Themes by tag: Odesa

Before the outbreak of the full-blown war, Yevheniia Mashyna was a saleswoman in Mykolaiv, a city in southern Ukraine. In late May 2022, a russian shell exploded just five meters from her window, leaving Yevheniia with severe shrapnel wounds to her arms, hips, and face.

While her physical injuries healed, the resulting scars caused persistent pain and discomfort. Seeking relief, Yevheniia turned to the Neopalymi (Unburned) project, which specializes in treating war-related injuries. At the clinic, Yevheniia received complimentary scar treatment for her arm and facial scars.

Today, Yevheniia has relocated to Odesa, where she is now assisting internally displaced persons. 

For reference: The Unburned project aims to offer comprehensive free treatment for military personnel, volunteers, civilians, and children affected by burns and scars due to the war. Supported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and various partners, the initiative strives to alleviate the physical and emotional impacts of conflict-related injuries.

• casualties
• doctors
• women
• Odesa

For Hennadii Azzheurov, the war began back in 2014, when russia occupied Crimea and attacked Ukraine in the East. That’s when the man’s native village of Hranitne (Donetsk region) turned into a battlefield. Hennadii had worked in Mariupol’s patrol police for about 30 years. In February 2022, he planned to retire from service. However, on the evening of February 23, heavy shelling began: the russians surrounded Hranitne. A few days later, armed enemy soldiers came to Hennadii’s house and arrested the man without any explanation.

Later, the former policeman, along with other Ukrainian civilian and military prisoners, ended up in temporarily occupied Donetsk. There, according to Hennadii, the prisoners were interrogated and tortured by being deprived of food and water. A few months later, the man ended up in a colony in occupied Olenivka in Donetsk region, where he stayed for another 40 days. After that, the occupiers released Hennadii without explaining why they had detained him. He managed to get to Ukraine-controlled territory on his own.

The 55-year-old man had no idea what he would do after captivity. Due to age and health, he couldn’t return to police work. In Odesa, he turned to Heart of Azovstal NGO, where he was offered to master HR management in the IT industry for free. After half a year of study, Hennadii started working as a career mentor at the Heart of Azovstal. Currently, he helps the military defenders of Mariupol to choose a direction for training and retraining, and also provides them with comprehensive support in employment.

For reference: Hennadii Azzheurov is in Odesa. The man is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• prisoners
• Odesa

Peaceful gatherings are planned in at least 16 Ukrainian cities to highlight the plight of Azovstal defenders and other military personnel still in enemy captivity. 

On July 13, rallies will occur in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Pavlohrad, and Irpin. 

The following day, July 14, demonstrations are scheduled in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kremenchuk, Krolevets, Ovruch, Kropyvnytskyi, Trostianets, Kryvyi Rih, and Chernivtsi. 

These events are organized by the families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv
• Odesa

Iryna Maslo is from Volnovakha, Donetsk Oblast. Today, occupants live in her house, and one of the businesses she founded was destroyed by the war. Iryna first saw the fighting in 2014, when russia started its aggression in eastern Ukraine. The woman and her family stayed in her hometown, which was 30 kilometers from the front line, and soon managed to open a shop selling patriotic souvenirs. Later, this shop turned into a store selling military equipment, as there were many soldiers in the city who needed such goods. After that, Iryna opened a household chemicals store, but had to leave the business when the full-blown war began. 

Together with her children, Iryna left Volnovakha, which was later occupied by the enemy, and relocated to Pavlohrad in the Dnipro region. In this new city, Iryna sought job opportunities and eventually decided to transform her hobby into a livelihood by opening a yoga studio. She applied for a grant, used the funds to establish the studio, and began her work.

Now Iryna and her children have moved again, this time to Odesa. Here, she teaches yoga and plans to open another studio in the future.

• occupation
• women
• Odesa

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

Peaceful demonstrations are planned in at least 15 cities to remind the public of the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol’s “Azovstal” and other military personnel who are still held captive by the enemy.

On April 6, events will be held in Dnipro, Okhtyrka, Bila Tserkva, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, Krolevets and Lviv.

On April 7, rallies are planned in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kremenchuk, Ovruch, Chernivtsi, Kryvyi Rih, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa.

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

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

14-year-old Matvii Hlazunov fled the war twice. When russia first attacked Ukraine in 2014 his family had to flee from Avdiivka, Donetsk region to Izium, Kharkiv region. And with the start of the full-scale invasion his family moved again, this time to Odesa.

The boy reflects on his experiences in his animated films. He makes each character and designs each stage himself. Then he captures all the movements on camera and edits the animated footage. In 2021, his film “Melissa” won the Grand Prix at the Children Kinofest International Festival. The following year, Matvii won the festival’s “Best animated film” prize for his film “Black February.” The teenager already has an idea for his next movie and is preparing to start writing the script soon. In the future, the teenager dreams of becoming a director.

For reference: Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka on February 17, 2024. The defense of the city lasted for 10 years. Now it is completely destroyed as a result of russian shelling.

• children
• culture
• Odesa

Oleksii Prytula is a veterinarian from Odesa. During the full-scale invasion, he decided to join the defense of the country. In September 2022, he was seriously injured and lost both legs. Despite this adversity, he returned to work.

The man received prostheses and underwent rehabilitation at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. The veteran’s employer arranged a special workplace for him. So Oleksii can resume his work treating his four-legged patients.

• animals
• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Odesa

Before the full-blown invasion outbreak, Andrii Kopytsia was in no way connected with medicine aside from having first aid care certification. The man ran a cafe he started in Zatoka, Odesa Oblast, and never thought first aid course knowledge would ever come in handy. However, on February 26, 2022, Andrii mobilized and went off to war. The soldier joined a unit that needed an army medic.

Later, the soldier was given the “Lifesaving Award” from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After he became a third-time father, Andrii resigned from the service. Andrii’s cafe in Zatoka had to be closed as a result of a Russian munition landing near it. So the man decided to open a new place, this time in Odesa. Andrii put up the money he had earned while he was at war. Later, he applied for a state microgrant program for combatants and won it, but has not yet used the state funds. His “Unbreakable Coffee Shop” has already opened its doors to visitors, and anyone can buy a drink for the military so that they can also support those who are defending the country at the front.

• doctors
• food
• military
• Odesa

Odesa National Fine Art Museum resumes its work after being hit by a russian missile. On December 15, an Open Day will be held there. Journalists are welcome to cover the press conference.

For reference, on November 6, 2023, the museum planned to celebrate its 124th anniversary. A day before the festivities, the russian rocket hit the area close to the museum. The shock wave damaged the administration building, and the exhibition halls were also damaged. Experts set about fixing the consequences of the damage, and the museum was closed to visitors.

• culture
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Odesa