Themes by tag: military

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, 56-year-old Volodymyr Hudim worked as a paramilitary guard at the railroad. When the AFU retook his hometown of Kherson from occupying the Russian force in November 2022, Volodymyr and his comrades mobilized and joined the Defense Forces. In the summer of 2023, the soldier was defending positions near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, where he suffered his first injury as shrapnel hit his shoulder. The man underwent treatment and soon returned to duty.

In late October 2023, Volodymyr and his fellow soldiers took up combat positions a few kilometers from Klishchiivka near Bakhmut. They were to be replaced in a few days. However, the Russians launched an onslaught, and Volodymyr’s position turned out to be behind enemy lines. One of his comrades had been killed in action the day before, and the rest went in search of water and never returned. And Hudim was left alone without any communication with his comrades because at that time all the radios had already died. The man was hiding in enemy trenches, looking for supplies, collecting rainwater, and melting snow. The fighter also eliminated several Russians he encountered in their own rear.

Volodymyr kept a diary where he wrote down what was happening to him. During 46 days behind enemy lines, he lost a finger due to a wound, and later, in a hospital, his left foot was amputated due to frostbite. Volodymyr was found by Ukrainian soldiers who noticed a trident on his helmet. The man is currently in hospital undergoing rehabilitation.

Additionally: Volodymyr Hudim is ready to have both online and offline interviews, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military

The peaceful rallies under the “Don’t be silent. Captivity Kills!” slogan will take place across 14 cities of Ukraine to support Ukrainian prisoners of war. 

The gatherings are to be staged in Zaporizhia, Vinnytsia, and Krolevets (Sumy region) on February 3 and in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Poltava, Kremenchuk, Ovruch, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, and Kovel on February 4. 

The events are held by the POWs from the ‘Mariupol’ garrison families. 

For reference: On February 1 this year, during yet another prisoner swap, Ukraine brought 207 Ukrainians back from Russian captivity. The defenders of Mariupol, Kherson, fighters from Snake Island, marines, and combat medics are among the released soldiers. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 2681 Ukrainian service members and 147 civilians have been returned home through exchanges. More than 8,000 Ukrainians, civilians, and military, are still being held captive by Russia. 

• military
• prisoners

With the onset of the full-blown war, Ihor Kazio, a dentist with 15 years of experience, decided to stay in the capital and help the citizens. Ihor, his father, and brother, who belong to the same profession, provided free-of-charge services when the Russian military convoy closed in on the capital and most medical facilities in Kyiv were closed.

After the invaders were driven out of the Kyiv region, Ihor started looking for ways to help the military who could not leave the front line to see a dentist. This is how the Kazo Mobile Dental project—mobile dentistry in a mobile setting that helps soldiers near the front line, was born. A team of doctors ready to work in the frontline regions was assembled quite quickly: specialists from different cities responded to the call. Each of their trips lasts at least two weeks. Kazo Mobile Dental has already made three visits to the frontline regions and performed dental treatment for more than a thousand soldiers. Now the team is preparing for their next trip, which will take place on February 8.

For reference: Kazo Mobile Dental is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• doctors
• military
• volunteers

29-year-old Yevhen Koptiaiev volunteered for mobilization in the Defense Forces since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The soldier fought in the Donetsk sector, where he got seriously injured during an assault. Yevhen was shot through his helmet by an enemy bullet causing an entry wound in his ear and exit in his eye. The bullet also hit the front bones shattering his skull and tearing out his under-eye muscles. With those injuries, Yevhen crawled more than two kilometers to reach Ukrainian counterparts’ positions. The military veteran says he realized how badly he was injured being already halfway to his comrades: trying to touch his nose, his three fingers passed right through the mutilated bones of his skull and jaw.

Yevhen was first treated in Vinnytsia, having reconstructive surgery to his skull: five titanium implants were used for his face reconstruction. After the treatment, Yevhen had to get another one, because one of the plates didn’t adapt to the body defect ultimately leading to the body rejecting the implant and provoking inflammation. So a team of foreign doctors from Face the future Ukraine took over Yevhen’s treatment. The surgeons removed the failed implant, restored the lacrimal glands, and transplanted the man’s skin under the eye. Three months have passed since Yevhen’s last surgery. The wounds on his face have almost healed. Now the veteran has returned to Kryvyi Rih, where his wife and two children live.

For reference: “Face the future Ukraine” is a mission of reconstructive surgeons from Canada and the US, a joint effort of world experts and their Ukrainian colleagues, to restore physical health and aesthetic beauty to those who were disfigured by enemy fire. They also work with soldiers who have suffered injuries to their face and neck at the front line.

• casualties
• doctors
• 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