Themes by tag: 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

Prior to the onset of the invasion, Petro Konoplia pursued a career in directing and acting. Transitioning from the creative realm to the battlefield, Petro, equipped with his civilian first aid training, opted to serve as a combat medic upon mobilization. Remarkably, he proudly attests that none of the wounded individuals he tended to succumbed to their injuries.

Petro attempts to capture compelling footage of his experiences on the front lines. One such video, depicting his heroic evacuation of two comrades under fire, caught the attention of NATO officials. Petro authorized the use of his video by the NATO instructors for training purposes.

Despite sustaining multiple injuries during combat missions, including retaining five fragments in his body from one incident, Petro remains undeterred. Currently undergoing rehabilitation in Odesa, he eagerly awaits reassignment to another unit and anticipates his imminent return to active duty.

For reference: Petro Konoplia is available for interviews in Odesa, welcoming inquiries from both online and offline journalists with prior arrangements.

• doctors
• military
• 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

The Russian-Ukrainian war affected Hanna Samotey back in 2014. It was the first time her husband went to the front lines to defend Ukraine, and she became a volunteer. Together with the other soldier’s wives, Hanna founded the “Big Heart” public organization in the Odesa region.

Later, the women rented the premises of a village school, put it in order, and set up a gym, a children’s playroom, and a billiard room. This is how the Center for Recreation and Rehabilitation of ATO (Joint Forces Operation) Participants were born.

With the full-scale war outbreak, Hanna’s husband and her eldest son mobilized to the Defense Forces, and she took up volunteering again. The recreation and rehabilitation center for soldiers has turned into a volunteer hub. Here, they weave camouflage nets, sew “kikimora” masking covers with their own technology, roll cigarettes, and package honey vitamin smoothies for the military. After the victory, Hanna plans to engage in military rehabilitation again and scale up the Center.

• volunteers
• women
• Odesa

Ihor Romanov is a welder and blacksmith by profession. He is also the founder of the “Volunteer Smithy ” in Odesa. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the man began to make anti-tank hedgehogs and spikes, which were scattered on the roads. Later, the welder began to produce potbelly stoves, regular stoves and field kitchens. He donated the products of his work to the defenders at the front. Philanthropists and volunteers helped with funds and materials. He also modernized field kitchens to make them mobile and multifunctional.

Currently, the craftsman is working on potbelly stoves for defenders, which he also makes following his own methodology. To make production cheaper, he makes them in the shape of a bent hexagon. Such potbelly stoves are three times cheaper than analogues in stores. He can make up to ten items per day.

• volunteers
• Odesa