On May 21, I had the opportunity to announce the name of the laureate of the National Film Award of Lithuania – “Silver Crane” of 2023, in the category of full-length documentary film. It was a great honor for me, a Ukrainian soldier, to announce the film “Mariupol 2” directed by Mantas Kvedaravicius. Unfortunately, the author of the film could not witness the triumph of his film. A talented director in the prime of his life was killed by Russian scum in surrounded Mariupol, at the beginning of April 2022. But they failed to kill the footage. Thanks to the director’s associates, the world saw the life of the Ukrainian city, which was methodically destroyed by the Rashists every day. “You know what was absolutely incredible in Mariupol? No one was afraid of death, even though they thought they were. Death was here, and everyone wanted to die meaningfully. People helped each other even at the risk of their lives. They smoked outside and chatted even as the bombs fell. Money no longer existed because life had become too short to think about it. Everyone was content with what they had, becoming the best version of themselves; there was no past, no future, condemnation, ambiguity! It was heaven in hell” – the author’s words are given in the annotation to the tape. This is not just a movie, it is the documented crimes of Russia against humanity, which they are trying hard to hide.

At the invitation of the Franciscan brothers, on May 21 I had the honor to take part in the 16th “Marathon of Hope” in Klaipeda. The idea of founding the race, which aims to support people who are fighting cancer, belongs to brother Benedict. All funds collected during the Marathon are directed to the Franciscan Cancer Center. This year, many participants of the “Marathon of Hope” dedicated their race to Ukraine. Today, it is my people who give hope to the entire civilized world, for the inevitable victory of good over evil, light over darkness, humanity over cruelty. For me personally, the race was important, because oncology took away my dearest person – my mother – quite early. In addition, I see one of the meanings of my post-war life in supporting people who are losing hope.

Almost 28 years ago, Signatory Medard Chobot founded theMedardo Čoboto Trečio amžiaus universitetas (University of the Third Age) in Vilnius, Lithuania. This is a university for people who have decided that life does not end at retirement, but rather the opposite. Here they can study and do what they dreamed of in their childhood, but for which they never had time enough. They are creative, they travel, they understand the intricacies of modern politics, and so on. And moreover, most of the students of this University know from their own experience what the “Russian peaceful world” (Ruskyj Myr) actually brings to the world.
However, simply to know and to talk about this threat is not enough. That is why the University announced the funding campaign to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, one of the very combat units of the 28th separate mechanized brigade named the Knights of the Winter Campaign will receive a quirky “baby” DJI Mavic 3 with three additional batteries to it.
TAU is the abbreviation of the Third Age University, and in Lithuanian it means “for you”. Therefore, in this case, this drone is for you – the Defender of Ukraine and the entire civilized world.
As a sign of our sincere gratitude to the University of the Third Age – a pair of author’s swaddle dolls from Natalia Volobueva, donated to us by the ICF Foundation “Family CLUB Matusia”.
For our and your freedom!
https://otereshchenko.com/

Our first course of social rehabilitation for veterans who lost their sight defending Ukraine – “Life after the war” has ended. In two stages, 8 veterans and members of their families, from April 1 to 12 in the Lviv region and from April 12 to 18 in Rivne, mastered an intensive program of independent living and social integration developed and implemented by specialists, partners of the project, Organization “Contemporary view “. We sincerely thank the Ukrainian Center for Physical Culture and Sports of Persons with Disabilities “Invasport” and the National Committee for Sports of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine for effective support in the first stage of rehabilitation!

Infinite gratitude to everyone who contributed to the implementation of this extremely important social project!

However, this is only the beginning. We are already forming the next group of veterans to help them return to an active independent life.

#Life_after_the_war_must_go on!