Themes by tag: volunteers

On April 4–5, FRIDA Ukraine missions will travel to provide medical assistance to civilians in Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv regions.

In addition, on April 4–5, doctors will conduct cancer screenings in Kyiv.

By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to cover the work of medical volunteers, as well as to interview patients and doctors.

Background: The “FRIDA Ukraine” medical volunteer missions are регуляр outreach trips by teams of doctors to frontline and remote communities across Ukraine. Each mission includes more than 20 specialists from various fields, including neurologists, surgeons, gynecologists, therapists, dermatologists, and others. During these visits, local residents receive free consultations, check-ups, and medical tests. Recently, the team has also begun conducting cancer screenings.

• doctors
• volunteers

Oleh Bykov is a volunteer and activist from Kremenchuk in Ukraine’s Poltava region. Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, he and his team have been working to find ways  to make it easier for medics to deal with shell fragments left in the bodies of wounded soldiers.

The team has developed a series of magnetic devices named “Edelweiss,” “White Angel,” “Prometheus,” “Hydra,” and “Bucephalus.” These devices help doctors detect metal fragments in wounded patients and safely extract them.

A new device, “Sherlock,” is expected to join this lineup soon, once volunteers receive final feedback from medical professionals who are already awaiting its deployment. In particular, surgeons at the Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology and the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery are preparing to use the device. Doctors at these institutions already rely on earlier inventions created by the team.

Over the past four years, Oleh Bykov and his team have produced and delivered more than 4,000 devices to medical professionals free of charge. The team is also developing another type of magnetic extractor called “Lilith.”

Journalists can arrange interviews with Oleh Bykov both online and offline in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• doctors
• volunteers
• Kyiv

The NGO Every Animal, together with dietitian Mark Shpara and partners Macro-2019 and Eat Me At, has developed seven-day plant-based meal kits for the military. The goal is to provide plant-based food to vegan and vegetarian soldiers, as well as those who avoid animal products for religious or medical reasons.

Defenders can order the vegan meal packs free of charge. Each pack is designed to provide seven days of full plant-based nutrition.

Journalists can learn more about the initiative in Kyiv.

Background: The NGO Every Animal was founded in 2019 to promote veganism and advocate for animal rights. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the organization has delivered 3,450 weekly vegan meal packs to the military. It has also organized ten charity festivals “Vegan Weekend,” raising and donating UAH 4.5 million to support Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

• volunteers
• Kyiv

Starting March 29, ceremonial releases of rescued Red Book-listed bats will take place across Ukraine. The animals were rescued by volunteers from different regions of the country. Over the winter of 2025–2026, more than 4,000 bats were rehabilitated.

Volunteers invite the public to attend the events and take part in the releases. The bats will be released at sunset, preceded by a briefing on their rehabilitation.
Events are scheduled as follows:
March 29 — Cherkasy and Rivne,
April 4 — Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv and Poltava,
April 5 — Lviv and Vinnytsia,
April 10 — Kamianske,
April 11 — Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih,
April 12 — Kharkiv.

• animals
• volunteers

Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, historian Leonid Marushchak and the team of the NGO “Museum Open for Renovation” have been working to rescue historical artefacts and Ukrainian artworks. The volunteers understood that russian forces would destroy or loot museum collections.

Since 2022, the team has been evacuating works of art, including pieces by Alla Horska, Ivan Aivazovsky, Arkhip Kuindzhi, and Tetiana Yablonska. They have also transported Polovtsian stone statues — ancient sculptures created by nomadic peoples — to safe locations. Each mission involves coordinated efforts between volunteers, government representatives, and the military.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Leonid Marushchak and the team of the NGO “Museum Open for Renovation” both online and offline in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• culture
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On March 26, volunteer doctors from FRIDA Ukraine will travel on a mission to a children’s home in the Kyiv region. The team includes around 20 medical professionals, including a pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist, urologist, and surgeon. The doctors regularly visit the facility and provide medical care to children.

On March 28–29, FRIDA Ukraine teams will travel to the Sumy and Kherson regions to deliver medical assistance to civilians.

By prior arrangement, journalists can cover the work of medical volunteers and conduct interviews with patients and doctors.

Background: FRIDA Ukraine’s medical volunteer missions are regular deployments of teams of doctors to frontline and remote communities across Ukraine. Each mission includes more than 20 specialists from various fields, including neurologists, surgeons, gynecologists, therapists, dermatologists, and others. During these visits, free medical consultations, check-ups, and tests are provided to local residents. The team has also recently introduced cancer screening services.

• doctors
• volunteers
• Kherson
• Kyiv
• Sumy

On March 21–22, groups of FRIDA Ukraine volunteer doctors will travel on missions to provide medical assistance to civilians in frontline areas. They are heading to Mykolaiv Oblast.

By prior arrangement, journalists may cover the work of the medical volunteers and interview patients and doctors.

For reference: FRIDA Ukraine’s medical volunteer missions consist of regular trips by a team of doctors to frontline and remote communities in Ukraine. Each mission includes over 20 specialists in various fields: neurologists, surgeons, gynecologists, internists, dermatologists, and others. During these trips, free appointments, consultations, and tests are provided for local residents. Recently, the team has also begun conducting cancer screenings—early diagnosis of oncological diseases—to help detect illnesses in their initial stages.

• doctors
• volunteers
• Mykolaiv

Olga is only 24. She is an otolaryngologist and has been participating in FRIDA Ukraine’s medical volunteer missions for two years. During her time as a volunteer, she has visited all regions where FRIDA operates, including trips to frontline areas and children’s homes.

Most often, the doctor encounters chronic sinusitis or hearing loss. And often these conditions become chronic not because people didn’t want to seek treatment, but because there was nowhere and no one to turn to.

Since the beginning of 2026, Olga has been going on missions every two weeks. The doctor has created her own little tradition that supports both her and her patients during the missions. She gives people fortune cookies and waits for them to unfold the paper and smile.

Once, a girl of about ten read her fortune: “The future of Ukraine is in your hands; remember that.” Olya told her: “Child, remember this—it’s true.”

The hardest thing for Olya is dealing with people who have survived the horrors of the occupation. They speak about it calmly, but the doctor herself has to hold back her tears.

By prior arrangement, journalists can speak with Olga in Kyiv.

For reference: The “FRIDA Ukraine” medical volunteer missions consist of regular trips by a team of doctors to frontline and remote communities in Ukraine. Each mission includes over 20 specialists in various fields: neurologists, surgeons, gynecologists, internists, dermatologists, and others. During these trips, free appointments, consultations, and tests are provided for local residents. Recently, the team has also begun conducting cancer screenings—early diagnosis of oncological diseases—to help detect illnesses in their initial stages.

• doctors
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Dmytro Slobodyanik began volunteering at the start of the full-scale invasion. At the time, he was still in school, and in his free time he developed devices for the Ukrainian military. At first, he made periscopes, and later found schematics online for soldering charging stations. Dmytro also learned to build drones and batteries on his own.

Now he is a college student and has a new workshop that the military helped him find. Dmytro has made his devices more powerful. He prints some parts himself on a 3D printer, and purchases the rest thanks to donations.

By prior arrangement, journalists can speak with  Dmytro Slobodyanik online or in person in the Vinnytsia region.

• volunteers
• Vinnytsia

Maria Gvasalia has been volunteering since 2014. One of her latest projects is creating adaptive tableware for veterans and civilians to make it easier for them to eat and serve themselves after injuries.

The unique feature of adaptive plates is that they have fastening elements that make it easier for people with injuries or amputations to eat. To start manufacturing such tableware, Maria learned from Ukrainian craftsmen and consulted with specialists at medical centers that specialize in military rehabilitation.

It takes about two weeks to make one batch of plates. Currently, all products are already reserved, so Maria’s team is working on the next batch of plates. Volunteers deliver the tableware to rehabilitation centers free of charge.

Journalists can speak with Maria Gvasalia online or in person in Cherkasy by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• volunteers
• women
• Cherkasy