A new wave of heroism and volunteering has grown in response to the terrible reality of war, where every day has become a new challenge for millions of people, where every hour brings uncertainty and fear. Kateryna Kolosova, a native of Kherson region, is one of those tireless fighters for our victory. Our character found strength and courage in order to help those who needed it the most. Her story, from art to charity, is a great example of the exceptional power of the human will and strong faith in goodness. In this interview, she will talk about her experience of volunteering during the war and the crucial importance of timely support.
Edinburgh Spiders initiative serves as a beacon of civic solidarity, bringing together young individuals from various backgrounds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These centers, dedicated to weaving camouflage nets for the military in Edinburgh, have been operational for several years, attracting hundreds of visitors and volunteers from both Ukrainian and local communities. Anna, Daria, Olena, and Vasyl stand among them, each driven by their own motivations, volunteer experiences, and aspirations for the future. Their involvement in this center transcends mere support; it symbolizes a profound solidarity with those who courageously defend Ukraine’s freedom and independence.
In the very heart of Scotland, in the city of Glasgow, lives and studies Anna Konovalenko – a Ukrainian who has personally experienced the consequences of the Russian war. The beginning of the invasion forced her to leave her native Kyiv and go abroad in search of safety. She is currently furthering her education at the University of the West of Scotland, focusing on studying journalism and joining volunteer initiatives in support of Ukraine at the same time. In this piece, she will share her impressions and thoughts about how she continues to work for the victory of Ukraine, even while abroad and will reveal the role of journalism in this context.
Today we got to talk with Oleksandra Panyak, Head of Media Relations at Truman, who has been working in media relations for 10 years. Last year, she and her team placed hundreds of articles in the media, including The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, etc. Their high-profile investigations into international business in Russia have attracted worldwide publicity and millions of views.
Denys Verteletskyi, an extremely proactive Ukrainian from Dnipro region, accepted the invitation to tell his story. He is a person who is truly passionate about what he does and, despite his young age, he is the founder of the charitable foundation «Voices from Ukraine» which is located in Warsaw, Poland.
This story about a young mother on maternity leave who finds her own unique way to help and be useful. Roksolana Myhovych-Kovbasniuk shares her valuable experience and emphasizes the importance of every contribution to the common goal. She does not stop at any obstacles and finds how to help and support Ukrainians on the way to our victory.
At first, no one believed that Nadiya Radchuk from Rivne had the right idea to visit the wounded in hospital. But the 24-year-old president of the Rivne Rotaract Club persevered, and was touched by the gratitude of the wounded. Now, more people are joining the initiative, and Nadiya is looking for ways to expand support for the wounded.
We continue our interview with Anna. Today we will learn more about her participation in various scholarship programmes and her interactions with European politicians. Finally, she will tell us what Ukraine’s victory in this war means to her and how she interprets this concept.
Stella Marchuk, 29, works in IT and devotes her free time to her art, creating souvenirs with her own illustrations. For her, this is the perfect balance, although it took some time to find. In the early days of the full-scale invasion, the artist did not understand how she could make art, but later she saw it as a tool to capture memories and emotions and to volunteer. Now she sends her postcards to military hospitals to express words of support and gratitude for our defence through art, and donates part of the proceeds to the Ukrainian army.
Today we talk with Anna Husenytsia. She is currently developing her own project to support young leaders in Ukraine, working in the field of youth diplomacy and has already had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament and talk to European leaders. Read more in our interview below.
During the unfolding Russian war in Ukraine, the story of Kateryna Sementsova, who hails from the Donetsk region, takes on profound significance. It’s crucial to note that for over a decade, this region has been embroiled in a Russian war. Amid instability and danger, Kateryna has become a refugee more than once. Her narrative not only reflects her struggle for survival during wartime but also underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage and self-awareness amidst migration.
We are delighted that Sofia Meleshko, a volunteer and journalist, has answered the call to tell her story. Sofia currently works as a volunteer and military interpreter for the NGO “Sabre”, which provides training and advice to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and the TR (Territorial defense forces).
Odesa is home to the Odesa National Medical University (ONMedU), founded in 1900, which has more than 5000 students. We contacted some of the students to find out more about the new conditions of their studies.
Today, Andriy Tykhonyuk will share his story – the founder of the YouTube channel “Palata,” an activist in the NGO “Ukrainian Students for Freedom,” and a co-organizer of house concerts within the NGO “Tusovochka.if.”
Vitalii Torchynskyi from Kyiv is an IT professional. Before the full-scale invasion, his hobbies were programming and electronics, as it was both his favourite thing to do and a way to stay competitive on the job market.
Since the start of the full invasion, the volunteer spends all his free time – after work and on weekends – repairing drones. Over the course of a year, he has repaired more than 150 drones.
Dmytro Zinchenko and Anastasiia Aleksieieva live in the village of Ivankiv, which is located in the north of the Kyiv region and was one of the first to meet the hostile Russian troops on 24 February 2022. The couple, who had recently married and returned from a holiday in Sri Lanka, had to survive more than a month of occupation. To thank those who had supported them during those difficult days, they decided to make patriotic foams. Over time, they added foams with paintings by their compatriot Maria Prymachenko to the range to promote her work.
Our partners from the NGO “Kyiv Defenders” interviewed a Ukrainian who voluntarily came to the defence of our country at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ilya, a fighter with the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, under the call sign “Voron”, spoke about his motivation, military service, desires and needs during the Russian-Ukrainian war, and much more. You can watch the video and read the full text of the interview below.
Our partners, NGO “Kyiv Defenders”, interviewed an American who came to defend the independence of Ukraine. “During the conversation, Alex “Beef” impressed us with his preparation and steadfastness. Unfortunately, on the eve of the release of the interview, we learned that Alex was seriously injured and is currently being treated. We thank him for protecting our country and wish him a speedy recovery,” the video description says. Further in the material, you can read the video and the full text of the interview.
Angela and Nadia are Canadian activists who protest every day under the Russian embassy in Canada against a ruthless invasion that takes Ukrainians’ lives every day. They organize protests, political actions, take part in helping the Ukrainian community in Ottawa and believe in Ukraine’s victory over the Russian occupiers
Valeria Pokusa and her husband are originally from the Donetsk region. When the fighting for Donetsk airport began in May 2014, they were forced to leave their home and move to Kyiv. And in February 2022, fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they left the capital and did not return until the summer of that year.
Throughout this year, the family has been actively involved in volunteer work: Valeriia and her daughter Myroslava bake sweets, which the whole family then sells at a charity fair.
Today, young psychologist Marta shared her story. She works with people’s problems such as anxiety states, panic attacks, relationship problems, eating disorders, money issues, searching for self-identity, crisis states. Quite often, people who suffer mentally because of the war turn to her.
Війна, непередбачувана і лячна, завдає страждань та руйнує життя тисяч людей. Наразі вона перебуває в центрі уваги кожного українця, має величезний вплив на нашу країну та суспільство. Кожен з нас внаслідок цієї війни в певний період мав зіштовхнутись зі складним вибором, який вирішує подальшу долю.
The interview with Professor Svitlana Kuzmina, who worked at Taurida University before the occupation of Crimea and after moving to Kyiv, tells about her experience of working at the university before and after the occupation of Crimea
Mykola was in Chernihiv when the city was under siege, he continued working in the medical center, despite the attempts of the occupiers to kill the residents of this city with cold and hunger. This story is about humanity, responsibility and dedication to one’s work.
