Themes by tag: volunteers

Oleksii Surovtsev is a Ukrainian actor. At the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, he responded to a request to save a cat in Irpin, Kyiv region, which is where hostilities with the russian occupiers were taking place. After that people began actively asking Oleksii to save their pets (cats, dogs, parrots, chinchillas, guinea pigs). Despite all the risks, Oleksii evacuated the animals. In total, he was able to bring more than 300 pets out of Irpin.

After the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Kyiv oblast from the occupiers, he created a shelter for cats called “Bearded Cat Mom.” Later, he also opened a vet clinic for homeless animals.

Now fifty cats live in the shelter, 20 are undergoing treatment.

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces fully liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region had been restored.  

• animals
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Hailing from Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, Maksym Adamenko, once a recreational organizer for local tourists, shifted gears when the invasion loomed. On February 24, 2022, responding to a friend’s mobilization call, he halted his tourism efforts and embarked on a mission to procure periscopes for the military. Faced with scarcity, Adamenko pivoted to innovation, crafting a bespoke periscope from a standard water pipe in collaboration with his comrade.

Subsequently, rallying a cadre of kindred spirits, Adamenko’s team churned out over 5,000 periscopes for the army during the ensuing two-year full-blown war. To further support the troops, he devised a novel fundraising strategy—conducting theatrical tours of Mukachevo Castle, with proceeds earmarked for military essentials. Over four months, these tours amassed over 190,000 hryvnias, which Adamenko promptly invested in FPV drones, radios, and medical supplies for the soldiers.

• volunteers

Before the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Maksym Shevchenko worked in car repairs. On February 24, 2022, he was in Irpin. Despite the shelling, he evacuated residents from Bucha, Vorzel, the outskirts of Hostomel and Irpin. Later, the situation got more complicated and hostilities intensified, so he could only evacuate Irpin residents. (He took them to the Romanivka Bridge, which sustained so much damage to the structure that people could only cross it on foot).

Maksym evacuated people with reduced mobility, the elderly and the wounded. Sometimes he had to carry people on his shoulders. During the evacuations, the volunteer saw corpses of the residents who died due to russian shelling. And the volunteer himself came under enemy fire several times.

Maksym filmed what was happening around him on his phone. On March 21, 2022, his own house was destroyed by an enemy strike. Before that, one of his cars had been damaged by an enemy shell. In order to take people out, he had to use the cars of his relatives, friends and ordinary residents.

Maksym continues to volunteer even now. He delivers humanitarian aid to the frontline regions.

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more and communicate with the volunteer in Kyiv region (either in person or online).

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces fully liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region was restored.

• casualties
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kyiv
• evacuation

Brave to Rebuild project volunteers will be on the ground in the Kyiv region on March 9-10 to deliver their mission to dismantle the wreckage of homes and structures devastated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in villages such as Horenka and Moshchun, as well as in the city of Irpin.

Journalists are encouraged to cover these volunteer-led clean-up efforts. 

For reference: Fast forward to April 2, 2022, when Ukraine regained full control over the Kyiv region from Russian occupation, followed by the Chernihiv region liberation by April 6, 2022. By April 11, 2022, then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, proudly announced retaking the state border in the Sumy region.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Mikael Colville-Andersen, a renowned Danish urbanist, designer, writer, and TV presenter, is making waves in Ukraine with his philanthropic efforts. Founding the non-profit organization Bikes4Ukraine, Colville-Andersen has facilitated the delivery of used bicycles from Europe to Ukrainians in need. Bikes4Ukraine inception was the very reason for Dane’s first coming to Ukraine in June 2022. His initiative already delivered 1000 bicycles for now. 

Currently stationed in Kyiv, Mikael’s tirelessly working on the development of a Nordic Therapy Garden-inspired environment, set to grace the district of Podil. This unique project aims to provide solace and healing to those affected by the stresses of war. More than just a green space, a therapy garden is meticulously crafted to offer comfort and security, providing a sanctuary for individuals grappling with the trauma of war.

Journalists eager to delve deeper into Colville-Andersen’s endeavors, including the creation of the therapeutic garden and other initiatives, can arrange interviews with the urbanist.

Adding to his contributions, from March 1 to 9, an exhibition titled “SNAFU” is on display in Kyiv, showcasing collaborative works of Colville-Andersen and Ukrainian artist Kalyna Seriakovska. The exhibit explores the pursuit of normalcy amidst the chaos of conflict, drawing inspiration from the military abbreviation “SNAFU,” a WW2 military acronym meaning “Situation normal: all fucked up.”

• culture
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Lutsk resident Tetiana Pototska had been originally running a travel agency that specialized in organizing pilgrimage trips abroad until February 2022, Tetiana shifted her focus when the full-scale invasion began. Moved by a friend’s inability to transport her father’s body from Kharkiv to Lutsk, Tetiana stepped in to assist and has since been tirelessly evacuating fallen soldiers’ remains and transporting them to morgues.

Beyond her duties in retrieving the fallen, Tetiana extends her aid to Ukrainians trapped in occupied regions, particularly those with limited mobility, helping them return to government-controlled territory. Additionally, she devotes herself to caring for the children of fallen defenders, arranging celebratory events and outings to the seaside for them.

Those wishing to interview Tetiana can reach her both offline in Lutsk or through online channels. She is gearing up for another journey to Eastern Ukraine soon.

• dead
• volunteers
• women
• Lutsk

With the help of donations from regular people, as well as artists and musicians, Bamberg:UA charity organization managed to purchase six ambulances, an evacuation vehicle and a medical bus. On February 29, the non-profit will arrive in Lviv to present vehicles and the necessary humanitarian aid to the Defense Forces. Together with Bamberg:UA, German rock stars, artists and journalists will come to Ukraine as part of the “Hand in Hand” Culture Convoy project. At least 20 bands will attend the event. The Culture Convoy is headed by the German rock band “Sportfreunde Stiller.” The band’s bassist Rüdiger Linhof has already come to Lviv twice to hand over ambulances. In addition, at the beginning of the war, the musician provided shelter for refugees from Ukraine.

• volunteers

When the Revolution of Dignity began, Leonid Fedevich became an active participant. And after the escape of the traitorous president Viktor Yanukovych and the beginning of the russian aggression in Crimea and the East of Ukraine, the Fedevich couple turned their own small clothing store into a volunteer warehouse: they brought in all the necessary supplies for the army and later handed them over to the soldiers at the front lines. In the summer of 2014, Leonid joined the volunteer battalion named after General Serhii Kulchytskyi. He took part in the battles near Horlivka (Donetsk region) and Stanytsia Luhanska (Luhansk region).

He returned to his usual life after two years of service and worked as a lawyer. However, the war changed the man’s worldview and a civilian profession was not easy for him. In 2020, Leonid’s younger son offered him to try his hand at blacksmithing. Together with his two sons, the man started their own business, working only with an angle grinder and a welding machine in the garage. They did not have time to scale their business, as in February 2022, Leonid once again joined the army. At 7 AM on February 24, the man was already at the Military Recruitment Office, and a few days later he went to the frontlines.

In September 2022, Leonid was discharged from service due to injuries and the veteran returned to blacksmithing. With the support of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, the man bought new equipment for the workshop in Lviv. In addition to custom-made forged products, Leonid manufactures potbelly stoves for the Armed Forces. Last year, the veteran sent 60 stoves to the Ukrainian military, more than 30 of them this year. Together with his sons, Leonid also makes monuments and crosses, and now the family is working on the Alley of Memory in Drohobych.

• military
• volunteers

The founder of Repower charitable foundation, Maryna Sadykova, was an event organizer before the full-scale invasion. After February 24, 2022, her team began to help the military. Due to active volunteer work, the woman began to feel psychological exhaustion and constant anxiety. So, she went to the Carpathians to recover. This experience prompted Maryna to start a program of psychological support: at first, she wanted to help military volunteers like her, but the financial resources of the foundation were limited. That’s why the team decided to focus on medics who save the lives of soldiers at the front, and the Repower project was founded in Kyiv to restore the mental health of Ukrainian combat medics. Maryna’s team created a sustainable program of psychological support – a 10-day retreat in Sweden. Together with medics, Ukrainian psychologists go abroad as well. The 10-day program consists of psychological exercises, individual sessions, group meetings, art therapy, music therapy, etc. As of now, the charitable foundation has managed to organize 3 trips for 300 participants.

• doctors
• psychological support
• volunteers
• women

On February 21, an interactive presentation of the photo project entitled “Stronger than the Elements” will take place in Kyiv. The event will include a presentation of an art calendar featuring servicewomen (including those released from captivity), veterans, doctors, volunteers and more.

Twelve Ukrainian women who took part in “Stronger than the Elements” photo project are depicted as various natural phenomena. In addition to the four main elements — water, fire, earth, and air — the women personify lava, downpour, avalanche, thunder, lightning, wind, and other formidable natural phenomena.

For example, some of the participants of the photo project include: “Lava” — Valeria “Nava” Subotina, defender of Mariupol, writer; “Lightning” — Dzvenyslava Sira, medical curator of the “Azov” Patronage Service, soldier of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard of Ukraine; “Hurricane” — Natalia Nahorna, military correspondent of TSN, 1+1 TV channel and others.

The initiative to bring these women together for a joint project belongs to Anna Murashenko, Founder of the YOUkraine Charitable Foundation.

The women who took part in the photo project, volunteers, soldiers and representatives of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War will take part in the event.

Funds from the sale of the charity calendar will be spent to purchase drones for the 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians.

The event requires accreditation.

• culture
• military
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv