Recently, the War Museum hosted a moving event titled “Blooming Resilience.” Organized by the “Heart Outward” NGO, the event aimed to support the mothers and wives of the defenders who perished during the defense of Mariupol and in the village of Olenivka.
The highlights of the event were the presentation of a catalog of the same name and the opening of a portrait exhibition featuring the project participants—women of immense strength and courage.
Vira Lytvynenko, mother of the fallen Azov warrior Vladyslav Lytvynenko, initiator of the event, and head of the “Heart Outward” NGO, emphasized the project’s importance in reclaiming a sense of life: “The war clipped our wings, but we are trying to take flight again. We are setting an example for those who may be struggling to cope, and we want every woman to embody both blooming beauty and resilience.”
Oleh Kucheriavyi, Deputy Director General of the War Museum, noted that our institution will always support initiatives aimed at preserving the memory of the contemporary war.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko remarked on the spiritual strength of the participants: “It is a great honor for me to stand before you. These photos and portraits of Ukrainian women—strong, beautiful, and wise—truly take one’s breath away.”
Mykhailo Kohut, First Deputy Head of the Mariupol Military Administration, stressed the importance of preserving memory, noting that the “Mariupol Justice” project—a human rights initiative by the Mariupol City Council—aims to document and memorialize the crimes committed by russia in Mariupol.
The event was enriched with musical performances: bandurist Hanna Shchekan performed works by Volodymyr Ivasiuk, and Kseniia Lievientsova, the wife of a fallen Hero codenamed “Hrek” (Greek), premiered the song “Ukrainian Woman.” A performance by accordionist Andrii Shchekan added further emotional depth to the occasion.
Participants shared that taking part in the “Blooming Resilience” project and meeting other women helped them process their painful experiences, find like-minded support, and find the strength to move forward.
The event concluded with a literary composition featuring poems by contemporary Ukrainian poets Halyna Kruk and Serhii Zhadan, which, through the voices of the fallen Heroes’ mothers, spoke of strength, hope, and our shared future.
