Themes by tag: Ternopil

Serhii Tsytrykov has been using a wheelchair for the past seven years since he suffered a spinal injury. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he immediately joined the volunteer movement, and soon began to assemble FPV drones for the military. In order to continue supporting the army and get funds for parts for drones, Serhii organized a campaign called “A Thousand Kilometers in a Wheelchair.” Serhii went on his first marathon in May 2024, the second one was held in July. During two marathons, the volunteer traveled more than 700 kilometers across Ukraine. In the second marathon, he managed to collect UAH 236,000. According to Serhii, this should be enough to make 15 FPV drones.

Serhii plans to start his final marathon in September and cover another 300 kilometers. Serhii is currently in Ternopil undergoing rehabilitation, recovering from previous marathons. He will go on the road when he receives a doctor’s permission.

• volunteers
• Ternopil

The BusDrive course is a free training program that empowers women to obtain Class D licenses for driving passenger buses. This initiative is part of the Reskilling Ukraine project.

Priority participants for the BusDrive course include women veterans, women from military families, IDPs, single mothers, and women over 50. Applicants must hold a Category B driver’s license and have at least three years of driving experience.

The course comprises theoretical and practical training, along with corresponding exams. Practical classes will commence next week in the Ternopil region.

The first class has already graduated, with eight women earning their Category D licenses. More than ten participants have joined the current course.

Journalists can, by prior arrangement, speak with participants and cover the practical classes in the Ternopil region. They can also interview the program organizers based in Sweden online.

For reference: Reskilling Ukraine is a project by the Swedish non-profit organization Beredskapslyftet, focusing on retraining and career support for women in Ukraine. Since its inception, over 100 women have been retrained as passenger bus or truck drivers.

• women
• Ternopil

A social project in support of Ukrainian defenders has been operating in Lviv and Ternopil, since the beginning of the full-scale war. The project makes it possible for couples to undergo a free infertility treatment program, as well as to cryopreserve (freeze) their biological material (sperm and eggs).

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more about this project by talking to the doctor of medical sciences, reproductive endocrinologist Stefan Khmil. And, if possible, with couples who used the services provided by the initiative.

• children
• doctors
• military
• Lviv
• Ternopil

Arkadii Fishman, an innovative mind hailing from Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, now residing in Ternopil Oblast, has devised a unique fundraising strategy. Teaming up with his companion, Olenka Dunets, Fishman is embarking on a 650 km journey across Ukrainian cities, showcasing his creation—a sofa on wheels—to raise funds for the Armed Forces.

Their odyssey has already commenced, with Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv slated as pit stops along the way. Residents of these locales can catch a glimpse of the mobile sofa, snap photos, and contribute to the cause through donations. Fishman aims to culminate the tour in the capital on July 6th.

As Fishman is on his way to Khmelnytskyi, journalists have the opportunity to delve deeper into the charitable expedition and engage in conversation with him.

• Khmelnytskyi
• Kyiv
• Ternopil
• Vinnytsia
• Zhytomyr

For 56-year-old Khrystyna Dovhaliuk of Ternopil, the russia-Ukraine war began in 2014. Following russia’s annexation of Crimea and its assault on eastern Ukraine, Dovhaliuk started volunteering. She transported vehicles and humanitarian aid for the military from abroad, delivering supplies to the front lines. Dovhaliuk also became a blood donor, contributing 50 liters by age 17. One of her sons is currently defending Ukraine.

Even before russia’s full-scale invasion, Dovhaliuk had resolved to join the Armed Forces. This decision, set for 2024, recently moved forward when the Territorial Recruitment Center approved her for a military medical commission. Now, Dovhaliuk is refreshing her first aid knowledge and training physically to prepare for service.

For reference: Currently, in Ternopil, Khrystyna Dovhaliuk is available for interviews, both online and in person.

• volunteers
• women
• Ternopil

The “OnTrack” course by “Reskilling Ukraine” is a free course that gives women the opportunity to become a truck driver (with category C driver’s license). The course consists of theoretical and practical parts, as well as an exam.

The priority categories of women considered for this course are veterans and discharged soldiers, women from military families, as well as forcibly displaced persons. Future students must have category B driver’s license and previous driving experience (at least 3 years).

The “OnTrack” course started in February 2024. 38 Ukrainian women have already received category C driver’s licenses.

“Reskilling Ukraine” also launched the “BusDrive” training program, which focuses on training women to become passenger bus drivers (category D license). The first group has already been enrolled.

By prior agreement, journalists have the opportunity to talk with participants of both programs (“OnTrack” and “BusDrive”) and cover practical classes in Kyiv or Ternopil region. Also, media representatives have the opportunity to communicate with Sweden-based organizers of the program online.

For reference: “Reskilling Ukraine” is a project by the Swedish non-profit organization “Beredskapslyftet” working in the field of retraining and employment of women in Ukraine.

• women
• Kyiv
• Ternopil

Twenty-three years old Ryan used to work in the US Navy.  During the full-scale invasion, he decided to come to Ukraine and help people. He joined the Building Ukraine Together volunteers, the Odesa department in particular, where volunteers built the first Military Leadership Center in Ukraine. The man poured concrete and prepared the walls for painting. And now, as part of the Building Ukraine Together camp, he is assisting to equip the space of the Ridne Misto  (‘Hometown’) youth center in the city hall in the Ternopil region. The man says he is impressed by the strength and unity of Ukrainians.

For reference:  Building Ukraine Together is a non-governmental organization that creates opportunities for young people to change the country through volunteering.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Ternopil

A social project supporting Ukraine’s defenders has been operating in Lviv and Ternopil since the beginning of the full-scale war.  Here couples can undergo a free infertility treatment program and cryopreserve (freeze) their biological material (sperm and eggs).

Journalists can learn more about this project from Stefan Khmil, MD, a fertility specialist, and from couples who have joined the initiative whenever possible.

• children
• doctors
• military
• Lviv
• Ternopil

“RE:Ukraine” pilot modular town for 15 families will appear in Bucha, Kyiv region. Then a modular town like this is planned to be built in Ternopil region. Architect Slava Balbek, founder of balbek bureau initiated “RE:Ukraine” project, within which a system of modular towns is being created for temporarily displaced persons.

“As an architect, I think about everything, from the moment a person wakes up, at which table they sit down for breakfast, which street they take to work, whether they are comfortable in an office, house, neighborhood. It is interesting to be able to influence their comfort, and therefore life,” — Slava Balbek said.

Another charity project within the framework of “RE:Ukraine” deals with the protection of monuments from destruction during the war.

• casualties
• reconstruction
• Kyiv
• Ternopil

Ternopil manufacturer provides light electric bikes for mobile groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With the start of a full-scale war, the company donated several bikes to the army. The military appreciated the advantages of such transport, so the designers re-equipped a civilian model specifically for the army: they painted it khaki, removed mirrors and lighting. The details were purchased at the expense of volunteers.

Electric bicycles accelerate up to 90 km per hour. If necessary, they can be used as a large power bank on wheels. In the field, the military can connect Starlink satellite Internet equipment to the bike battery.

• military
• Ternopil