Themes by tag: occupation

On February 6, Kyiv will host a training session on the use of the advanced ANDE rapid DNA technology mobile laboratory. These laboratories were first introduced in Ukraine following the de-occupation of the Kyiv oblast, when mass graves of civilians killed by russian occupiers were discovered. ANDE allowed authorities to quickly identify victims of war crimes and ensure justice and accountability.

The key advantage of the ANDE system is its exceptionally fast DNA profiling process. While traditional laboratory methods take several months, ANDE can provide results in as little as 90 minutes. This dramatically accelerates human identification, a critical factor in war crimes investigations. Originally developed for U.S. intelligence agencies, this mobile DNA laboratory was first used to identify the DNA of Osama bin Laden.

Media representatives are invited to attend the training, learn about the functionality of the ANDE rapid DNA technology mobile laboratory and speak with specialists who worked in the Kyiv oblast after its liberation.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

• dead
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Twelve children who endured the horrors of russian occupation were rescued last week through the President’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, with critical support from Save Ukraine.

Among those brought back from the occupied territories are boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17. In some cases, children were sent to camps near Moscow under the pretense of a short stay, only to be subjected to indoctrination about the so-called “russian world” and introduced to their so-called “new homeland.” One child narrowly escaped being taken by a neighbor collaborating with the occupation authorities, who attempted to place her in the russian child welfare system. Fearing for their safety, the girl and her father hid in their own home to evade capture. Another rescued boy, despite being underage, had already received a draft notice for military service in the russian army. 

russian forces continue to block families from leaving occupied territories, use children as human shields, and turn schools into propaganda tools.

• children
• occupation
• russian crimes
• evacuation

Denys was born and raised in Berdiansk, a town in southern Ukraine. When he was 16, he and his mother moved to Moscow. A year and a half ago, he returned to his hometown, where his grandmother lives. At that time, Berdiansk was already occupied by the russian army.

Denys’ parents support the war and putin, while he holds the opposite views. His pro-Ukrainian stance caused him numerous problems, and after the full-scale invasion, he was even summoned for interrogation by the FSB.

Determined to escape the occupation and reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, Denys faced resistance from his parents when he told them of his decision. They put pressure on him and tried to intimidate him. However, he persevered. In December 2024, he successfully crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine. On the way, he also helped elderly women who were evacuated with him. Now Denys lives in the Ternopil oblast.

He is willing to share his experience of life under occupation and offer insights into how to escape when even your closest family members oppose your decision and Ukraine itself.

Background: The volunteer organization Helping to leave has evacuated over 45,000 Ukrainians from the occupied territories and russia.

• occupation
• Ternopil
• evacuation

On January 31 a press conference “Occupied Crimea: Who Faced Persecution by russia in 2024 and Why” will be held in the Media Center Ukraine. The speakers will provide an overview of human rights violations and war crimes committed by russia in occupied Crimea in 2024. They will also discuss the impact of criminal charges and administrative persecution on residents of the peninsula.

Participants:

– Olha Skrypnyk, Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group Board,

– Iryna Siedova, researcher at the Crimean Human Rights Group,

– Volodymyr Chekryhin, Deputy Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group Board. 

• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Vilhelm Vitiuk, 22, grew up in Crimea before his family relocated to mainland Ukraine following russia’s occupation of the peninsula in 2014. That same year, his father joined the Defense Forces, and by 2015, his brother had been mobilized. Vilhelm himself enlisted in the military before the full-scale invasion, serving in the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade when russian forces attacked Mariupol.

During the fierce battles for the city, Vitiuk and his unit defended the Illich Iron and Steel Works. In early April 2022, he was wounded by enemy cluster munitions. Soon after, he and his comrades were encircled and taken prisoner by russian forces. Life in captivity was brutal—Vitiuk recalls being beaten at least four times a week, in addition to relentless interrogations. His captors singled him out for particularly harsh treatment because of the Ukrainian coat of arms tattooed on his arm.

Despite the torment, Vitiuk clung to the promise he had made to his mother—to return home. When he was once again given civilian clothes, he feared he was simply being transferred to another detention facility. But a day later, he found himself back in Ukraine—freed in a prisoner exchange.

Now a veteran, Vitiuk is studying psychology with the goal of supporting fellow soldiers. He is available for meetings in Kyiv, both online and in person, by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, a Ukrainian charitable organization, has outfitted two schools in Kyiv Oblast with hybrid solar power systems equipped with energy storage. These installations are a significant step toward ensuring energy resilience in regions still recovering from the scars of occupation.  

Bobryk Gymnasium: Rebuilding after the devastation. Bobryk Gymnasium, part of the Velyka Dymerka Village Council, endured occupation beginning March 8, 2022, lasting until the month’s end. Russian forces used the school as a base, leaving it heavily damaged and stripped of all equipment, including sports supplies. By the time the village was liberated, the gymnasium and the neighboring preschool had sustained 45% structural damage.  

Now, the school is taking a step toward energy independence. Specialists have installed 93 photovoltaic panels on its roof, paired with an inverter and batteries offering 29.7 kWh of storage capacity. This hybrid solar power system can keep the school running for up to four hours during blackouts. Additionally, the system is projected to save the school approximately €5,925 annually—a much-needed financial reprieve in challenging times.  

Nemishaieve Lyceum No. 2: A shelter turned stronghold. During the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Nemishaieve Lyceum №2 became a refuge for residents unable to evacuate. Villagers sought safety in the school’s basement during rocket attacks, while teachers and staff prepared meals for those in need. The 37-day occupation left a trail of destruction—shattered windows, damaged doors, a compromised roof, and multiple missile strikes on the school grounds, some of which resulted in devastating losses.  

Today, the lyceum is fortified with a 10 kW hybrid solar station featuring 30 solar panels, an inverter, and a 26 kWh energy storage system. This setup can power the bomb shelter and the school’s first floor for up to four hours during outages, ensuring safety and functionality. The system is expected to save the school roughly €1,985 per year.  

For reference: The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is leading initiatives like “100 Solar Schools” and “50 Solar Hospitals,” which aim to equip educational and healthcare facilities affected by Russian aggression with renewable energy solutions. These efforts not only restore critical infrastructure but also pave the way for a more sustainable future.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Mykyta Horniak, a veteran of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, has transformed personal tragedy into a mission to help others. Originally from Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov) in the Luhansk region—now under russian occupation—Mykyta moved to Odesa in 2015 and joined the Azov civilian corps. A year later, at the age of 20, he was mobilized into Ukraine’s Defense Forces, where he served on the front lines for six years.  

In December 2022, while fighting near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, Mykyta sustained a severe injury that resulted in the loss of his leg. Determined to remain active, he initially explored options for continuing military service with a prosthetic limb. However, he ultimately decided to channel his efforts into a new venture in civilian life.  

During his rehabilitation, Mykyta’s fiancée, Kateryna, played a pivotal role in supporting him. She encouraged his idea of creating a limited-edition clothing line honoring wounded soldiers. Starting with patches and printed designs on T-shirts, Mykyta quickly realized the need for adaptive clothing designed specifically for individuals with amputations—clothing that would be both functional and comfortable. Now, Mykyta is preparing to launch his brand, fittingly named “All Inclusive,” and is awaiting test samples of the adaptive apparel. 

For those interested, Mykyta and Kateryna are available to meet in person or online in Lviv by appointment.

• casualties
• military
• occupation
• Lviv

Andrii Leinveber has been passionate about horses since childhood, and bought his first horse at the age of 14. In 2022, he founded his own equestrian club in Melitopol, a city in southern Ukraine. The club offered riding lessons for adults and children, and Andrii also taught jigiting – the art of trick riding.

After russia’s full-scale invasion began, Andrii’s stable was in danger. russian shelling damaged one of the buildings, and Andrii and his friends had to round up frightened horses scattered throughout the city. He took five horses to his home, while the others were cared for by friends.

When Melitopol was occupied by russian troops, the horses faced a new threat: hunger. The city lacked fodder, as the occupiers forbade travel to other settlements for supplies and deliberately destroyed the hay meant for the horses. One day, Andrii himself was captured by the russians. He was held in a cell for two weeks without contact with the outside world. After his release, Andrii decided to evacuate. He managed to take three horses with him, although it took three attempts to leave – twice he was turned back at russian checkpoints.

Now, Andrii has established a new equestrian club in the Odesa oblast, where he takes care of five horses and a pony. He also invites soldiers to participate in equine therapy.

• animals
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Odesa

On December 21, the War Museum in Kyiv will host the presentation of Chernihiv During the War – 2022: Voices of Living Witnesses, a bilingual collection of firsthand accounts detailing the russian occupation and siege of Chernihiv and its surrounding region between February and April 2022.

The project was initiated by Kateryna Lytvyn, a historian and candidate of historical sciences. At the outset of russia’s all-out invasion, Lytvyn fled Chernihiv to a nearby settlement that remained under occupation for 36 days. Following the region’s liberation, she sought to document the personal stories of Chernihiv residents. Her efforts were supported by the Chernihiv City Council’s Department of Culture and Tourism, along with a group of researchers who have since formed the Chernihiv Research Center for the Anthropology of War. The project’s archive now contains over 350 interviews, 24 of which are featured in this publication and translated into English.

The event will offer attendees a chance to meet the book’s co-editors, including Kateryna Lytvyn, Oleksandr Shevchuk, Svitlana Makhovska, Olena Boriak, Oleksandr Vasianovych, Olha Vorobiei, Anastasiia Pankova, Olha Berezovska, and translator Andrii Shataliuk.

Prior accreditation is required to attend the presentation.

• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Before the full-blown war outbreak in February 2022, Capital Tours operated across Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, offering guided tours of Ukraine’s landmarks. Svitozar Moiseiv, one of the agency’s guides, led sightseeing tours of the capital. However, the business came to a halt when the war escalated. 

In 2023, Svitozar received an unusual request—foreigners seeking tours of the recently liberated areas around Kyiv. Responding to the demand, he created a six-hour tour covering the outskirts of the capital. The route includes visits to Bucha, Irpin, Borodianka, Hostomel, and Moshchun—places that bear the scars of russian occupation. Svitozar often conducts private tours, beginning by sharing his personal experience at the onset of the invasion, and then taking visitors to sites where the atrocities of the occupiers unfolded. 

Moiseiv notes that most of his clients are foreigners in Kyiv for business or to visit family, and none have traveled to Ukraine solely for the tour. The six-hour tour costs around 150 euros, with a portion of the proceeds donated to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv