Media Center Ukraine Producer Department

A memorial event titled “Wounds of Bucha’s Soil” will be held in Kyiv on November 7 to honor the tragedy of Ukraine’s hero cities, Bucha and Irpin, and the surrounding Bucha district, which endured some of the most brutal fighting in the spring of 2022. Once at the heart of russia’s assault on the Kyiv region, Bucha became a lasting symbol of the Ukrainian people’s strength and resilience. In the early weeks of the full-scale invasion, local defenders halted the enemy’s advance toward the capital, blocking armored columns on the outskirts of the city. After liberation, horrific images from Yablunska Street exposed the scale of atrocities committed by russian forces, turning Bucha into a global emblem of resistance and remembrance.

The event will revisit those events through the personal stories documented in journalist Olga Vorobyova’s books “Voices of Memory: Bucha – City of Heroes” and “Unconquered Irpin.” Attendees will hear first-hand accounts, testimonies from families of the fallen, and memories of witnesses who lived through the occupation. Organizers say the gathering will serve as a living memorial, a space for reflection, remembrance, and tribute to Ukrainians who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

Speakers will include:

– Nataliia Verbova, widow of Territorial Defense member Andrii Verbovyi, who was tortured to death by occupying forces;

– Olha Vorobiova, author of Voices of Memory: Bucha – City of Heroes and Unconquered Irpin;

– Kostiantyn Kukushkin, coordinator of the book publications;

– Liudmyla Humeniuk, mother of soldier Roman Shymanskyi, who died on February 25, 2022, during the demolition of the Hostomel Bridge over the Irpin River to stop an enemy convoy bound for Kyiv;

– Oleksandr Dubchak, the combat engineer who destroyed the Hostomel Bridge;

– Andrii Halavin, abbot of Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Bucha, who oversaw the burial of the city’s victims;

– Dmytro Hapchenko, administrator of the Bucha City Council;– Yurii Savchuk, Director General of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II and head of the museum’s expedition to the liberated Kyiv region in April 2022.

The program will feature documentary footage and photographs depicting the aftermath of Bucha’s occupation and the surrounding communities.

Journalists are required to register in advance to attend the event.

• dead
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

On November 12, special open Care Lessons themed “Stop Bullying: Where Did Rudyk Go?” will take place in Kyiv and Kharkiv, focusing on ways to combat bullying behaviors among young children. The events will feature Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Advisor for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, who will lead the session in Kyiv, and Anastasia Svoboda, founder of the Academy of Care, who will host the class in an underground school in Kharkiv.

The interactive lessons, which begin rolling out in Ukrainian schools on November 10, are designed to provide simple, practical tools that help children aged 5 to 10 recognize and speak up about bullying rather than remain silent.

As Ukrainian children continue to live under conditions of prolonged stress and uncertainty caused by the war, cases of bullying have sharply increased. In the first four months of 2025 alone, police recorded 1.5 times more incidents than during the same period last year. Yet many adults still struggle to respond effectively, according to the Ministry of Education and Science, only 28 percent of teachers can confidently identify bullying.

The Academy of Care offers a systemic approach through its Care Lessons program, an interactive class built around the story of a missing character named Rudyk. Through this narrative, children learn to:

– recognize hidden forms of bullying such as insults and exclusion;

– establish personal boundaries and express emotions safely;

– develop a set of “Good Classroom Rules” to foster a culture of empathy and mutual support.

Media accreditation is required.

• children
• culture
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

Ukrainian veteran and public advocate Andrii Madzharov has completed a 1,500-kilometer trek from Ukraine to Brussels, a symbolic journey meant to remind Europe of the price Ukrainians continue to pay in their fight for freedom.

Madzharov, a longtime member of a veterans’ union, has served in Ukraine’s defense since 2015. After russia launched its full-scale invasion, he joined the Safari special forces unit of the National Police and took part in operations across the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions.

In August 2025, he set out on foot toward the Belgian capital, determined to share the voices of his fellow soldiers and draw attention to the cost of Ukraine’s ongoing resistance. During his journey, Madzharov met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, presenting him with the chevron he had worn in combat as a token of respect and solidarity.

After three months on the road, the veteran arrived in Brussels in early November, where he plans to stay for several days. 

Those wishing to speak with Andrii Madzharov about his mission and experiences can arrange an online conversation in advance.

• military

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

Kyiv will host the next stage of the nationwide Sport and War Veterans (UBD) competition on November 7, bringing together Ukrainian defenders through athletic rivalry, recovery, and camaraderie.

This round will feature futsal matches among war veterans, a fast-paced and teamwork-driven sport that embodies the shared resilience and unity of those who have served on the front lines.

The Sport and War Veterans (Combatants) initiative, launched by the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine in partnership with several organizations, is a series of annual tournaments designed to promote rehabilitation, social integration, and adaptation of veterans through sports. Earlier stages held in October included table tennis, swimming, e-sports, and arm wrestling, drawing participants from across the country.

This upcoming event in Kyiv continues that mission, using futsal’s spirit of cooperation and quick decision-making to foster both competition and solidarity among veterans.

The tournament is organized by the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine and the university’s Educational and Rehabilitation Center, and the Kyiv Oblast Football Association. Partners supporting the development of veteran sports in Ukraine are also involved.

Overall, the Sport and War Veterans (UBD) cycle features nine disciplines, including swimming, table tennis, futsal, arm wrestling, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair rugby – all aimed at building a community of mutual support and helping veterans return to active, fulfilling lives. Ukrainian football players and officials are expected to attend the ceremony and present awards to the participants.

• culture
• Kyiv

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.