Themes by tag: military

Paramedic Julia Paevska (Taira) is opening “Mria” (Dream) charity fund, which will take care of families of prisoners of war and civilian captives. According to her, there are about 10,000 such families in Ukraine. Julia Paevska plans to sign a memorandum with the center for assistance to prisoners and with other institutions and organizations that, in cooperation with government agencies, help to locate prisoners and assist with obtaining statuses and receiving payouts.

For reference: Julia Paevska (Taira) is a Ukrainian military servicewoman, paramedic and volunteer, commander of “Taira’s Angels” unit. Since 2014, as a paramedic, she has participated in the Revolution of Dignity and the war in the eastern part of Ukraine. On March 16, 2022, during the siege of Mariupol, she was captured by the russians. She was released on June 17, 2022.  

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On December 24, at 2 PM, relatives of captured AZOV fighters will gather on Sofia Square in Kyiv to remind the world of those who are still held in russian captivity. The families of the prisoners call on the governments of the world and international organizations to redouble their efforts to get their relatives out of the clutches of the aggressor.

For reference: “Azovstal” Iron and Steel Works became a stronghold during the defense of Mariupol. On May 20, 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers left the territory of the plant and were immediately captured by the occupiers. Some of them were released within several exchanges. But most of the defenders of Azovstal, in particular, those from the AZOV regiment, remain imprisoned.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Non-governmental organization “Vidchuy” buys devices for protecting the hearing organs of the Ukrainian military. Individual tactical sound filters are earplugs specifically designed for military use. They reliably protect against dangerous peaks of noise, preserving the ability to hear those who are nearby. 1,150 sound filters have already been purchased.

In addition, the non-governmental organization “Vidchuy”, together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, works on the rehabilitation of military personnel who received hearing injuries at the front. The Ministry of Health and the non-governmental organization “Vidchuy” signed a memorandum that will allow attracting activists from the non-governmental organization for rehabilitation of the military.

For reference: The non-governmental organization “Vidchuy” has been systematically engaged in support and social adaptation of people with hearing impairments since 2011.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

For the first time ever in Ukraine, an exhibition of female military uniforms and gear was presented, which had been developed as part of the “Arm Women Now” project. Previously, Iryna Nykorak, Deputy of the Kyiv City Council, the project initiator, noted that this uniform is made in such a way that women with any size and type of body feel comfortable. It is known that now the uniform is being officially tested in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 

For reference: In late November, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine reported that almost 60,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

• military
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

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