Themes by tag: military

In the Lviv Oblast, mountain hiking trips are being organized for defenders undergoing rehabilitation, including veterans with prosthetic limbs. These therapeutic hikes are arranged by the charity foundation With an Angel on a Shoulder.

Recently, the defenders climbed Mount Makovytsia and Mount Smerichok in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The next hike is planned for mid-April.

Journalists can cover the mountain therapy by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Lviv

Ivona Kostyna has been working with military personnel and veterans since 2015. Initially, she and the Pobratymy Foundation organized trips for psychologists to the front lines to provide mental health support to Ukrainian defenders. Over time, Ivona realized that soldiers would need continued care long after leaving the service.

Determined to address this, she collaborated with specialists to develop psychosocial adaptation programs. Soon after, she and her partners launched the first Veteran Hub in Kyiv—a space where service members and their families can access legal assistance, psychological counseling, and guidance on employment, education, and grant opportunities.

Within two years, the team expanded, opening another Veteran Hub location in Vinnytsia. To ensure equal access to services regardless of a veteran’s location or mobility, the organization also launched mobile offices in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Dnipro in 2020, bringing support directly to those in need.

Since 2018, Ukraine’s Veteran Hub has operated without public fundraising. However, in January 2025, after the U.S. Department of State suspended funding for international assistance programs, the organization was forced to close its Vinnytsia branch and its Support Helpline. For the first time, the team publicly appealed for donations from the community and businesses.

Thanks to the support of Ukrainian businesses and the community in Vinnytsia, the team has raised over UAH 9 million, ensuring the continued operation of the organization’s services for at least three months.

The Veteran Hub team is now seeking regular donors to sustain their support for soldiers and their families.

Ivona Kostyna is available for meetings in Kyiv, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• psychological support
• women
• Kyiv

On March 14, the Ukrainian Volunteer Day, the First Chernihiv Veterans Theatre will perform the play “Hospital Rhapsody”. The author of the play is Yurii Vietkin, a veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war who lost his leg during an enemy shelling. The play is based on real events that took place in a ward of the Chernihiv military hospital in March 2022.

The premiere of “Hospital Rhapsody”, staged by the Chernihiv Veterans Theatre “Sercevir”, took place at the end of February. The cast consists entirely of veterans and military personnel — three of the actors are amputees, while two others have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Widows of fallen soldiers and director Anastasiia Kuzyk, the wife of a serving soldier, also took part in the performance.

The lead role is played by veteran Ruslan Ivanov, who has an amputated arm. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked as a production designer in a movie studio. He volunteered to defend Ukraine, fought in the Kyiv oblast and was wounded near Bakhmut in October 2023.

Guests from Poltava — partners involved in supporting veterans through the “Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities” project — attended the performance alongside Chernihiv residents. Poltava and Chernihiv had previously launched a joint initiative, the “Veteran Spaces Opportunity Map”, which helps returning soldiers find the psychological, legal, and social support they need.

Journalists will have the opportunity to interview the cast, attend the dress rehearsal, and cover the performance of “Hospital Rhapsody” on March 14.

Background: On April 6, 2022, the Ukrainian Defense Forces completely liberated the Chernihiv oblast from the russian occupiers.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Chernihiv

At the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv, defenders recovering from serious injuries are exploring a new form of rehabilitation—golf.

Participants have already completed three training sessions under the guidance of Volodymyr Shevchun, a certified trainer and rehabilitation specialist. Shevchun is actively developing this approach as a method of both physical and psychological recovery in Ukraine. He explains that golf engages various muscle groups while also helping to relieve stress, promote relaxation, and provide a mental escape.

The coach sees significant potential in golf as a rehabilitation tool for veterans. To expand the program, he is currently training three specialists at the UNBROKEN Center, preparing them to lead similar sessions for patients in the future.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

Peaceful rallies will be held in 24 cities to remind the world of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still held in enemy captivity.

On March 8, rallies will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Arbuzynka, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr, Pavlohrad and Obukhiv.

On March 9, events are planned in Kyiv, Pivdennoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Kremenchuk, Cherkasy, Korosten, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Lozova, Poltava, Berdychiv, and Kropyvnytskyi.

The rallies are organized by families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison, with former POWs often attending to share their experiences.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Drivers Project is open to veterans with musculoskeletal injuries or amputations. The goal of the initiative is to provide disabled veterans with the opportunity to learn driving skills so that they can be mobile. It also gives them the opportunity to find a job or use these skills in their own business or social activities. 

The project was launched in June 2024 and is implemented by the NGO “Free People Employment Center”. A total of 51 veterans have joined so far, with 21 currently taking the theoretical course and 17 undergoing practical driving training.

Journalists can cover the project’s work in Kyiv and the Kyiv oblast by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

A veteran of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and instructor of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, known by the call sign “Student,” joined the military in February 2022. Initially, as part of a territorial defense unit, he was involved in the evacuation of civilians from Irpin, Kyiv oblast. Later he was transferred to another unit and sent to Donetsk, where he was wounded and survived two clinical deaths.

His rehabilitation lasted a year. Realizing that he could no longer serve on the front lines, “Student” decided to use his combat experience to train those preparing to join the military. He joined the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade as an instructor, believing that proper training is the key to saving lives on the battlefield.

Journalists wishing to speak with “Student” can do so online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Eight months ago, Luna made the decision to leave Venezuela and travel to Ukraine to join the country’s Defense Forces. She admits that her friends and family were less than thrilled when they heard the news, unhappy with her choice to serve in a foreign military.

Luna enlisted with the 13th Khratiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, a unit recommended to her by a friend. After completing her training, she began serving as an artillery officer. Today, she continues to carry out her duties on the front lines.

Interviews with Luna can be arranged both online and in person with approval from the brigade’s press officer. Luna communicates exclusively in Spanish.

• military
• women

Launched in the summer of 2023, the rehabilitation program at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Historical and Cultural Reserve has already welcomed 1,438 military personnel. Starting in 2025, the program has been expanded to include the families of fallen soldiers, families of prisoners of war, and former prisoners themselves. The rehabilitation takes place within the expansive grounds of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, aiming to restore participants by immersing them in Ukraine’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

The program unfolds in two stages. The first, a 10-day initiative, includes activities such as archaeological digs at ancient walls, a glassmaking workshop from the 11th and 12th centuries, and visits to the National Museum of History’s Treasury and the Museum of Books and Printing. Participants also engage in an icon painting workshop, explore the Upper and Lower Lavra territories, and take part in worship services. The second stage, “A Day at the Lavra for Military,” allows groups of veterans, led by a lecturer-guide, to experience a full day at the monastery. During their visit, they explore the site, attend guided tours, join in the Reserve’s activities, and visit local shrines.

To enhance the program’s scope, the team partners with independent cultural institutions, public initiatives, and individual artists. Contemporary artists, restorers, musicians, and folk artisans lead master classes and interactive sessions, offering the military not just a chance to observe but also to participate in the creative process.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Before the russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine, Volodymyr Bilenkyi opened his own veterinary clinic, Vet House, in Vinnytsia. However, when war broke out, he was quickly mobilized and joined the airborne assault troops. For the next two and a half years, he fought on the front lines, while his wife took over the clinic’s operations, even opening a second branch during his absence.

In July 2024, after returning to civilian life, Volodymyr set his sights on expanding his business. He applied for and received a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, using the funds to purchase essential equipment for the second clinic. Volodymyr firmly believes that military personnel transitioning to civilian life need to find something they are passionate about to guide them forward.

All those interested can connect with Volodymyr Bilenkyi, both online and in person, by appointment.

• animals
• military
• Vinnytsia