Themes by tag: military

Andriy Zelinskyy, the priest, is one of the first army chaplains in Ukraine. In June 2014, he was offering spiritual support to Ukrainian soldiers in the east of the country. In particular, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine units near Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Staroihnativka, in the Avdiivka industrial zone, in Pisky, Debaltseve, Shyrokyne and Vodiane of Donetsk region. And in Kyiv, he visited the first wounded soldiers in the Central Military Hospital.

Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine need hundreds of chaplains for the army. In October, Ukraine even established a military chaplaincy service, which organizes the training of chaplains. The course is provided that should help to acquire the basic competencies of a serviceman in a very short time, so that it is easier to integrate the team. 

For reference: Army chaplains are clergymen who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a Ukrainian citizen with a degree in theology, who is a clergyman of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. He must also receive a mandate from his church to be entitled to carry out chaplaincy activities.

• military
• religion
• Kyiv

Italian newspaper “Il Foglio” chose the defender of Ukraine and journalist Anastasia Blyshchyk as its person of the year. Former correspondent of TV channel “Ukraine 24” Anastasia Blyshchyk defends Ukraine with a weapon in her hands. The woman made this decision after her fiancé, paratrooper and journalist Oleksandr Makhov died at the front. Oleksandr died on May 4, 2022 in the village of Dovhenke in Kharkiv region.

• military
• women

Sheikh Mansur Chechen Peacekeeping Battalion is a non-governmental volunteer armed formation that fights on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The battalion consists mostly of Chechens who emigrated from russia after the russian-Chechen wars. Currently, the battalion’s fighters are serving in Donetsk region. And on December 9, they held a Friday Jummah prayer and delivered a sermon in Ukrainian together with military imam-chaplains in a Mosque in Bakhmut, where fierce battles are currently taking place.

• military

Volodymyr Rybalkin, a former anti-terrorist operation member, headed the Sviatohirsk territorial community in the Donetsk region in early July, when Sviatohirsk was still under russian occupation. After the liberation of the city, the Head of the Sviatohirsk City Military Administration Volodymyr Rybalkin is engaged in city restoration. This is the first experience of a former serviceman in such a position.

Over the past few years, Volodymyr Rybalkin has been fighting against the corrupt authorities of Sviatohirsk and against Volodymyr Bandura, the then mayor of the city. In June of this year, Bandura was declared suspected of high treason. According to the Prosecutor’s General Office, Volodymyr Bandura went over to the enemy’s side and distributed an appeal through the media, in which he promoted the “russian world” ideas.

• military

The Russian Volunteer Corps, which is part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, consists of Russian citizens who have decided to defend Ukraine. Since August 2022, they have been fighting against the russian army. Oleksandr Fortuna, Chief of Staff of the Russian Volunteer Corps, explains: his goal is to do everything to turn russia into a good neighbor not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole world.

Since 2014, “Crimea,” volunteer military intelligence battalion led by commander Isa Akayev, has also been protecting Ukraine. Mostly the battalion includes Crimean Tatars, as well as Chechens and representatives of other peoples of the North Caucasus.

• military

Knitters from different cities of Ukraine have joined for a common goal: to provide as many Ukrainian defenders as possible in the cold trenches with warm clothes. As well as, to give care. Participants of the “Zihrii” (warm up) movement knit warm hats, scarves, balaclavas, mittens and socks for Ukrainian soldiers. Those who cannot knit, but want to join the initiative, donate money for yarn.

According to Yulia Savostina, co-founder of the “Zihrii” (warm up) movement, they do not try to compete with tactical equipment for soldiers. Knitwear has a different purpose. “Soldiers can move somewhere or have a break, and they need, for example, to pick up tires at the post office, cook borshch after all, do some other things in the fresh air, and it is important that they are warm and comfortable. This is the intended use of socks, hats, balaclavas being knitted by our girls,” Yulia Savostina explains.

• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Yuriy Vernydub combines service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine with work as a coach of FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih.

After the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Vernydub returned to Ukraine and joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. At the beginning of the summer, the man was appointed head coach of FC Kryvbas. By the order of the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, he was transferred to Kryvyi Rih, to the location of FC Kryvbas, for further military service. Vernydub is allowed to work with the club when he’s not on duty.

• military

Alim Iakubov, Ukrainian Crimean photographer, a Crimean Tatar who returned to his historical homeland from Uzbekistan in 2008, just like other children of deported people. The exhibition contains portraits of Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ war heroes and heroines created by Alim. The exhibition is accompanied by Ukrainian heroes’ personal stories collected and described by Daphna Rachok, Ukrainian Scientist and Activist. The authors’ goal is to show unity and courage of the Ukrainian people who include the LGBTIQ+ community as an integral part. Everyone can communicate with them at the exhibition by prior arrangement

• culture
• military
• Kyiv

More than 50,000 women currently serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of which 3.5 thousand are high-ranking officers. And not all of them are equipped with comfortable uniforms. The “Arm Women Now” project was launched to provide every woman in the Ukrainian army with military uniform. The first batches of uniforms are already at the front line. Now, with a specially designed women’s uniform, defenders on the front line will start receiving tactical uniforms and thermal underwear. Everything is Made in Ukraine of high-quality fabric and according to the female body structure.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

Volunteers of “Zemliachky” (Countrywomen) charity organization sewed the first military uniform for a pregnant woman. The recipient of the uniform is the Ukrainian sniper Yevhenia Emerald. As is the case with other women serving in the ranks of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, the uniform was made to order, as to this day, the army still has a single uniform standard — men’s. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Zemliachky project has kept in touch with the women on the front lines and helped cover their needs. Boxes with hygiene products, sleeping bags, women’s thermal clothing, small berets and ultra-light plates for body armor are being sent to the front.

• military
• volunteers
• women