Themes by tag: Vinnytsia

“Solar Power Plant Installer” is a free educational course for women under the OnTrack program of the Reskilling Ukraine project.

The course is designed for women without professional education who wish to master the profession of solar power plant installation. The course combines theoretical training with practical sessions at real sites. Participants will learn to use power tools, install solar panels, connect equipment, and adhere to safety protocols.

Upon completion, graduates can work in teams installing solar power stations at various facilities.

The latest course began in Vinnytsia and runs from June 16 to July 5. Journalists may cover the program by prior arrangement.

• women
• Vinnytsia

Viktoriia Holovina served in the military for 33 years. She worked as a senior nurse at a military unit’s infirmary and later as the commandant of the Officers’ House in Vinnytsia, before the full-scale invasion. Her contract was set to expire on February 26, 2022, but following russia’s escalation into a full-scale war, retirement was no longer an option.

On July 14, 2022, a russian missile struck the Officers’ House. Viktoriia doesn’t recall the moment of impact, but remembers getting up from the ground while engulfed in flames. She began tearing off her burning clothes and tried to extinguish the fire using rainwater from a puddle. Using the last of her strength, she flagged down a car that rushed her to the hospital.

Viktoriia suffered burns covering 45% of her body. Miraculously, her face and hands were spared. The most severe injuries were on her lower back, and a shell fragment struck her temple. She spent two and a half months in intensive care. After being discharged, she struggled to come to terms with her new reality, until she took part in the Sculpted photo project, where she shared her story and revealed the physical aftermath of the explosion.

Following her injury, Viktoriia began making mochi, a traditional Japanese rice cake. She soon received her first orders, and now she teaches mochi-making professionally.

Viktoriia Holovina is available for interviews both online and in person in Vinnytsia, by appointment.

• casualties
• russian crimes
• women
• Vinnytsia

Roman Kashpur joined the Right Sector Ukrainian Volunteer Corps while still a student. Training to become a rehabilitation specialist, he also attended volunteer military camps and was first deployed to the front lines in 2016. Later, he was transferred to a reconnaissance battalion and served in some of the most dangerous combat zones.

In 2019, in the Donetsk oblast, Roman stepped on a PFM-1 mine and lost his leg. After receiving a prosthesis, he participated in the Games of Heroes project and won twice. In December 2021, Roman pulled a 16-ton An-26 aircraft for 6 meters and 40 centimeters; this record was registered in the National Register of Records of Ukraine.

When russia launched its full-scale invasion, Roman spent the first six weeks fighting with a special swimming prosthesis. He was about to undergo a prosthetic exchange and receive a different limb, but couldn’t because of the russian offensive. Despite the unsuitable prosthesis, he trained new recruits and even participated in assaults.

Later, Roman started preparing for marathons. In April 2023, he completed the 43rd London Marathon, followed by the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., then races in New York, Berlin, Chicago, and Tokyo. Most recently, he conquered the 129th Boston Marathon. He dedicates his accomplishments to his daughter, Victoria, and has no plans to stop as he prepares for Ironman, the world’s toughest triathlon.

To get in touch with Roman Kashpur, you can contact him online or arrange a personal meeting in Vinnytsia oblast.

• casualties
• military
• Vinnytsia

The team of the Bat Rehabilitation Center in Kharkiv, together with volunteers caring for bats in various cities of Ukraine, will dedicate the month of March to releasing these endangered animals back into their natural habitat. These are bats that have been rescued and cared for by volunteers throughout the winter.

The release events will take place in Kyiv on March 29 and in Vinnytsia, Lviv, Rivne and Chernivtsi on March 30.

• animals
• volunteers
• Chernivtsi
• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Vinnytsia
• Rivne

Before the russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine, Volodymyr Bilenkyi opened his own veterinary clinic, Vet House, in Vinnytsia. However, when war broke out, he was quickly mobilized and joined the airborne assault troops. For the next two and a half years, he fought on the front lines, while his wife took over the clinic’s operations, even opening a second branch during his absence.

In July 2024, after returning to civilian life, Volodymyr set his sights on expanding his business. He applied for and received a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, using the funds to purchase essential equipment for the second clinic. Volodymyr firmly believes that military personnel transitioning to civilian life need to find something they are passionate about to guide them forward.

All those interested can connect with Volodymyr Bilenkyi, both online and in person, by appointment.

• animals
• military
• Vinnytsia

For 16 years, Nataliia and Maksym Shyshkin built their life together. Maksym worked in transportation across Ukraine, and when the full-scale invasion began, it found him on the road. In the early hours of February 24, 2022, he was driving home from Odesa. By the next day, he had already reported to the military registration office. His words to Nataliia were resolute: “I have two sons growing up. I have to defend our land so the occupiers don’t come here.”

Maksym served as a combat medic. Initially, he joined the Border Guard Service of Ukraine before being assigned to the 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment. He defended the Chernihiv region, later Donetsk, and braved numerous conflict zones.

During one of his missions, Maksym came under heavy artillery fire and suffered a critical injury to his temple. His comrades, risking their own lives, evacuated him and transported him to a hospital in Dnipro. Maksym slipped into a coma, and Nataliia stayed by his side for days. In a moment filled with both hope and heartbreak, Nataliia’s father-in-law brought their eldest son, Tymofii, to the hospital. The boy walked into the ward, took his father’s hand, and softly said, “Hi, Dad, I’m next to you.” The machines monitoring Maksym’s vitals suddenly sounded alarms as his heart gave out. That was his final moment.

The loss of her husband plunged Nataliia into deep grief. But one day, Tymofii approached her, wrapped his arms around her, and said something that changed everything: “Mom, you should dress nicely, put on some makeup, do your hair, and take a walk with me. You are the best one here. Dad is proud of you. He chose a great mom for us.” The unwavering love of her sons, coupled with her dedication to her work, helped her reclaim her life. Nataliia, a passionate cosmetologist, found solace in her profession, which became a source of strength during the darkest days.

Nataliia and her sons are now supported by the Children of Heroes charity foundation. This organization aids children who have lost one or both parents due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. It provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and ensures the children’s education and development until they reach adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Vinnytsia

In the Vinnytsia region, volunteers from the group Soldier’s Kitchen are manufacturing smoke bombs to aid Ukrainian defenders on the front lines. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, these homemade devices have been used to shield against enemy snipers, obscure the view of drones, assist in evacuating the wounded, simulate damaged equipment, and force adversaries out of their dugouts.  

The team initially learned the technique from YouTube videos but refined the process through trial and error to create their own version. Despite using straightforward ingredients—nitrate, paraffin, and powdered sugar—the production process is complex. Each smoke bomb costs approximately 60 hryvnias to make, and the volunteers have crafted over 20,000 since the war began.  

To add a personal touch, the volunteers decorate the smoke bomb casings with ornaments and include a unique illustration of a Ukrainian soldier urinating on a caricature of Vladimir Putin.  

Soldier’s Kitchen is open to sharing their story, with interviews available in Vinnytsia or by phone upon prior arrangement.

• volunteers
• Vinnytsia

At just 17, Dmytro Slobodianyk is making a difference far beyond his school in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region. During his free time, the high school student designs and builds essential devices for the Ukrainian military, including FPV drones, charging stations, and power banks. His volunteer journey began at the outset of russia’s full-scale invasion, starting with periscopes before advancing to more complex technologies like soldering charging stations using online schematics.  

Dmytro’s passion for innovation didn’t stop there. He taught himself to build drones and custom batteries, recently delving into inverters—devices that convert car battery power into a stable voltage for operating equipment such as Starlink terminals and walkie-talkies.  

To create these devices, Dmytro prints some components on a 3D printer and purchases others through donated funds. His dedication has already resulted in three inverters being sent to the front lines, with three more in production. The young inventor proudly notes the positive feedback he’s received from soldiers.  

For those interested in meeting or speaking with Dmytro, he is available both online and in person by appointment in the Vinnytsia Oblast.

• children
• volunteers
• Vinnytsia

For 23 years, Viktor Penkovyi served as a military pilot, dedicating his life to protecting Ukraine. When russia launched its all-out invasion, he answered the call to defend his homeland. Tragically, Viktor lost his life during a combat mission.  

His wife, Svitlana Penkova, was devastated by the loss. The grief left her struggling to find her footing. At times, the emotional and physical toll was overwhelming—she would spend days confined to her home, unable to even embrace her child due to the sheer weight of her pain.  

A year after Viktor’s passing, Svitlana channeled her grief into action. She founded the Reborn NGO, an organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen heroes. She also began writing, pouring her emotions into a book that would honor her husband’s legacy. The result was Ukrainian Hummingbirds, a heartfelt tribute to Viktor.  

Through her work, Svitlana hopes to send a powerful message: even in the aftermath of profound loss, it is possible to find a new purpose while preserving the memory of those we hold dear.  

Journalists can arrange to meet Svitlana in Vinnytsia or Kyiv, or communicate with her online.  

For reference: The Children of Heroes charity foundation currently supports the Penkova family. The foundation assists children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s invasion, providing financial aid, psychological and legal support, and fostering their education and development until adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv
• Vinnytsia

Mariia Aleksieievych is the wife of Serhii Aleksieievych, a fighter of the Azov Brigade, which defended Mariupol from the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion until 16 May 2022. On that day, Serhii and his comrades left Azovstal on orders from their superiors and were captured by russians.

For more than two years, Mariia worked tirelessly to bring her beloved and other prisoners home. During this time, she traveled to Austria to attend an OSCE meeting on the Olenivka terrorist attack, met with Ukrainian officials, and attended weekly rallies dedicated to the defenders of Azovstal. On 18 October 2024, Serhii Aleksieievych returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange.

Mariia says she had a strong feeling that her beloved would finally come home that day. At 10.20 pm, she received a call from the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War with the long-awaited news. A few hours later, Serhii himself called her. Mariia says she still cannot believe it is not a dream and that her husband has really returned from captivity.

Serhii is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

Serhii Aleksieievych is not yet ready for interviews. However, Mariia Aleksieievych is available to talk about her experiences, her work with Olenivka Community NGO and the emotional reunion with her husband after his captivity – online or in person in Kyiv or Vinnytsia by prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv
• Vinnytsia