FreeСХІД.ua#28 Swiss fans in the JFO zone, spy thriller and abandoned kids, and recycler bugs
Our life is often influenced by things and events that seem insignificant at first glance. This digest issue deals with this type of events in the life of every person touched by war in the east of the country:
· How does Ukraine bring its orphans back from Russia,
· Is there a possibility of “Chechnya scenario” for the conflict zone,
· How Mariupol school students will save the planet from plastic garbage.
Read these stories in our digest!
#FreeZONE
The war in the East of Ukraine has its tragic implications that are rarely talked about. There was a wave of refugees from the conflict zone to Russia. Now Ukrainian child services deal with the issue of unwanted kids abandoned by their mothers who emigrated to neighboring country to embark on a new life.
Turns out, the abandoned kids are now being returned to Ukraine and placed with guardianship agencies. During the last year Luhansk region alone got 22 “little Ukrainian national returnees”!
Our colleagues from Luhanshchyna.UA found out how these kids get transferred from Russia to Ukrainian Children’s homes. Quote:
“For a few months we exchanged letters with consulate, child services and the City of Moscow about the way of transfering the child back home. Finally, the solution was found. Time and location of the meeting was set. Employees of the regional Children’s home drove there with a a nurse and representative of the office for children’s affairs.
It turned out that the closest meeting point was at Novopskovsk checkpoint.
-The Russians crossed the Russian boarder, we crossed the Ukrainian, and right there in pristine dew of no-man’s land we got the baby, - smiles the Director of the regional Children’s home”.
Journalists of “Rubrika” website made navigator of murals of frontline Donetsk region.
According to navigator authors, murals, created by Ukrainian and international artists, has changed city streets. And each of them has its own message worthy of being “heard”.
Portrait of teacher of Ukrainian literature on one of Avdiivka houses located in the way of artillery fire, picture of a mitten with a thousand resettlers in Mariupol, Taras Shevchenko and Lesia Ukrainka on the walls of Pokrovsk School – it is an amazing journey of “mural” Donechchyna.
#FreeQUOTE
Vladimir HORBULIN, Adviser to the President, Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine:
“It is already clear what future Putin is planning for Ukrainian Donbas and Ukraine – he talked about it quite blatantly in his interview to German ORF. It’s about supposed “Ukrainian Chechnya” scenario in which Kyiv would cajole militants with huge subversions, while, in fact, they would answer to Russia. The example of Russia shows that this way is an obvious dead-end, that resulted in Kremlin paying-off Kadyrov, and a “state within the state”, so scary even “fearless” FSB are reluctant to go there. Of course Ukraine is not ready to discuss this type of scenario, but at least Russia has one. And how many scenarios regarding the region does Ukraine have? And not just for the occupied territories, but the controlled ones as well?”
#FreeLAW
Activists of “Open Policy” public organization prepared a “road map” for admission to Ukrainian colleges for candidates from uncontrolled territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
#FreeNEWS
Starting June 18th, a new “Horlivka ”checkpoint operates next to “Mayorsk” checkpoint. The new checkpoint is controlled by “DNR” militant group. Checkpoint reconstruction was financed by ICRC.
The first reviews from people who passed the checkpoint are already available.
On June 19th employees of state coal mines picketed the Verkhovna Rada. Strikers demanded that the government pays off salary arrears and supports coal industry. Accumulated salary arrears for workers of the state mining enterprises are UAH761.1 million. Over a half of total amount is debt to Donbas miners – UAH 400.58 million.
Odd event of the week: Late night June 15, football fans from Switzerland almost drove into Donetsk region war zone. The Swiss were passing through Ukraine in a minibus to get to Russian city of Rostov-na-Donu for Brazil-Switzerland match that took place June 17. GPS navigator picked a rout through occupied Donetsk. The European fans planned on spending night at a hotel in occupied Amvrosiivka.
#FreeINNITIATIVE
Mariupol set an example of how community might unite around the problem that really matters.
UAH 75 thousand were collected by local activists for purchase of a dust meter and gas analyzers for measuring level of metallurgical plants emissions!
So what?
Is the set of acquired devices going to be a “magic pill” for solving all of Mariupol problems? Not really. What it will be, is an instrument for applying pressure to the plant management, and it will allow for finally making realistic picture of air composition in places of emission.
Now the activists promise to respond to cases of outright pollution and take the measurements. Of course they will not be able to become 24/7 response team, but will spare no effort in making the most of the new devices.
#FreePEOPLE
Ekaterina MALKINA, Mariupol
This is what makes us extremely proud! Have you ever thought about solving the problem of plastic waste disposal using... beetle larvae?
Student of Mariupol technical Lyceum Ekaterina Malkina not just gave the idea a thought, but managed to prove it viable.
She recently came back from the USA GENIUS Olympiad 2018 where she won Gold Award for the project “Methods of high density polyethylene disposal”. Over 1300 school students from around the globe compete in the Olympiad.
Ekaterina’s idea is that plastic bags, that normally take more than 100 years to decompose, will be disposed of by larvae of a specific beetle.
Maryna ZAKALIAKA and Kyrylo TKACHEV, Luhansk-Lutsk
After moving to Lutsk from Luhansk, Kyrylo Tkachev and Maryna Zakaliaka opened space for work, leisure and creativity - Innerspace. They created the hub by themselves and later received development mini-grant.
Marina is a trained teacher and used to be the head of mom-and-kid club in Luhansk. She also does graphics, plays in a theatre, and is one of co-organizers of “Prosto fest” festival in Lutsk.
Kyrylo specializes in script and logo development. He works as art-director ofor Infostyle Agency, and organizes “Prostir Liter” calligraphy festival.
Oleksandr BILOBOKOV, Mariupol
ATO veteran from Mariupol became a member of Ukrainian team at this year “Invictus Games” in Australia. This is an international competition for wounded armed services personnel and their associated veterans with disabilities.
Oleksandr participated in combats near Donetsk in 2014 and received shrapnel wound to his left forearm. Before the trauma, Oleksandr was a professional athlete and international master in powerlifting. He won multiple awards in all-Ukrainian and international competitions and became a runner-up in European championship.
Now, Oleksandr specializes in shot-put, and has won the title of master of sports of Ukraine in track-and-fields and a number of awards in all-Ukrainian sporting events.
#FreeFESTIVAL
Another round of ethno-competition “Surok-fest-2018” took place in frontline town of Popasna.
Festival guests attended art fair, took part in games and events, and watched a concert. “Surok-fest-2018” takes place around the year in different regions of Luhanshchyna. The next venue is Stanytsia-Luhansksa.
Have a great weekend!