Themes by tag: Uzhhorod

Gala Kozyutynska, a filmmaker and artist from Kyiv, had long dreamed of creating an artistic residence in a rural setting. Though she split her time between Kyiv and Lviv, her heart was set on buying a house in the countryside. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Gala felt it was time to turn that dream into reality. Her partner, Viktor Petrov, wholeheartedly supported the idea, and together, they began searching for the perfect spot. They found it in the small village of Latirka in Zakarpattia.

After purchasing the house, they began restoring it and even named their future creative space “The Attic.” But their plans took a devastating turn when Viktor was called to serve in Ukraine’s Defense Forces. In May 2023, Viktor was killed in combat near Bakhmut, leaving Gala to carry on their dream alone. Despite the heartbreak, she pressed forward with their vision.

In the year since Viktor’s passing, Gala has hosted over 20 gatherings with young creatives at the residence. Together, they’ve learned traditional crafts like weaving, whitewashing clay brick warming stove, foraging for mushrooms, and gardening. Gala is also focused on finding ways to offer relaxation and rejuvenation for those visiting the artistic space.

Today, Gala divides her time between Zakarpattia and Lviv, and she remains open to sharing her story with journalists, both in person and virtually.

• culture
• dead
• military
• women
• Lviv
• Uzhhorod

On August 22, the “Voices Camp” will begin its fourth session in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, offering a safe haven for children aged 10-16 who have been affected by the ongoing conflict. The camp specifically welcomes those from de-occupied and frontline areas, providing them with an environment where they can connect with peers, receive psychosocial support, and explore their talents and creativity. Over the course of two weeks, participants will have the opportunity to make new friends and begin to heal from the traumas of war.

Journalists interested in covering the camp and its activities can obtain more information through the foundation.

For context: This summer camp is organized by The Voices of Children Charitable Foundation, with financial backing from the Olena Zelenska Foundation. 

The camp’s mission is more critical than ever, as nearly half of Ukraine’s children—44%—are showing signs of potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a recent Future Index study.

• casualties
• children
• psychological support
• Uzhhorod

In 2004, Vasyl Shtefko, a native of Zakarpattia, lost both his legs while working in russia. Since the accident, he has relied on prosthetic limbs and lives with a first-grade disability. Yet, despite these challenges, Vasyl’s resolve remained unshaken.

When russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Vasyl didn’t hesitate. He reported to the Territorial Recruitment Center, concealing his use of prostheses to join the military. Successfully enlisting, he became a member of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Zakarpattia”, serving alongside his comrades on the Zaporizhia front.

After six months of intense combat, Vasyl’s health deteriorated, forcing him to step down from active duty and return home. However, his commitment to Ukraine’s defense did not end there. 

Back in Zakarpattia, Vasyl remains deeply involved in supporting the military as a volunteer though.

Vasyl Shtefko is available in Zakarpattia for interviews with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Uzhhorod

Viktor Ilchak is 18 years old. By ethnicity, Viktor is a Roma ethnic group representative. He was born in Zakarpattia and has lived in western Ukraine all his life. When the full-scale invasion broke out, Viktor immediately warned his family that he was going to join the army and defend Ukraine. Viktor’s family tried to convince him to abandon the idea, his grandmother even went to the military recruitment officers to talk them out of considering Viktor’s candidacy. However, the guy stood his ground and fought in the Sonechko reconnaissance battalion. Now Viktor Ilchak is back in Zakarpattia, where he undergoes rehabilitation after getting injured and shell-shocked.

The soldier is ready to have both online and offline interviews with journalists by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• Uzhhorod

To help children survive the psychological consequences of the war, the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation organizes summer camps in various cities of the country. Children of military personnel and prisoners, as well as those who left the occupation or front-line territories were invited to free psychosocial support camps.

Children participate in various activities: trips, camping, sports games, master classes, volunteering. Special attention is paid to the psycho-emotional state. Experienced psychologists of the Foundation hold group and individual classes with children.

Day camps are held in Lviv, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kryvyi Rih, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv, Skhidnytsia. There are also camping sites with overnight stays in Mukachevo, Uzhhorod and Lviv.

Background: During the year of the full-scale war, Voices of Children Charitable Foundation provided psychological and psychosocial assistance to 4,700 children and more than 1,800 adults.

• children
• Dnipro
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Lviv
• Uzhhorod

The Malteser Relief Service launched ‘Mobile Space for Games’ project to provide psychosocial support to children in an entertaining form. Three specialized teams on buses filled with game and sports equipment go on trips around Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions. Each team consists of psychologists, entertainers and art therapists who organize the so-called “smart entertainment.”

In this way, experts help children cope with psychological trauma caused by the war, as well as facilitate integration of refugee children in new communities. They plan to help 8,000 children as a part of the project.

Up to 100 children of all ages take part in “smart entertainment” during a single trip.

• children
• psychological support
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Lviv
• Uzhhorod

Before the all-out war, Yurii Davydenko lived in Mariupol, doing everything to make sure that local young people had opportunities for development and self-actualization. For instance, he organized the 1991 Startup Development Center hub, visited by 50,000 people during the time of its operation.

After the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Yurii managed to leave Mariupol for Mukachevo. There, he decided to resume doing what he does best – establishing youth hubs. Together with friends, he launched two spaces for IT specialists and IDPs in Mukachevo and Khmelnytskyi, and they are not going to stop.

• Khmelnytskyi
• Uzhhorod

Due to russia’s all-out invasion, a posh restaurant in Zakarpattia Oblast is now working as a social canteen. In early March, the establishment’s owners decided to provide food to internally displaced persons from all over Ukraine free of charge. They had to work extremely fast and were assisted by volunteers and locals. The restaurant is still operating as a social canteen now.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Uzhhorod

Due to hostilities in Donetsk region, the state enterprise “Artemsil” has stopped working. It is based in Bakhmut, for which the Ukrainian military is fighting fiercely at the moment. Artemsil used to be the main supplier of all the necessary salt to Ukrainians, but now most of the salt in Ukraine is imported. However, a salt deposit was found in Bushtyno community in Zakarpattia region. The mining will be begin in six months. This deposit will be enough to provide 100% of Ukraine’s salt needs.

• russian crimes
• Uzhhorod

The premiere of the play “Cry of the Nation” by Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater from Mariupol took place in Uzhhorod. The troupe of the theater was provided a place to work from on the stage of Zakarpattia Regional Music and Drama Theater. The first performance at the new venue was a story about the life of the Ukrainian poet Vasyl Stus. The premiere took place on July 16 — exactly four months after the russians destroyed the oldest theater in Mariupol with an airstrike, burying hundreds of civilians under the debris.

• culture
• Mariupol
• Uzhhorod