This year, for the first time in five years, a charity Vienna Ball was held in Kyiv. Ukrainian veterans took part in it.
The social mission of the ball is to raise funds for charitable children’s projects and cultural diplomacy. However, this time the organizers of the event emphasized the importance of the participation of the male and female defenders, as it reintegrates veterans into civilian life through art.
“In addition, when society sees veterans in this context, it helps to change the often stereotypical perception of them, showing them as active participants in cultural life. Finally, it helps to create stronger intergenerational and intercultural ties, enriching the cultural landscape while recognizing and honoring the contribution of each veteran to society,” said Ruslana Velychko- Tryfoniuk, Acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
Auction at the Vienna Ball
The ball included a charity auction that raised one million hryvnias for the “Motley Racoons” children’s adventure camp, the “SOS Children’s Villages in Ukraine” charity organization, and the “Kolo” Charitable Foundation.
Among the guests invited to the ball was Oleksandr Chub, a veteran and founder of the children’s adventure camp “Motley Raccoons”, founded in 2016. The camp is designed for children aged 8 to 18. In February 2022, Chub, Dali (Maksym Kryvtsov), Gibon, Mongoose, Torin, Vitalik, and Vasyl from the camp’s founding team immediately went to the warfront. The rest of the team was able to pick up and continue at least partially the activities and history of the Motley Raccoons.
Timur Leon, a serviceman of the Third Assault Brigade and ambassador of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, emphasized: “The war in Ukraine takes away children’s childhood. A huge number of children have experienced the horrors of shelling, destruction, refugee and loss. It is important to support the children of those who died defending Ukraine and the future of Ukrainian children.”
To support this project, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation collected items to be auctioned off at a charity auction and donated by veteran entrepreneurs.
Veteran Yulia Kirillova notes that such events are important for society to see who veterans are and how different these people are.
“The Vienna Ball demonstrated that respect for veterans is growing. When we walked to the center of the hall, all those present stood up and gave us a standing ovation. In addition, the participants of the ball could see that we are very different: modern veterans are men and women, musicians and lawyers in civilian life. Modern veterans are a cross-section of our society, and people need to realize this,” says Yulia Kirillova.
Who participated in the Vienna Ball?
In the sophisticated atmosphere of the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv, 16 pairs of debutants and 48 adult couples waltzed. The event was accompanied by a vocal performance by the incomparable star of the world opera scene, soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, winner of international vocal competitions in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Spain, Susanna Chakhoyan. Masterpieces of world classical music were also performed by the Kyiv Mozart Orchestra, and by Moisei Bondarenko, junior sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ambassador of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation. He was mobilized in February 2022. Now he is a musician in the 59th Brigade’s orchestra. His violin boosts morale on the front line and impresses at charity events in Ukraine and abroad.
“My participation in cultural events like the Vienna Ball is part of a broader effort to destigmatize disability among veterans. When I become a part of such events, it is not just an opportunity for personal growth, but also a powerful tool to change social stereotypes. Cultural events allow us to demonstrate that disability does not limit our ability to interact and contribute to cultural life. Dancing at the Vienna Ball, in particular, becomes a symbol of our invincibility and endurance. It is a demonstration that veterans with disabilities can lead active and fulfilling lives. We use these moments to break down barriers, expand opportunities, and strengthen the understanding that inclusion and equality are not just words, but very real goals that we should all strive for,” said Olha Benda, a veteran with a disability who inspires sports victories by her example.
In 2019, Olha Benda completed the Marine Corps Marathon using a prosthetic leg. She became the heroine of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation’s social campaign “Veterans are different. There is only one victory”.
The Vienna Ball has deep historical roots. The event was founded in the nineteenth century. Over the course of three centuries, the event has been slightly modified, but its main function — dancing and establishing informal connections — remains to this day. After interruptions, the event was resumed after World War II, in 1956. Nowadays, the ball is held in different countries, but always with a social purpose, which is intended to solve local or global problems. The Vienna Balls are included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of Austria.
Traditionally, the programs of the Vienna Balls include an opening ceremony, debutantes, a ball program with master classes, dinner, a charity auction, and art events.
