resistance efforts in the Kyiv region serve as a model for similar organizations and actively contribute to the development of a nationwide network of training centers.

Speakers will discuss the organization’s history, the specifics of the training process, and how citizens can join the preparatory courses. A Q&A session will follow, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers and ask pressing questions.

Speakers:

Anastasiia Rymar – Officer of the 3rd Separate Army Corps, Founder of the Center

Volodymyr Avdieienko – Veteran of the russo-Ukrainian War, Head of the Center

Journalists are required to be accredited for the event.

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleksii organized festivals and gastronomic tours and took part in a well-known Ukrainian cooking show. After 2022, he was mobilized and began improving food provision in the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura”: he raised funds and set up the first “food truck” — a mobile kitchen that can quickly move between positions.

So far, Oleksii has equipped two such vehicles, which are successfully operating on the frontline and providing Ukrainian soldiers with quality hot meals. He later transferred to the 3rd Army Corps, where he continues to develop the food truck initiative.

Oleksii aims to scale up his experience and create modern mobile kitchens for the frontline. He has also developed a trench “superfood” — nutritious, well-balanced snacks with a long shelf life.

Media can arrange interviews with Oleksii both online and offline in Kharkiv upon prior request.

• food
• military
• Kharkiv

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. On April 15, Khartiia Hub will host a meeting with Kateryna Shavanova — a servicemember, radiobiologist, and co-author of the book “The Terrible, the Beautiful, and the Ugly in Chornobyl.”

During the discussion, she will share her research on present-day Chornobyl — a space she describes as “terrible, beautiful, and ugly.”

The event will also address the future of radiation and nuclear safety in Ukraine and globally after the end of the russian-Ukrainian war. Participants will discuss the period of the russian occupation of Chornobyl, the situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and the broader context of nuclear risks during and after the war.

Registration is required to attend the event.

• military
• women

The Free Fight Cup of Ukraine and the nationwide memorial tournament “Defender of Ukraine” will take place in Dnipro on April 18–19.

The tournaments are organized on the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Physical Training and Sports Directorate of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov,” and the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov.” The event is held in partnership with the Upgrade Sports Club and the Vataga Boxing School.

Background: Free Fight is a Ukrainian combat sport of mixed martial arts created in 1995. It features minimal restrictions on techniques and emphasizes well-rounded, universal training for athletes.

• culture
• military
• Dnipro

A meeting with representatives of the UAV Systems Battalion “Viy” of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade, 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartiia,” will take place on April 18 in Poltava and Kyiv.

During the event, battalion representatives will speak about the unit’s combat operations, training, and daily life, as well as outline the key skills civilians should start developing now to join the team.

Participants will learn:

• how the UAV Systems Battalion “Viy” was established,
• what types of drones the unit operates and the missions they perform,
• how training is conducted and how service members’ daily routines are organized,
• how to join the unit and what positions are currently open,
• which skills are essential to develop now for effective service in the military.

Registration is required to attend the event.

• military
• Kyiv
• Poltava

From April 17 to 19, a recruit training school for civilians organized by Khartiia Hub will take place in Lviv. During the three-day program, instructors will conduct basic military training sessions. Participants will acquire fundamental military skills and gain a better understanding of how the Ukrainian military operates.

The program includes weapons handling, the basics of tactical medicine under fire, combat planning procedures, small-unit tactics, and more.

The training will take place in field conditions and will be led by experienced military instructors.

Prior registration is required.

• military
• Lviv

Olha Shchedrina lived in Ireland until 2024, where she worked as an assistant to the Ambassador of Ukraine. After the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, the embassy faced an increased workload, as many Irish citizens reached out to support Ukrainians.

Soon, Olha began traveling to Ukraine on short missions, delivering humanitarian aid while also training in tactical medicine. In late 2023, she decided to stay in Ukraine permanently and later joined the medical battalion Hospitallers.

She now evacuates wounded soldiers to stabilization points and provides medical assistance. Between rotations, Olha travels abroad to speak with international audiences about the war in Ukraine.

Journalists can arrange an online interview with Olha Shchedrina upon prior agreement and coordination with a press officer.

Background: The Hospitallers Medical Battalion has been operating on the front line since 2014. Its crews carry out dozens of evacuations daily along much of the front line. The Hospitallers have been providing tactical medicine training since 2015 and first aid training since 2018.

• doctors
• military
• women

Oleksii Botsula is originally from the village of Marianivka in Kyiv region. From 2015 to 2018, he fought in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including at the Svitlodarsk salient. After completing his contract, he returned to civilian life.

Following the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleksii joined one of the brigades and took part in battles in Kyiv region. He later served in various directions. In September 2023, he was wounded during a combat mission in Kharkiv region.

His rehabilitation and treatment lasted about a year. During this time, he applied for a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, and his project “Farmer Shepherd” (Ferma Pastukha) was selected as a winner. The project involves the reconstruction and modernization of a pig farm, including the renovation of facilities, process automation, and expansion of production capacity.

Currently, the farm houses around 200 pigs. Oleksii is developing the production of canned and smoked products, and provides part of his output free of charge to fellow soldiers on the front line.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Oleksii Botsula both online and offline in Kyiv region by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

For more than 14 years, Jack Lopresti served as a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom from the Conservative Party, which he joined at the age of 18. Over time, he became Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party and served on the UK Parliament’s Defence Committee.

Jack Lopresti also has military experience. He served in the British Army Reserve with the Royal Artillery and was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the UK Armed Forces.

As a politician, Jack Lopresti consistently supported Ukraine during russia’s aggression. In early 2025, he joined the Ukrainian military himself. He was mobilized into the 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Currently, he is not deployed on the front line but performs support duties for the military.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Jack Lopresti both online and offline upon coordination with a press officer.

• military