Themes by tag: military

When russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vita Anniuk was living thousands of miles away in Italy. But distance didn’t stop her. She had been abroad for two years, yet the moment war broke out, she packed her bags and returned home.

At first, Vita threw herself into volunteering. But it wasn’t enough. Within a month, she made the decision to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Her initial attempt at mobilization was rejected, officials cited her lack of military experience. But Vita didn’t give up. For six months, she showed up at the military recruitment center regularly, reminding them she was ready and willing to serve.

In October 2022, her persistence paid off. She received her military ID and joined the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. Thanks to her background in psychology, she was assigned to the combat stress control group, where she helped soldiers cope with the psychological toll of war.

Soon after, she was transferred to the 505th Separate Marine Battalion and appointed deputy commander of an air assault company, a role that placed her on the front lines.

Vita served in some of the most active combat zones in the Donetsk and Kherson regions. She took part in evacuating the wounded during operations in Krynky, came under mortar fire, and even provided medical care to captured russian troops.

Vita Anniuk is available for interviews, both online and in person, with prior approval from a press officer. She will be in Kyiv until July 17 before returning to her unit.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

Artem Yakovlev is both a serviceman and president of the Kherson regional club of traditional Okinawan Goju-ryu karate-do.

He signed a contract with the Defense Forces even before the full-scale invasion, inspired after one of his students enlisted. 

Artem first saw combat in Donetsk oblast. Meanwhile, his karate club became a shelter for locals during occupation. Among those hiding there were eight conscripts from the Skadovsk garrison. Artem’s wife convinced russian occupiers they were merely athletes.

After Kherson’s liberation in fall 2023, Artem resumed training. He now teaches 18 students, holding sessions twice weekly – though he always confirms availability, as military duty sometimes interrupts.

You can contact Artem Yakovlev online or in-person in Kherson by prior arrangement.

• children
• military
• occupation
• Kherson

When the full-scale invasion began, Annetka set her heart on serving in the Ukrainian military to fight the enemy. Being underage at the time, she was initially unable to enlist. Once she reached the required age, she signed a contract with the 13th Khartiia Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, immediately expressing her desire to work with drones.

Annetka completed basic training, which covered the fundamentals of FPV drones operations, and was assigned to a technical unit. She now supports her fellow soldiers by assembling drones destined for the frontline. Additionally, she is actively learning to pilot FPV drones, intending to become a UAV operator soon.

Annetka is available for interviews both online and in person by prior arrangement and with approval from the press officer.

• military
• women

Oleh Symoroz joined the ranks of Ukraine’s Defense Forces at the onset of the full-scale invasion. He defended the Kyiv region as part of the Territorial Defense Forces before being deployed to the East with his unit. In October 2022, during a combat mission, Oleh’s vehicle struck an enemy mine. The soldier lost both legs and sustained a severe jaw fracture.

Oleh underwent bilateral above-knee amputations, one of the most complex types for prosthetic rehabilitation. Committed to his recovery, he diligently pursued rehabilitation and, with the support of medical professionals and his own determination, successfully adapted to using prostheses. Yet, Oleh’s challenges extended beyond his injuries: the apartment he had been renting in Kyiv was ill-equipped to accommodate a person with disabilities.

Determined to improve his living conditions, Oleh purchased his own home and customized it to meet his needs. Nevertheless, despite residing in a newly constructed building, the complex lacks adequate accessibility and inclusive features for people with disabilities.

Oleh Symoroz is available to connect both online and in person in Kyiv by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

On July 9, the Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade UGV Operator School.

Participants:

– Viktor “Stark” Pavlov, Founder of the UGV Operator School and Platoon Commander of Unmanned Ground Robotic Systems with the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

Key topics:

– Structure and operations of the UGV Operator School, including government support and project funding;

– Core objectives and intended audiences of the program;

– How civilians can enroll and participate in the training.

The Operator School for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) is a cutting-edge military initiative launched by the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. These robotic platforms are already transforming the dynamics of modern warfare by taking on high-risk tasks such as logistics, reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, engineering, and direct fire support. The school provides civilians and service members alike with access to the skills needed to become future UGV operators or engineers. It stands as Ukraine’s first center to merge combat-tested experience, technical innovation, and a new approach to military training.

• military

Dmytro Demchenko is from Druzhkivka in the Donetsk oblast. In 2016, he dedicated his life to the military, completing compulsory service before signing a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2023, he joined the 23rd Brigade, first serving as a gunner before becoming the commander of a Grad-21 MLRS. He took part in the counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia sector.

On January 20, 2024, Dmytro was severely injured when an enemy shell landed just seven meters away from him. He underwent eight surgeries, but doctors had to amputate his mangled arm and leg. Following treatment, the veteran was transferred to a rehabilitation center.

Struggling with the aftermath of his wounds, Dmytro found it hard to see a reason to go on. Eventually, he set a goal for himself — to find work. After an interview, he became an administrator at Vybir (“Choice”), a Lviv-based space for the veterans.

There, for the first time, he felt understood and surrounded by people who shared his experiences. He enjoys working with fellow servicemen and plans to soon get a prosthetic arm and enroll in law school.

You can connect with Dmytro Demchenko and the Vybir team online or in person in Lviv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

Before 2022, Ihor Kazmin repaired passenger and commercial vehicles. When fighting broke out in the Mykolaiv oblast, he began helping the military fix armored vehicles.

In May 2022, he built his first buggy for soldiers and has since completely repurposed his auto shop to meet the army’s needs. To date, his team of mechanics has assembled 70 buggies and sent them to the front lines. Fitting out a single buggy takes anywhere from two to three weeks up to two months, depending on the base vehicle being modified. Initially, volunteers worked with Ladas, then moved on to Fords and Skodas, and later began using all-wheel-drive cars.

Some vehicles are handed over after being damaged at the front or in accidents, while others have to be purchased using personal or donated funds. Currently, eight people work in the workshop. In the future, Ihor plans to open a hostel and café for soldiers, who are frequent visitors to the auto shop.

You can connect with Ihor Kazmin online or in person in Mykolaiv by prior arrangement.

• military
• volunteers
• Mykolaiv

Kateryna serves as a communications officer in the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Before russia’s expanded war against Ukraine, she had no ties to the military.

She met her partner online, he was already in uniform at the time. After a few in-person meetings, it became clear they wanted to build a future together, regardless of the circumstances. Although Kateryna began talking about enlisting as a way to be closer to him, he initially opposed the idea. But she made up her mind: it was time to join the Defense Forces.

Her father also decided to enlist. Both passed the military qualification commission and chose to serve with the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard.

Kateryna completed the required training and took up her role as a communications specialist in one of the brigade’s units. Now, she often sees her beloved and allows herself to dream about the life they’ll share once the war is over.

Interviews with Kateryna can be arranged online or in person with prior coordination and approval from the brigade’s press officer.

• military
• women

Yevhenii Kravchuk was mobilized at the onset of russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. His wife, Anastasiia, initially joined the war effort as a volunteer before enlisting in the army as a combat medic. In June 2022, Yevhenii’s unit was encircled in the Luhansk region, and he was taken captive along with his fellow soldiers. He would spend nearly three years in russian captivity.

Yevhenii recalls how the Ukrainian prisoners endured daily torture, beatings with truncheons, starvation, and electric shocks. The one thing that helped him hold on was the belief that Anastasiia was waiting for him. One day, russian forces told him that she had been killed. But he refused to accept it. The russians, he said, constantly lied to prisoners in an effort to break their spirit.

In February 2025, Yevhenii was finally released. Back in Ukraine, he learned the truth, Anastasiia had been killed in action in the Pokrovsk sector in October 2024.

Yevhenii is now undergoing rehabilitation. He has launched a blog where he shares his journey, including his recovery and day-to-day life after captivity.

Interviews with Yevhenii Kravchuk can be arranged online or in person in Kyiv by appointment.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Yevhen Spirin, originally from the Luhansk oblast, studied at the Academy of Internal Affairs (leaving after two years) and later pursued philosophy at university. Eventually, he worked in a morgue and a funeral home.

In 2014, during the Revolution of Dignity, he became a freelance correspondent for a Kyiv-based media outlet in Luhansk. Yevhen documented everything happening in the city, which had become a target of russian hybrid aggression. After receiving threats due to his work, he relocated to Kyiv and continued his media career.

Following the liberation of Bucha, a friend called Yevhen and asked for help identifying the bodies of civilians murdered by russian forces. For a year and a half, he was involved in exhumations and the identification process. Afterward, he enlisted in the National Guard of Ukraine.

There, he took on the role of a “nursing sister” – since, as he explains, the military does not officially recognize the title of “nurse” for men. Yevhen now assists the wounded while writing a book about how people unexpectedly find themselves in the military and discover their purpose there.

Yevhen Spirin is available for interviews online or in-person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• military
• russian crimes
• Kyiv