Texts

“War Has Many Dimensions. It Can Wear a Uniform or a Diplomatic Suit”: Maria Kucherenko’s Speech at the European Parliament

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Maria Kucherenko, Senior Analyst at the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center, addressed a hearing of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence. She joined the Ukrainian delegation in briefing European colleagues on Ukraine’s experience in the war in which Russia attacked Ukraine, as well as on challenges that extend far beyond our country.

20 Mar 2026, 15:32

Donating to “Wings”: How Fundraisers for Ukrainian Aviation Unite People

This is a story about a town that provides for one tactical aviation brigade’s primary needs through donations. For security reasons, we will not name the city or provide full names.

25 Jul 2025, 08:25

Do I really have a choice? Speech by a “Come Back Alive” reporter in Berlin

On June 26, the opening of the exhibition The Only Material, organized by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, took place in Berlin. The exhibition features photographs and stories of Ukrainian journalists — including that of Polina Vernyhor, a reporter with the “Come Back Alive” Foundation. Polina had the opportunity to address the visitors of the exhibition. We are publishing her powerful and moving speech.

07 Jul 2025, 11:26

“The more drones we shoot down with low-cost means, the fewer expensive missiles we use” — about downing “Shaheds” in the “Dronefall” project

As part of the “Dronefall” initiative, “Shaheds” began to be intercepted. In one episode of “Poplava,” the Director of the “Come Back Alive” Foundation Taras Chmut and the military outreach manager Taras Tymochko explained how the “Shahedfall” began, whether decoys should be intercepted, and how the Foundation was collaborating with the state. This text is a summary of their conversation.

25 Jun 2025, 07:51

«It rained for six days in a row, and there was nowhere to dry clothes — and there was nothing to dry, everything burned down»: memories of the defender of the Luhansk airport Andriy Moruga

April 8, 2014 is the official beginning of the defence of the Luhansk airport. Eleven years ago, the Ukrainian military received an order to guard the airport. The battles for the airport lasted 146 days — almost five months, the last of which was spent in complete surround.

09 Apr 2025, 09:25

"People often ask if it's hard to work with men here. I tell them they should ask the men if it's hard for them to work with a woman." The story of FPV drone operator "Phoenix"  

28-year-old "Phoenix" never dreamed of being in the military; instead, she showed great promise in sports. However, all her achievements, awards, and titles have taken a back seat, as she now serves as a brave FPV drone operator in the 79th Separate Assault Brigade.

19 Nov 2024, 15:38

What was the money raised by the Polish public for Baykar used for? Three countries united to support the Ukrainian army, and here is what came of it.

The “Cooperation Without Borders" project started over a year ago. As part of it, a fundraising campaign was launched in Poland. In 2023, the “Come Back Alive” Foundation for Competent Assistance to the Army, together with the Turkish company Baykar, handed over $1.8 million worth of property to the Defense Forces of Ukraine, including two maintenance and repair workshops.

10 Oct 2024, 14:04

"I wrote my will at the age of 19": three stories of servicemen who were seriously injured in the war

07 Mar 2024, 15:54

"Come Back Alive" raises over UAH 9 billion. How the team turns it into help for the army

From 24 February 2022 to mid-October 2023, more than UAH 9 billion was donated to the Come Back Alive Foundation for Competent Assistance to the Army to help the Ukrainian Defence Forces. In total, the organisation received 2,654,568 donations during this period. The average donation amount is UAH 3,393.

14 Nov 2023, 07:00

"In times of war, we cannot train people for years. "Captains' Сourse" is about the here and now, but with high quality"

On September 23, 112 servicemen completed the fifth course of the "Captains' Сourse" for the Territorial Defense Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

10 Oct 2023, 15:11

"They mine houses without any military purpose, but to cause damage"

We Live Here project: we are raising UAH 175 million to provide transport and necessary equipment for 146 engineering and demining groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Support Force to speed up demining in the country and protect the defenders who are engaged in it.

28 Jun 2023, 06:15

"We are running out of time. We have to prepare as many people as possible"

The Come Back Alive Foundation is deploying 8 mobile tactical medicine training complexes

28 Apr 2023, 14:04