Olena Blizniakova

If you ask people how they remember the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many picture scenes at the border— crowds of women and children fleeing Russian bombs. Some will also recall the thousands of men and women who returned from abroad to defend their homeland—including the foreigners who refused to stand by and watch and took up arms to help a country many had never even been to.

Denmark came to Kyiv in force. With its biggest-ever business delegation, the country is deepening defense and investment ties to strengthen Ukraine’s security, resilience, and recovery. In an interview with UNITED24 Media, Danish Minister ​​for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov, shared how new partnerships and guarantees are turning long-term commitment into concrete action.

When an F-16 pilot took off in December 2024 to protect Ukraine during a massive Russian attack, his only thought was defending his homeland—not setting records. But that’s exactly what happened after he shot down six Russian cruise missiles in a single mission—something never before achieved over Ukrainian skies.

Serhii was just 17 when he convinced his parents to let him gather some of his belongings and flee occupied Donetsk. His family, however, remained. Born and raised in the eastern Ukrainian city, he was only a child when the Russians occupied his hometown. As he got older, questions arose: “I started asking myself: why was it so good then, and not now?”

Having secretly enrolled in a Ukrainian online school and waiting for her 18th birthday, Marta was finally able to leave Russian-occupied Donetsk in spring 2025. Without saying a word to her parents, she packed her belongings and headed to Kyiv. Marta told her story to UNITED24 Media. 

A new school year has begun in Ukraine, once again under the shadow of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite frequent air raid alerts and the constant threat from Russian attacks, city administrations, schools, and teachers across the country are finding ways to ensure that as many children as possible can continue their education.