Themes by tag: 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.
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.
Ivan Lavreniuk, a native of Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region, answered the call to defend his country when russia launched its full-scale invasion. Volunteering for service, he joined the airborne assault troops and became part of the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade. Stationed near Avdiivka, Ivan faced relentless combat. In March 2024, while returning from an assault, he was caught in a mortar strike. The blast left him permanently blind. Ivan recalls knowing instantly what had happened. He checked his arms and legs, confirmed they were intact, and began crawling back to safety.
The road to recovery was far from easy. Psychological rehabilitation posed significant challenges, but the unwavering support of family and friends helped Ivan rebuild his life. His physical recovery progressed quickly, thanks to a lifelong passion for sports. It was this passion that led Ivan to try out for Ukraine’s national team at the Invictus Games. He is now preparing to compete in powerlifting, athletics, and swimming.
For those interested in meeting Ivan Lavreniuk, he is available for conversations in Vinnytsia, with prior arrangements possible either online or in person.
Violetta and Oleh Nahornyi spent their lives in Vinnytsia, where Oleh worked in the building materials business and Violetta taught voice lessons. Together, they raised three children—a son and two daughters. Their peaceful life was shattered by the onset of the full-scale invasion, which destroyed their sense of security and shattered their plans for the future.
On the very first day of the all-out invasion, Oleh enlisted in the Territorial Defense Forces, determined to protect his family. Tragically, on May 14, 2024, he was fatally wounded while attempting to rescue his injured comrades.
A combat medic who was with Oleh in his final moments shared that the fallen soldier’s thoughts were with his family. “He asked me to tell you that he loves Violetta and the children very much, and to raise his youngest son—with dignity—as he is a spitting image of his father.” Official reports list Oleh as missing, but his family knows the heartbreaking truth: he died in the line of duty.
Violetta, once an aspiring composer, had set aside her music as the war took hold. However, after losing Oleh, she felt compelled to write a song in his honor. The piece was completed for his birthday, but she dedicated it not only to him but to all women who have lost their heroes in the war.
For reference: The Children of Heroes charity foundation is currently supporting Violetta and her children. The organization helps children who have lost one or both parents to the war, offering financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and promoting their education and well-being until they come of age.
Olha Chernilevska is a philologist who worked as a dubbing director and project manager for the translation of foreign films. In the village of Busha, Vinnytsia region, she once bought two houses, renovated them and rented them to visitors looking for a retreat. In civilian life Olha’s son, Illia Chernilevskyi, worked as a screenwriter, he translated songs for TV shows, and wrote poetry and music. Illia enlisted immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion and was killed two months later.
Illia did not tell his family what he saw and experienced during the war, but Olha says his work spoke for him. Olha published her son’s first collection of poems as a gift for his 21st birthday. The second collection was published posthumously. She called it “I am a bird among nets,” taking a line from Illia’s poem. Olha’s son’s body is still in the enemy-occupied territory, and she hopes to bring it back after the village of Kamianka in the Donetsk oblast is liberated.
This summer, a woman who lost her husband in the war came to Busha. After talking with her, Olha decided to invite mothers and wives of fallen soldiers to her estate. The stay is free for them. The initiative was supported by the village community: locals volunteered to cook and the staff of the Historical and Cultural Reserve promised to give them tours. Olha is expecting 15 guests soon.
For reference: Olha Chernilevska will be abroad until November 12, 2024. After her return, she is ready to talk to journalists offline.
On July 24, media representatives are invited to a press tour to the renovated “Ukraine” cinema in Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia region.
The “Ukraine” cinema is an important cultural center for Ladyzhyn and neighboring villages. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the cinema was temporarily closed. Plans to resume screenings after the lifting of quarantine restrictions were thwarted by the full-scale invasion.
“Watch Ukrainian!” Association, which has been implementing a number of cultural and educational projects together with the MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation for several years, has initiated the resumption of screenings in the Ladyzhyn cinema.
The Ladyzhyn City Council will organize educational events for young people and families of military and veterans in the cinema, which aims to become a real cultural platform for residents of Ladyzhyn, as well as nearby villages and towns.
Program of the event:
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – an official opening, communication with invited guests, including ambassadors of the “Cinema for Victory!” National Tour. Andrii Rizol (producer and CEO of “Watch Ukrainian!” Association), Bohdan Beniuk (People’s Artist of Ukraine and Artistic Director of the Kyiv Academic Drama Theater on Podil), Vyacheslav Dovzhenko (actor, performer of the leading roles in the movies Cyborgs, Obmin, Another Franko).
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – press conference with the participation of the director of the cinema, the management of the MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation, “Watch Ukrainian!” Association and representatives of local authorities.
Accreditation is open until July 23.
Transfer from Kyiv is provided for accredited media representatives.
Mariia Aleksieievych is 26 years old, for two of which she has been waiting for her husband Serhii Aleksieievych, a soldier from Azov Regiment. On May 16, 2022, he carried out the order and surrendered to the enemy.
Mariia and Serhii met before the full-scale invasion. Both studied in Khmelnytskyi, majoring in psychology. The couple lived for several years in a civil marriage, and officially married online in April 2022, when Serhii was already in surrounded Mariupol.
While Serhii was fighting in Mariupol, he tried to get in touch, asked his wife to hold on, work and study. The last time Mariia communicated with her husband was on May 13, 2022. The woman came across a video where she saw Serhii being captured, later she found confirmation that he was in Olenivka. After the explosion in the barracks of the Olenivka colony, the woman found her lover’s name on the list of the wounded.
Mariia says that Serhii Aleksieievych was officially recognized as a prisoner of war only on August 31, 2023. Every once in a while Mariia learns about her husband’s condition from former captives who return in prisoner exchanges.
Currently, Maria heads Olenivka Community NGO. She is also actively involved in public work to investigate the events in the Olenivka colony, bring the culprits to justice, and help Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families.
Mariia Aleksieievych is in Vinnytsia region and is ready to communicate with the media, both in person and online.
For reference: On the night of July 29, 2022, the russian federation committed a terrorist attack, setting off an explosion in the barracks of the penal colony in Olenivka, which housed Ukrainian prisoners of war. At least 50 defenders of Azovstal were killed in the blast.
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.
Ivan Shostak, who initially served in the 79th Air Assault Brigade during the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2015, returned to civilian life after his contract ended.
However, when the all-out invasion escalated in 2022, he reenlisted and was injured, resulting in blindness during a mission in the Bakhmut sector. Following rehabilitation, Shostak immersed himself in pottery, mastering the craft within four months. He now produces clay items adorned with his personal logo and slogan, “Nobody but us,” which he markets through exhibitions and social media. Shostak aims to gather funds for specialized education and hopes to launch a massage parlor in his hometown of Vinnytsia.
From March 29 to 30, doctors from Okhmatdyt will be visiting Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia Oblast, as part of the Health Moneybox project. Over 20 specialized doctors from the Kyiv medical institution will be examining children of military personnel.
Since the early days of the all-out invasion, with over 800 thousand Ukrainians rallying to defend the country, military families have faced the unique challenge of ensuring high-quality and timely medical care for their children while their loved ones serve on the front lines. In response, philanthropists have joined forces with medical professionals to offer comprehensive health examinations for children, as well as assistance with treatment or prevention as needed.
During the press tour, interviews will be available with:
- Olena Dovhal, the spouse of serviceman Volodymyr and mother to four children (two sons and 13-year-old twin daughters Marta and Varvara), is facing a crucial moment. Her eldest son, Illia, is currently on the front lines defending the nation in the AFU, while the youngest, Zakhar, is pursuing military affairs. A large family needs thorough medical evaluation;
- Olha Medvedieva, head of the pediatric department of the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital;
- Okhmatdyt’s specialized doctors;
- Petro Andriyets, Head of Social Projects at the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation;
- Oleksandr Kolomiets, acting mayor of Ladyzhyn.
The event requires accreditation for journalist coverage. The accreditation period extends until 9:00 a.m. on March 28.
For reference: This initiative is a collaboration with the National Children’s Specialized Hospital of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine “Okhmatdyt,” supported by the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, with assistance from the Ladyzhyn City Council and support from the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.
