Themes by tag: military

Valerii Dzeh, a Kharkiv native, initially made his mark as an educator in local kindergartens and development centers. However, his journey took a creative turn when he delved into the world of puppet theater, ultimately co-founding a troupe in his hometown. Their breakthrough came in 2021 with the staging of a Ukrainian-themed play rooted in mythology, sparking the theater to start turning a profit and compensating its actors.

But it was on February 24, 2022, that Valerii’s fate called him to a new stage. Amid the intense Russian bombardment of Kharkiv’s northern neighborhood Saltivka, his mission shifted to humanitarian aid, evacuating vulnerable residents, particularly those with disabilities. Alongside his wife, he traversed the perilous streets, delivering sustenance and medicines to those in need.

With the city liberated in late 2022, Valerii’s resolve intensified. He enlisted in the 59th OMPB as a combat medic and became a part of the Cultural Forces unit. Alongside fellow service members with artistic backgrounds, Dzeh embarked on a mission to bring morale-boosting puppet shows to the recently liberated Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Performing both behind the lines and on the front, Dzeh believes his work plays a crucial role in uplifting the emotional well-being of military personnel.

For reference: Valerii Dzeh stands firm on the front lines, ready to share his story with journalists, online or offline, upon arrangement.

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• doctors
• military

Prior to the invasion, Moisei Bondarenko showcased his musical talents as a professional violinist, even gracing the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, when duty called on February 25, 2022, he answered, transitioning into a combat medic for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Despite the challenges of frontline duty, Moisei continued to share his gift of music with his fellow soldiers, often serenading them with his violin in the evening. His dedication didn’t go unnoticed, as his colleagues willingly covered his shifts to allow him this opportunity. After serving a year in the medical corps, Moisei made a remarkable shift to the infantry, joining the Cultural Forces unit. Now, his mission extends beyond the battlefield as he provides crucial moral and psychological support to his comrades, using music as his tool. Moisei’s performances have taken him to the very edge of danger, with one notable instance seeing him play just 900 meters from baseline. Yet, for him, music remains a source of strength in the midst of war raging.

For reference: Moisei Bondarenko is available for interviews with journalists, both online and offline, with prior arrangement. 

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• doctors
• military

Olha Kurtmallaieva, 24 years old, majored in finance. The russian federation’s full-scale invasion caught her in her native Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region (now the city is occupied). In the summer of 2022, she left the occupation.

Olha’s husband, Ruslan, has been defending the country since 2014 (he served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation zone). April 4, 2024 will mark two years since he got captured by the russians during the defense of Mariupol.

Olha is actively fighting for the release of her husband – she is trying to attend every demonstration calling on the release of the prisoners of war. She also co-founded an NGO that helps soldiers of the 501st Separate Naval Infantry Battalion to return home. (Together with other women, they organize rallies, arrange meetings and communicate with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities). And she does all this despite suffering from a serious illness: back in 2021, Olha was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the lymph tissue).

Already during the full-scale war, Olga found out that the disease had progressed from the second stage to the fourth. Doctors link it to great stress. Olha has now undergone 12 courses of chemotherapy. The treatment was very difficult (in particular, she was in the intensive care unit) and the woman had to go through it alone, without her beloved by her side.

Journalists can talk to Olha in Kyiv (in person) or online.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv

Shura Riazantseva started her career as a stylist back in 2006. The military servicewoman says that Ukrainian TV personality, leader of Skryabin band Andriy Kuzmenko believed in her as well as supported and motivated Shura. As a result, she became one of Ukraine’s best stylists and, according to the woman herself, even took care of the outfits for the shows of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team.

Shura’s life turned upside down in 2014 — she witnessed the beating of students during the Euromaidan protests in the capital. After participating in the Revolution of Dignity, Shura, together with other activists, went to her native Crimea, but the girls were captured by the russians and were held in captivity for five days. Back then the woman visited the peninsula for the last time and never returned.

On March 9, 2022, Shura joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces. At first, together with her brothers in arms, she served in Kyiv region, later in the Bakhmut sector. Currently, Shura does not disclose where exactly she is fighting. However, she says that she is proud of her service with the air assault troops. The woman has two dreams: to return to her native Crimea and to destroy the place where she was held captive by the russians.

For reference: Shura Riazantseva is on the front line. The military servicewoman is ready to communicate with journalists both in person and online, by prior arrangement.

• military
• women

Artem Pohorilyi, a former professional judo practitioner, defied the odds and clinched two silver medals at the United States Air Force Trials 2024, despite losing a limb. His journey began in 2014, amid Russia’s initial attacks on Ukraine. Back then as a Maidan in Poltava participant, he got registered with military service, and afterward, he joined the fight for Ukraine’s east with the outbreak of the full-blown war. In October 2022, during a mission in the Bakhmut sector, Artem was injured by a mortar fire, resulting in the loss of his leg. After extensive surgeries and rehabilitation, he adapted to a prosthetic limb and resumed his passion for sports. Following Artem’s recent return from the United States, where at the United States Air Force Trials 2024, he secured two silver medals in freestyle and breaststroke events, he dove into various sports competitions across Ukraine. Presently, Artem Pohorilyi serves as a methodology instructor at a youth sports school in Poltava while also venturing into entrepreneurship with his own construction business. 

For reference: The United States Air Force Trials, an adaptive sports competition catering to wounded members of the U.S. Air Force and Marines, saw the participation of the Ukrainian national team in 11 adaptive sports this year.

• military

Nariman Bilialov, a.k.a. “Isa Akaiev,” was born in Uzbekistan during a period of deportation, but his family returned to their Crimean homeland in 1989. At 24, Bilialov found himself embroiled in a dramatic escape from persecution in 2014, reminiscent of a Hollywood spy thriller. Evading pursuers, he made his way to Ukrainian-controlled territory, where he joined the Dnipro-1 regiment as a volunteer, establishing and leading the Crimea battalion. Alongside his comrades, “Isa Akaiev” fought in key battles like the Battle of Savur-Mohyla and the defense of Mariupol. After demobilization, he immersed himself in civilian life, actively promoting Crimean Tatar culture. But when the war escalated, Bilialov didn’t hesitate to return to the front lines, defending the Kyiv region, Bakhmut, and other hotspots with his unit, comprising Crimeans, Ukrainians, and Kabardians. The ultimate dream for “Isa Akaiev” is to reclaim his home Crimea, armed and determined, from its occupiers. 

For reference: Nariman Bilialov remains accessible for interviews, online or offline, by appointment, as he continues his frontline service.

• military

Before the full-scale invasion, Tymur Leon was actively involved in sports and thought about making a career out of it. However, after the events of February 24, Timur started volunteering. He helped the military, worked in one of the charitable foundations and often visited the soldiers at the front lines.

In 2023, the Tymur himself joined the 3rd Assault Brigade. During one of the combat missions in the Bakhmut sector, the soldier was wounded and got temporarily discharged from service.

While undergoing rehabilitation, Tymur took up sports once again, as well as participated in the United States Air Force Trials. In the United States of America, Tymur managed to win the 4th place in powerlifting and two silver medals in two rowing events.

Tymur Leon is in the capital and will soon go to the front. The serviceman is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

For reference: United States Air Force Trials is an adaptive sports competition for wounded members of the United States Air Force and Marine Corps. Members of the Ukrainian national team competed in 11 adaptive sports this year

• military

Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Andriy Zholob worked as a traumatologist in Lviv. The man is also the front man of Beton punk rock band. At the beginning of the war, his band made a splash around the world with their cover of “London Calling” by the legendary band “The Clash.” Their cover “Kyiv Calling” draws the world’s attention to the struggle of the Ukrainian people. (At that time, The Guardian and Rolling Stone wrote about this cover song).

In May 2022, Andriy became the commander of the medical company of the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade. Andriy rescued the wounded in the hottest spots: Donetsk (in particular, Bakhmut and Soledar), Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. Andriy recalls how russian planes hit the medical hub with missiles while working in Kherson area. Back then the medics managed to quickly leave the location and save themselves, because there was a second hit.

The man posted his observations and experiences on Facebook with the hashtag “#запискидокторажолоба” (notes by doctor Zholob). Recently, at the request of the headquarters of the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade, he created a requiem song for the fallen brothers in arms called “Voices.”

Two weeks ago, Andriy returned to civilian life (military doctor in reserve). Journalists can talk to him either in person in Lviv or online.

• culture
• doctors
• military
• Lviv

Hailing from Mariupol, 21-year-old Illia, attended a maritime lyceum before enlisting in the 23rd Sea Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. As the all-out invasion loomed, Illia and his fellow servicemen valiantly defended against the enemy’s incursion from the sea. During a pivotal moment when his vessel docked in Mariupol, Illia eagerly volunteered to reinforce the frontline positions. Transitioning from a marine machine to a machine gunner on land, Illia showcased his adaptability and commitment to his duty. Subsequently, he received orders to deploy to Azovstal, where he found himself ensnared in a harrowing special operation, trapped within encircling enemy forces. In May 2022, Illia, alongside other defenders of Azovstal, was captured by the enemy following a strategic decision to surrender per the directives of Ukrainian military leadership. Initially detained in the infamous Olenivka facility in Donetsk, Illia was subsequently transferred to Taganrog in Russia, where he “celebrated” his birthday under captivity. Enduring 10 grueling months in enemy hands, Illia’s hope flickered to life upon hearing Ukrainian spoken among fellow prisoners during a bus transport on February 16, 2023, signaling his imminent release as part of a prisoner exchange. Following his liberation, Illia embarked on a journey of rehabilitation while concurrently penning a memoir chronicling the defense of Mariupol.

For reference: Illia Iliashenko is currently available for interviews in Kyiv, extending his willingness to engage with journalists both online and offline with prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners

Prior to the onset of the invasion, Petro Konoplia pursued a career in directing and acting. Transitioning from the creative realm to the battlefield, Petro, equipped with his civilian first aid training, opted to serve as a combat medic upon mobilization. Remarkably, he proudly attests that none of the wounded individuals he tended to succumbed to their injuries.

Petro attempts to capture compelling footage of his experiences on the front lines. One such video, depicting his heroic evacuation of two comrades under fire, caught the attention of NATO officials. Petro authorized the use of his video by the NATO instructors for training purposes.

Despite sustaining multiple injuries during combat missions, including retaining five fragments in his body from one incident, Petro remains undeterred. Currently undergoing rehabilitation in Odesa, he eagerly awaits reassignment to another unit and anticipates his imminent return to active duty.

For reference: Petro Konoplia is available for interviews in Odesa, welcoming inquiries from both online and offline journalists with prior arrangements.

• doctors
• military