Society & Culture

A delegation from the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) met with the leadership of Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications during an official visit to the country. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister Tetiana Berezhna, focused on ways to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture amid the ongoing war, Ukrinform reports, citing the UWC. Berezhna and the UWC delegation that was led by President Paul Grod discussed the key topics of securing funding for cultural projects, the law on philanthropy, the Cultural Resilience Alliance, the return of looted cultural assets, and showcasing Ukrainian culture at major international exhibitions and cultural venues.…

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has published a resolution amending the Rules for Crossing the State Border of Ukraine, which permits men under the age of 22 to travel abroad. The text of the document was made public on the Government portal, Ukrinform reports with reference to the government website. According to the resolution, men aged 18 to 22 inclusive will be able to leave the country during martial law. It is specified that the permit to cross the border applies to individuals of the relevant age group, except for the cases defined in paragraph 2 of the Rules…

Russia is expanding its recruitment for drone production in African, Asian, and Latin American countries, using the special economic zone Alabuga in Tatarstan as the center of the program. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. As noted, young women from poor countries are offered high salaries and career prospects, but they are not informed that the work involves producing strike drones used against Ukraine. In 2024, representatives from 44 countries participated in the Start program, including Mozambique, Colombia, Mali, and Sri Lanka. The target for 2025 is 77 countries.…

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allowed female deputies of local councils, who work voluntarily, to cross the border freely during martial law. According to Ukrinform, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced this on Telegram. The government adopted a decision concerning female deputies of local councils working voluntarily: they will now be able to cross the state border without restrictions during martial law, said the Prime Minister. According to her, “previously, even on lawful leave, they could not travel abroad—to see relatives or deliver aid to our military. This limited volunteer activities and forced some to resign their mandates.” As Svyrydenko…

The Ukrainian and Russian sides have exchanged letters from prisoners of war on both sides and discussed arrangements for delivering humanitarian parcels. According to Ukrinform, this was reported on Telegram by Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights. “During the latest return of our citizens, there was interaction with the office of Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Tatyana Moskalkova. In the course of the dialogue, letters from prisoners of war on both sides were exchanged, and issues regarding the delivery of humanitarian parcels to prisoners of war and family reunifications were discussed,” he noted. Read also: Prisoner exchange…

Over the past week, 47 people—including nine children—were evacuated from border communities in the Sumy region. This was reported on Telegram by Oleh Hryhorov, Head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, according to Ukrinform. “Evacuation from Sumy’s border communities continues. Over the past week, 47 residents, including nine children, have left these areas,” he wrote. According to the regional administration, approximately 60,000 people have been evacuated from the Sumy region since the start of the full-scale invasion, including more than 8,000 children. Read also: Transit center for IDPs opens in Dnipropetrovsk region It was also noted that the region currently…

A transit center has been opened in Voloske, Dnipro district, to support people fleeing frontline areas of the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. This was announced on Telegram by Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, according to Ukrinform. “Seventy-six beds have already been set up, and if needed, the capacity can be increased to 200. The facility includes living quarters, a dining area, a children’s space, and accommodations for people with disabilities,” the statement reads. As noted, displaced persons can stay at the center for up to three days. During that time, they can register, apply for financial…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children as part of President Zelensky’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA. Ukrinform reports this, citing the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine. This was announced by Chantal Chambu Mwavita, a Government representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during a meeting with Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation. Herasymchuk briefed the DRC delegation on mass deportations and forced relocations of Ukrainian children to Russia, as well as Ukraine’s…

At its Tuesday meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine updated the rules for crossing the state border. This was announced on Telegram by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, according to Ukrinform. “Today, the government updated the procedure for crossing the state border. Men aged 18 to 22 will be allowed to cross the border freely during martial law,” she stated. According to her, the decision applies to all citizens within that age group. Svyrydenko clarified that the measure also applies to citizens who, for various reasons, are currently abroad. “We want Ukrainians to maintain strong ties with their homeland,” she…

Norway, as a key member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, is providing substantial assistance to Ukraine in this effort. According to Ukrinform, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said this in a post on Telegram following a briefing held at the Child Rights Protection Center for Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative. Yermak stated that he, together with Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and their team, focused on the central issue: the return of children abducted by Russia. Read also: Zelensky and Kellogg discuss pressure…