Themes by tag: military

Mariia Aleksieievych is 26 years old, for two of which she has been waiting for her husband Serhii Aleksieievych, a soldier from Azov Regiment. On May 16, 2022, he carried out the order and surrendered to the enemy.

Mariia and Serhii met before the full-scale invasion. Both studied in Khmelnytskyi, majoring in psychology. The couple lived for several years in a civil marriage, and officially married online in April 2022, when Serhii was already in surrounded Mariupol.

While Serhii was fighting in Mariupol, he tried to get in touch, asked his wife to hold on, work and study. The last time Mariia communicated with her husband was on May 13, 2022. The woman came across a video where she saw Serhii being captured, later she found confirmation that he was in Olenivka. After the explosion in the barracks of the Olenivka colony, the woman found her lover’s name on the list of the wounded.

Mariia says that Serhii Aleksieievych was officially recognized as a prisoner of war only on August 31, 2023. Every once in a while Mariia learns about her husband’s condition from former captives who return in prisoner exchanges.

Currently, Maria heads Olenivka Community NGO. She is also actively involved in public work to investigate the events in the Olenivka colony, bring the culprits to justice, and help Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families.

Mariia Aleksieievych is in Vinnytsia region and is ready to communicate with the media, both in person and online.

For reference: On the night of July 29, 2022, the russian federation committed a terrorist attack, setting off an explosion in the barracks of the penal colony in Olenivka, which housed Ukrainian prisoners of war. At least 50 defenders of Azovstal were killed in the blast.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Vinnytsia

Mykola Velychko from Khmelnytskyi had gotten interested in pottery even before the full-scale invasion. He had even planned to create a pottery residence next to his workshop. The website of the residence was supposed to be launched on February 24, 2022. However, the big war broke out and Mykola joined the army.

In the summer of 2023, the man returned to the workshop and decided to restore the residence project, but now he wants to turn it into a center for the military to recover after service. Mykola plans to produce and sell 10,000 small pots, and use the proceeds to equip the residence.

• culture
• military
• Khmelnytskyi

Before the full-scale war, 27-year-old Vadym Bartashchuk from Vinnytsia region worked in construction. On the second day of the invasion, he voluntarily joined the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and fought with them for nearly two years. Vadym participated in battles in the Kherson and Donetsk regions, including the defense of Avdiivka. He was injured on February 16, 2024, just before Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city. A bullet struck his right leg, and he couldn’t be evacuated for hours. With a tourniquet on for 11 hours, doctors at the nearest medical center had no choice but to amputate to save his life. After multiple hospital stays, Vadym arrived at the UNBROKEN Center in Lviv for prosthetics and rehabilitation. By his third week at the center, he had fully adapted to his artificial limb and now moves without crutches.

Vadym’s foremost wish is to return to his comrades in the 3rd Assault Brigade, confident he can still contribute effectively with his prosthesis.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Vadym in Lviv, though no filming is allowed.

• casualties
• military
• Lviv

In Kyiv, Ukrainian defenders, including veterans who have lost limbs during the war, now have the opportunity to rehabilitate through water sports such as paddleboarding, wakesurfing, and wakeboarding. These activities utilize special inclusive seats for training.

The training sessions are free and take place 2-3 times a week, depending on the sport, with professional instructors on hand. Journalists can arrange in advance to cover these sessions and speak with participants and organizers.

For reference: These lessons are organized with support from the Ukrainian Wake Federation (UWF) and X-Park. 

X-Park has been providing comprehensive support for veterans, participants of the Revolution of Dignity, the russian-Ukrainian war, and their families for six years. The park offers inclusive sports facilities, including basketball courts, stand-up paddle boards, and surfing locations, aimed at post-frontline rehabilitation. This support is crucial for soldiers with severe injuries and physical limitations, as it helps improve their psychological well-being, prevent depression, and demonstrate possibilities for a vibrant, active life.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv

Peaceful demonstrations are planned in at least 20 cities to remind about the Azovstal defenders and other soldiers who are still held captive by the enemy.

On June 29, events will take place in Dnipro, Lviv, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia and Bila Tserkva.

On June 30, rallies are planned in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kremenchuk, Krolevka, Korosten, Ovruch, Obikhov, Sumy, Uzhhorod, Kryvyi Rih, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa.

The events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison.

• military
• prisoners
• Dnipro
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Odesa

Veteran of the Joint Forces Operation, Andrii Nesmachnyi, has resumed a production facility destroyed by russian forces. A few years ago, Nesmachnyi came up with the idea to set up a workshop where servicemen on leave or recovering from injuries could work. The BatArt workshop, located in the Kyiv region, successfully produced craft glassware and donated proceeds to support wounded combatants in eastern Ukraine. This was until the workshop was destroyed following the full-scale invasion by russia. Afterward, Andrii took up arms again to defend Ukraine.

Recently, Nesmachnyi has renewed production. During breaks in military personnel rotations, he and his fellow soldiers craft glasses, shot glasses, knives, and various souvenirs. Among other materials, they use bullet casings for manufacturing. Starting in July, they plan to expand their production to include ceramics. The money earned in the workshop is used to provide units with drones, night vision devices, and vehicle repairs.

• military
• reconstruction
• Kyiv

Ihor Velko is a veteran of the russo-Ukrainian war. He had a civilian job when the full-scale invasion started, and within a few days Ihor came to the Military Enlistment Office and joined the Defense Forces. During service, Ihor was wounded and lost his leg. After the surgery, treatment and rehabilitation, the veteran faced his most difficult challenge: accepting the new reality.

Ihor found an ad about an opportunity for people with disabilities to get a driver’s license at the Dnipro inclusive driving school. Ihor got interested and applied for category C1. The training took place on a truck (3.5-7.5 tons) with manual gearbox specially equipped for the needs of persons with disabilities. Ihor successfully passed the exams, became the first graduate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service center in Dnipro and received a C1 category driver’s license.

• casualties
• military

Mariana Mamonova, a military medic serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces, was taken captive while pregnant by enemy forces. Despite her ordeal, she has since established a charity foundation to aid women who have survived russian captivity.

Aged 32, Mariana, a captain in the Medical Service, had been deployed to Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO)/Joint Force Operation (JFO) zones since 2018. 

Initially stationed in Mariupol, she discovered her pregnancy amidst the full-scale invasion in mid-March 2022. Undeterred, she continued her life-saving work and was among those held at the Illich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, under Ukrainian military control, before being captured by occupiers on April 4th. An expectant mother endured nearly six months of captivity in a Donetsk region colony, finally being released during a prisoner exchange on September 21, 2022. Just four days later, she welcomed her daughter into the world.

Mariana is now available for interviews in Lviv or online, offering insights into her remarkable journey.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• women
• Lviv

Vladyslav Kushniruk, a skilled implant surgeon based in Kyiv, stepped up to the challenge as the full-scale invasion loomed. When the opportunity arose to contribute to a charity initiative aimed at aiding the military, Kushniruk wasted no time in joining forces.

The Swiss corporation, Straumann, generously donated 5,000 implants and accompanying components to the Ukrainian armed forces, enabling Kushniruk and his team to address the dental woes plaguing soldiers. These issues stem not only from combat injuries but also from subpar water conditions and inadequate hygiene facilities on the front lines. Additionally, philanthropists extend their support to soldiers captured by russian forces.

The process begins with a comprehensive assessment by the medical team, followed by consultations, treatment planning, and the procurement of necessary implants. Soldiers then undergo a rigorous treatment regimen, including surgeries and rehabilitation.

In a touching gesture of gratitude, soldiers leave their signatures on Ukrainian flags, with over a hundred such mementos collected. One of these flags will find a permanent home in a Kyiv hospital, while the other will journey to Switzerland.

• doctors
• military

“Swimming from 0 to 1,000 Meters in 2 Months” is a rehabilitation initiative designed to help injured military personnel regain physical and mental confidence. This program, based in Kyiv, focuses on intensive swimming training, specifically catering to soldiers who have lost limbs. Over two months, participants engage in rigorous pool sessions aimed at building strength and endurance.

Training occurs three times a week, with rehabilitation and massage therapists providing additional support twice a week. Since October 2023, the program has seen over 100 participants.

The current cohort is preparing for the Oceanman open water competition, scheduled for June 28-30 in Kyiv. This weekend, they will be practicing at a local lake.

Journalists interested in covering the “Swimming from 0 to 1,000 Meters in 2 Months” project can do so by prior arrangement.

For reference: The program is an initiative of ONE TEAM FORCES, a public organization committed to offering personalized, comprehensive recovery opportunities for wounded soldiers. Its community supports combatants who served before and/or after February 24, 2022, and were injured or traumatized due to the armed aggression of russia.

• casualties
• military
• Kyiv