Mykyta Shandyba

Most of the work of the frogsmen from the 73rd Special Operations Forces Center remains beyond the reach of cameras. Yet this single frame reveals the conditions in which their professionalism is shaped—and their endurance tested—long before any mission begins.

Studying underground has become the reality for many Ukrainian children living in close proximity to the border with Russia and the frontline. We visited two kindergartens in Zaporizhzhia and Vilniansk, a city in the region, to see how the kids celebrate St. Nicholas Day underground.

The power radiating from a person’s gaze can’t be replicated. Just five photos, ten eyes, and the boundless energy they hold. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF)—whose work remains largely unseen—shape outcomes far greater than most realize, in a nation fighting for its survival.

Kyiv will host the Fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen on September 10-11. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska will unite global leaders, Nobel laureates, and teachers from around the world to explore how education can transform societies—even amid war.

David Chichkan’s family, friends, and comrades gathered to honor the artist, who lived his art and remained committed to his principles of freedom and equality until the very end.

Before you can train to become one of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, you have to survive “Selection.” It’s not a course. It’s not preparation. It’s a brutal test of endurance, resolve, and mental toughness—designed to break most and reveal the few who can operate where others can’t.