Military wives model authentic folk attire, surviving famine and war in Ivano-Frankivsk

19.10.2026, 08:22 rubryka.com

Olha Bobrykovych, head of the NGO, shared that members of the organization, youth unit representatives, wives of servicemen, defenders' daughters, female volunteers, and a veteran took part in the performance.

For the showcase, organizers gathered vintage family costumes and embroidery from Prykarpattia, the Donetsk region, the Lemko region, and central Ukraine, pairing them with modern Ukrainian vyshyvankas.

Veteran Yurii Nykoliuk opened the show. He appeared before the audience wearing a replica of Stepan Bandera's embroidered shirt, which volunteers had put up for auction. The man explained that he fought for this lot because artisans recreated the shirt thread for thread from the original.

Yurii Nykoliuk. Photo source: Ukrinform

Yurii fought in Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions. In 2024, during an enemy drone drop in the Serebrianskyi forest, he lost an arm. After rehabilitation, the veteran joined volunteer efforts and plays for the "Bartka" amputee football team.

Valentyna Borulnyk, who represented Lemko attire, was among the runway participants. Her husband Viktor voluntarily went to the front lines in 2022. Valentyna herself moved to Ivano-Frankivsk with her children from Selydove, which has endured its second year under occupation.

Valentyna Borulnyk (left). Photo source: Ukrinform

"I am happy because my dream of wearing real Ukrainian clothing came true. Today I represent Lemko attire… What did I bring from the Donetsk region? A Ukrainian flag and a necklace that I bought in Sloviansk," the performance participant shared.

Olha Fabryka-Protska, a veteran's wife, provided the clothing for her. The chest ornament—a kryza—was also crafted by a serviceman's wife.

Another participant, Mariana Protska, showcased Boiko attire provided for the show by Ivanna Derun, sister of the fallen defender Volodymyr Katamai, callsign "Bozhe." Her husband currently serves on the Donetsk front line.

Mariana Protska. Photo source: Galka

Lesia Markovetska presented a shirt and a zapaska originating from the Donetsk region.

Lesia Markovetska. Photo source: Galka

"People who fled the war in the Donetsk region left these clothes with us. They inherited them from their great-grandmother, who preserved this zapaska and shirt through the famine in the 1930s," she said.

According to Bobrykovych, organizers collected clothing for the event from various corners of Ukraine. Participants not only demonstrated traditional outfits but also recreated the "Prosyny" ritual.

Photo source: Galka

She added that the participants wanted to show how Ukrainians preserve traditions from ancient times to the present day.

Background

It should be noted that the Ukrainian community in Ireland joined the international project "Rushnyk of Unity – Rushnyk of Victory." The ceremonial presentation of the rushnyk took place in Dublin.

Additionally, Vinnytsia hosted the exhibition "Heroes Wore Them" in Independence Square, presenting about 60 embroidered shirts belonging to fallen Ukrainian male and female defenders. Each shirt served as a symbol of memory for the warriors who gave their lives for Ukraine's freedom and independence.