Latest news with #Sofiia
Los Angeles Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Column: A Ukrainian student's poem about her home
Sofiia enjoying her time at a lavender field in Nova Odesa, Ukraine. (Courtesy of Sofiia Neznaiushcha) Hello, my name is Linda. I'm a high school student, and for the past few months, I've been teaching English to a student who lives in Ukraine. I started teaching her because I wanted to help her practice and grow her confidence in using English. At first, we focused on vocabulary, grammar, and conversation, but recently, we have been reading and analyzing poetry. Seeing her enthusiasm, I encouraged her to write a poem of her own. I thought it would be a good way for her to express her emotions and also learn how to use language more creatively. According to Statista, in May of 2025, nearly 50,000 Ukrainians have been injured or killed since February of 2022. As stated by Russia Matters in July of 2025, 'as of July 15, 2025, Russian forces occupied a total 114,016 square kilometers of Ukrainian land (44,022 square miles), which constituted 18.9% of Ukrainian territory.' These numbers remind us of the real human impact behind the headlines — the lives affected, the communities disrupted, and the ongoing struggle faced by millions. It's easy to lose sight of the individuals behind such statistics, which is why I want to share a more personal perspective. Below is Sofiia's message for everyone reading: 'Hello, my name is Sofiia Neznaiushcha. I'm 15 years old and I live in Nova Odesa, Ukraine. I love to write poems, do yoga, and embroider. I want to share a poem I wrote about the beauty of my native Ukrainian south, where I was born and raised. By showing my poem, I hope to raise awareness of the beauty of my home, which is now being destroyed, with most of it under occupation. I want everyone to know that you should appreciate every moment and everything around you.' Now, I would like to share her poem, 'My Native South.' My first step was on Ukraine's southern ground, Where the Black Sea hugs tightly all around. The warm sun kisses my cheeks every day, And bright sunflowers keep sorrow away. The wind smells sweet with herbs in the air, It plays with my hair without a care… In summer gardens, nightingales sing, And crickets lull to sleep everything. My native south's not only the sea, Beaches, ripe fruit and sand are so free. Skadovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Zatoka's embrace, Towns and resorts by the deep blue space. My native south's fields are so wide, Where feather grass calls with a free horse's stride. Wheat fields stretch like the golden sea, Where I gaze at the stars, calm and free. My native south's the Bug's pure flow, Southern traditions that quietly grow. My beloved south's the fortress of land… Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa will stand! Related
Daily Record
15-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ukrainian couple open high-end barber shop in Ayr
Ibrahim Al-Gburi and his wife Sofiia Kepeshchuk started their own business after moving to Ayr almost three years ago. Ukrainian couple, Ibrahim Al-Gburi and his wife Sofiia Kepeshchuk, have opened a luxury men's barber shop, offering a high-end grooming experience in Ayr. Ibrahim, 30, and Sofiia, 22, moved to Ayr from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, following Russia's full-scale invasion. A couple found refuge in the UK after a Scottish family offered them support under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They have been living in Ayr for two-and-a-half years and worked hard to not only rebuild their lives but to start their own brand in the region. Ibrahim said: "We moved to Scotland to a Scottish family in October 2022 after the war started, we are grateful to our hosts Mhairi and James for opening the door for us and helping us. They became a second family to us who are helping and supporting us a lot. "Since we arrived in the UK, my wife and I have thought about building our brand here so we worked hard to do that, sometimes we worked for 7 days without a break." Ibrahim worked as a barber since January 2019, it was his part-time job in Ukraine while he was studying engineering at university. After graduating from university, he didn't get a chance to work in engineering. He decided to gain practical experience through many different master classes for barbers to enhance his knowledge and develop his individual skills. A couple opened their business, His Grooming, on May 17 which has already proven to be a success with clients in Ayr. The business operates from Monday to Sunday and is based at 21 Wellington Square. Ibrahim said: "We opened His Grooming on May 17, it was such a great and busy day. "We already received a lot of positive feedback from the first clients, they told us that they feel the difference between us and other businesses and they like modern design, quality of grooming and atmosphere. "I am delighted and truly responsible for helping the Ayrshire community deliver a new high level of service. Also, my main goal is to emphasize the individual style of clients and increase their confidence. "We believe in using only the best and prioritize quality ingredients and sustainable practices, ensuring that every style delivers luxury and effectiveness." Ibrahim's wife Sofiia is training as a dental nurse and sees herself in the beauty and facial care industry. Sofiia believes that studying nursing will help her to get an experience from a medical point of view. She said: "My main goal was to start studying here in the nursing field, because to work in the field of facial care and various anti-aging procedures, it is important to have a medical education and understand all the processes from the inside." She is currently self-employed and offers various facial care procedures at her studio in Ayr, and will soon provide procedures at barber shop such as a microneedling treatment for men's hair loss problems and alopecia. Microneedling on the scalp for hair loss involves using a device with tiny needles to create micro-injuries on the skin, stimulating the body's natural healing processes and potentially promoting hair regrowth. This technique can be particularly effective for male pattern baldness and alopecia areata. In the future, she also wants to start doing injection procedures and hardware techniques for face and body care. While talking about the new business, Sofiia shared: "It makes me feel excited that His Grooming barber shop is now open. We have put our soul into the entire process to make it the best space for men. "I am really proud of my husband, he is the best and when he does something, he always does it perfectly. "I really recommend to all men to try grooming procedures with him. He has 6 years of experience and always develops his skills and knowledge." Sofiia added: "The most rewarding part about building a new life here in Ayr was the fact that there is a friendly, helpful and supportive community so we always wanted to give something back." To book an appointment, visit His Grooming website here.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wicklow student honoured for ingenious app that helps people manage diabetes
St Mary's College in Arklow student Sofiia Shevchuk with Dahab Sharaby (Teen-Turn Lead Mentor) at the Technovation Ireland Regional Pitch Event at AMD in Dublin. Photo: Robbie Reynolds Photography Sofiia Shevchuk, a third year student from St Mary's College in Arklow, received the award for her outstanding work in developing an app, SweetHealth, which allows users to easily track blood sugar, meals, activity, and mood in one place through smart AI technology providing personalised advice based on each user's data. The app also includes features like barcode scanning for diabetes supplies and accessibility options for users with vision challenges. Fourteen-year-old Sofiia was one of 65 app enterprise projects pitching at the event, which formed part of the global Technovation competition. As a result, Sofiia will be presenting her app at the global semi-finalist round later this year. As Sofiia explained, she was inspired to create the app after noticing how often people, including herself, underestimate their sugar intake, noting that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of adults living with diabetes has doubled from 7pc in 1990 to 14pc in 2022. 'After learning about the health risks of excess sugar, I wanted to create a tool that would make it easier for everyone to keep tabs on what they're consuming,' Sofiia said. Teen-Turn, an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and support to acquire qualifications and jobs, provided Sofiia with support in developing an app for the first time for Technovation. Through a 12-week programme, Sofiia, along with other participants, received guidance from industry and academic mentors, learning skills in market research, business planning, and coding, to develop her app. 'Every session felt so uplifting and inspiring, filled with hands-on activities, lively group discussions, and genuine encouragement,' Sofiia continued. 'The mentors were always helpful, especially Yuri from Microsoft, who provided clear guidance and practical advice whenever I faced technical challenges.' Reflecting on the experience, Sofiia says she is now considering a career in science and technology, adding: 'I discovered how much I enjoy problem-solving and using technology to make a real difference in people's lives. 'In fact, the experience inspired me so much that I now want to study medicine at Trinity College, because I believe that we should help those in need and use our skills to make a positive impact on the world. 'Looking back on the day, a highlight was seeing the other teams' projects. It was inspiring to witness so many creative ideas and to learn from the diverse approaches others took. Being part of such an innovative community was truly motivating. 'After finishing my pitch and answering the judges' questions, I felt a huge wave of relief. Their encouraging words and positive feedback left me feeling accomplished, grateful, and even more passionate about continuing with my project.' When asked about her plans for the future with the app, Sofiia says she plans to add new features to the app and reach more users. 'I'm also looking forward to participating in more TeenTurn events and collaborating with others on new projects, such as developing an app for pregnancy,' she said. 'Looking ahead, I hope to grow my company and work with national government organisations to help supply medication to those in developing countries, because I believe everyone deserves access to essential healthcare. The experience has opened up so many opportunities, and I'm excited for what's next.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Separated by war: Ukrainian soldier reunited with daughter after release from Russian captivity
A Ukrainian soldier whose daughter was rescued from occupied territory in March 2025 was released from a Russian prison camp on the first day of a major prisoner-of-war (POW) swap in the thousand-for-thousand format. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary) Commissioner for Human Rights, on Telegram Details: The soldier was captured more than three years ago, at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His 15-year-old daughter, Sofiia, was taken to Russia by her mother, who later returned with the child to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory. The girl's grandmother, who had raised her from birth, appealed to Lubinets to secure her liberation. "All this time, the child lived in unbearable conditions," Lubinets said. "The struggle to bring her back was long and challenging." The grandmother gained custody of Sofiia, and in March 2025, the girl came back to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Sofia's father was freed from captivity on the first day of the major prisoner swap. For the first time in years, he heard the voices of his mother and daughter. Quote from Lubinets: "This is one of many stories of families torn apart by war. But these moments give us the strength to believe and fight on. We work to ensure every child and adult can come back to a free Ukraine and be reunited." Background: Ukrainska Pravda shared emotional stories of soldiers brought back on the first day of the large-scale POW exchange. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two children of Kyiv doctor among people killed in Russian attack on Kyiv
Russian forces launched a combined attack on Kyiv on the night of 23-24 April. The strikes have killed siblings, 21-year-old Nikita and 19-year-old Sofiia. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Quote from Zelenskyy: "This morning, our country faced a new, large-scale Russian attack, with over 200 aerial targets: missiles, including ballistic ones, and kamikaze drones. Sadly, there is destruction and loss in our capital, in other cities, and in all regions of Ukraine. More than 80 people were injured in these strikes. A brother and sister are among the dead in Kyiv. The boy was 21 years old; the girl was 19." Details: Later, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) clarified that the two people killed in the Russian attack were the son and daughter of Yaroslav Kozlov, a neurologist at the University Clinic of KNU. Nikita was a student at the National Transport University, while Sofiia had graduated from the Professional College of the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design. "The family of the Shevchenko University expresses its sincere condolences to Yaroslav Volodymyrovych [Kozlov]," a statement on the KNU website reads. Background: Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russian forces had launched 215 missiles, including ballistic ones, and drones on Ukraine on the night of 23-24 April. The main impact fell on Kyiv, damaging an entire residential area. The Russian attack has affected various regions, particularly Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office reported that as of 11:00 on 24 April, eight people are confirmed to have been killed. The State Emergency Service noted that the remains of the ninth person, previously reported dead, are currently undergoing forensic examination. In total, 90 people were injured, with 44 being in hospital. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, where there are concerns that people may still be trapped under the rubble. Emergency workers and canine teams from the State Emergency Service are actively working at the scene. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
