Many Ukrainians with civilian professions joined the military after Russia launched its full-scale invasion – many choosing to serve as combat medics.

On the frontlines, they save lives every day by treating the wounded, evacuating soldiers under extreme conditions, and training others in lifesaving skills.

Read the stories of Ukrainians who left careers as journalists, IT specialists, or students to take up the mission of saving lives on the frontlines.

Defending its freedom and independence, Ukraine has become a beacon of military innovation, constantly pushing the envelope of what is possible in modern defense. 

From shooting down Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile to the creation of the world’s first dedicated military branch for unmanned systems, Ukraine is redefining the future of defense technology.

These revolutionary moments mark a new chapter in military history, one where technology, strategy, and bravery intersect. 1/

💔 Russian missile and drone attacks continue to target entire Ukrainian families, stealing the lives of parents, children, and loved ones in deliberate acts of violence. These crimes must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We honor the memory of the families whose futures were stolen by Russia.
Khudia family

107 years ago, Ukraine was internationally recognized as an independent state – even by Russia.

And what do you think happened next? You guessed it – Russia attacked.

Read on for the details ⬇️ On February 9, 1918, Ukraine signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Türkiye, and Bulgaria.

💬 It stated: "The Ukrainian people have declared themselves independent…They wish to take the first step toward a lasting and honorable peace for all parties."

On February 1, 2025, Russia carried out a treacherous attack on Poltava, destroying a residential building and taking the lives of 14 civilians.

Here are just some of the stories of the Ukrainians who were killed by Russia that day ⬇️ Sofiia Yavorska was killed along with her mom and dad.

She was a regular visitor to the local library, where she loved discovering new books and immersing herself in stories.

She was a bright and talented girl, known for her insatiable curiosity and love of learning.

For many years, Russia has been using energy as a weapon.

For Moscow, it is a political lever, a tool for humiliating and threatening sovereign states, a source of corruption, dependence and blackmail in interactions with foreign politicians. On this background, the pan-European trend is the rejection of Russian energy supplies, increasing energy independence, diversification of supply sources and, as a result, increasing energy security for every European family and household.

1/6 Hungarian officials once again claim that they can stop the war. However, these statements do not reflect reality.

In fact, following Hungary's "peacekeeping" calls to Moscow, deadly missiles and drones are striking Ukrainian cities and communities ⬇️ 2/6 The actions of the Hungarian side are even further removed from peacekeeping than its statements.

Hungary consistently calls for leaving #Ukraine, which is defending itself against Russian genocidal aggression, without the means for self-defense.

This week, 5 December 2024, marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's🇺🇦 accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the Budapest Memorandum. This document was supposed to provide Ukraine with guarantees of security, sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for giving up the world's third largest nuclear arsenal.

Every year, TIME selects 100 powerful photos that define the year. In 2024, six of these photos feature Ukrainians 🧵

1/6 Medical workers treat a victim after a Russian missile attack in #Kharkiv, Ukraine, on January 23.

📸 Sofiia Gatilova / Reuters 2/6 An emergency worker helping in the evacuation of #Vovchansk sits behind the steering wheel of a vehicle in May.

📸 Simon Townsley / Panos Pictures

Russian dictator Putin's speech on the use of, in his own words, an intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine has been thoroughly documented.

🧵 1/13 2/13

From the international legal point of view, this speech is another important evidence and de facto admission of guilt in the crime of aggression against Ukraine and all the resulting atrocities against Ukrainians.

1000 days of bravely resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion have shown us the true value of every single day. We remember the cost of each day in these thousand behind us. All these stories tell us why ➡️

🧵 1/10 2/10

2 days old
The youngest baby killed by Russia’s attack on a maternity hospital in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is genocidal by nature – it targets and attacks real people. Some of these attacks have taken the lives of entire generations, as whole families – parents, grandparents, children — were killed in a single strike in their own homes 🕯

1/10 🧵 2/10

On November 11, 2024, Russia attacked
a high-rise building in #KryvyiRih, taking the lives of Olena, 32, and three children: Kyrylo (10), Demyd (2,8), and Uliana (2 months). The father is the only member of the family that survived.

We officially deny the insinuations of unnamed sources in the BILD publication regarding Ukraine's alleged plans to develop weapons of mass destruction ⬇️ Ukraine has been and remains a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to which it acceded in 1994, having renounced the world's third most powerful military nuclear capability.

#OTD we pay tribute to the memory of Ukrainians – victims of forced resettlement from Lemkivshchyna, Nadsiannia, Kholmshchyna, Southern Pidlashschia, Lubachivshchyna, Western Boikivshchyna and the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the deportation of Ukrainians from there 🕯 At least 482,000 Ukrainians fell victim to this policy of the communist regime, suffering repression, confiscation of property, and human rights abuses during the resettlement.

Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s military targets, including those on 🇷🇺 territory, are just & fair.

🤝 We are grateful to our partners who have supported Ukraine in its legitimate right – our joint decisions make us stronger.

Why this is so important and right? Read the thread ⬇️ For over 2 years, Russia has been feeling free to target civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian territory, killing and injuring people.

At the same time, Ukraine had a limited ability to hit the military targets inside Russia with Western weapons – but now this pattern is changing

#Russia tries to undermine efforts of the international community aimed at establishing humanitarian corridors from #Mariupol. Now, it manipulates agreements reached by Secretary-General António Guterres and Russia’s President.

#SaveMariupol Rejection of the agreement announced by the Secretary-General highlights #Russia’s continued disregard towards the UN Charter and core principles of international law.

#SaveMariupol

More than 500 injured #Ukrainian defenders are blocked at the #Azovstal steelworks in #Mariupol. They need urgent medical treatment, as every hour is crucial for saving their lives.

#SaveMariupol The plant is almost destroyed. #Russia's bombs and airstrikes have killed dozens of #Ukrainian soldiers who had been defending #Mariupol. They need to be buried appropriately.

Russia’s atrocities in #Mariupol are terrifying. Today, #Russia
carried out dozens of airstrikes on the #Azovstal steelworks, which
remains a shelter for many Mariupol residents. Dozens of civilians were injured and trapped under the rubble.

These people need urgent treatment and evacuation.

#SaveMariupol

🇺🇦 President @ZelenskyyUa: “Mariupol was surrounded, blocked, is being exhausted, tortured. For the first time in dozens of years, perhaps for the first time since the Nazi invasion, a child died of dehydration. Hear me, today, dear partners! A child died of dehydration in 2022! The blame for every death in Ukraine from air strikes and in blocked cities lies with 🇷🇺. The fault lies with the invaders, but the responsibility for this lies also with those who havenʼt been able to make a necessary decision somewhere in the offices for 13 days.

The third day of 🇷🇺 military operation against Ukraine is underway. The enemy has begun redeploying reserve units on the border w/ 🇺🇦, continues to carry out air strikes on airfields, groups of troops of the 🇺🇦 AF in Eastern Ukraine and in the Northern part of KYIV region. 1/4 Single air strikes were carried out in the districts of SUMY, POLTAVA, MARIUPOL. From the Black Sea, 🇷🇺 launched Caliber naval-based cruise missiles across Ukraine. Tactical aviation operations from the territory of Belarus and the TOT Crimea are controlled by 🇷🇺 Air Forces. 2/4

FM @DmytroKuleba at the @unGa: “Today we need much more than hope. We need swift, concrete and resolute actions. A new type of action by the UN and int'l community which is relevant to the level of threat we all, not just Ukraine, face today because of Russia’s aggressive course” If Russia does not get a severe and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the int'l security system and int'l institutions which are tasked with maintaining the global security order.