Explaining Ukraine

Imagine an NGO that has raised over one billion dollars to support the Ukrainian army. Imagine a civil society initiative that purchases armaments and military equipment. Imagine a transparent organisation with an independent board and detailed reporting. This NGO exists — it is called “Povernys Zhyvym”, or “Come Back Alive”. It is one of the largest Ukrainian civil society foundations supporting Ukraine’s defense. In this episode, we will speak about its work — and about the ways you can help Ukraine. *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media platform about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kateryna Leshchyshyn, head of the international partnerships at the Come Back Alive foundation. *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** CONTENTS: 00:00 What is Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym)? 02:09 Come Back Alive`s Role: at the crossroads of the military, defence industry, and charity 04:33 Why does Ukraine need charity foundations to win? 07:49 Povernys Zhyvym buys a lot of things: from arms and vehicles to drones and chairs 09:58 Come Back Alive tests and develops new solutions 13:27 Working with foreigners: Challenges and successful stories 16:09 Why foreigners are reluctant to fund military equipment 19:34 Reality of the Ukrainian army: 80-90% of soldiers are former civilians 22:07 Who are the main donors of Come Back Alive? 29:38 Ways to support Ukraine: Spreading information, demonstrations, literature 37:37 Why donors should choose Come Back Alive

Danylo Lubkivsky, a Ukrainian diplomat and former deputy foreign minister, dives into Ukraine's rich tradition of geopolitical thought. He explores how this tradition has been shaped more by writers than statesmen and its impact on Ukraine's identity today. Topics include the significance of geoculture and how land influences culture, as well as the recurring motifs of glory and freedom in Ukrainian history. Lubkivsky also discusses Kyiv's spiritual significance and envisions Ukraine as a unifying bridge across Europe.

Natalia Shlikhta, a historian and expert on Ukrainian cultural history, discusses the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's unique role in bridging Eastern and Western Christianity. She highlights its historical significance in shaping Ukrainian national identity and its cultural resilience during the Soviet era. The conversation explores the church's dual survival tactics, including the underground 'catacomb church,' and emphasizes the legacy of influential leaders like Metropolitan Sheptytsky, who fostered unity and social engagement.

In this enlightening discussion, Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, a leading Ukrainian public intellectual and director of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, delves into the fascinating complexity of Ukrainian cultural heritage. She reveals how generational dispossession has left a fragile cultural landscape and highlights the impact of recent conflicts on cultural wealth. Olesia shares insights on reconstructing lost movements like Boychukism and the revival of suppressed intellectual traditions, connecting cultural recovery to resilience against erasure.

In this engaging discussion, historian Kateryna Dysa uncovers the origins of the myth that frames Kyiv as a Russian city, tracing its roots to 19th-century imperial propaganda. She explores how early Russian travelers viewed Kyiv through a superficial lens, focused on pilgrimage rather than history. Dysa highlights Nikolai Karamzin's pivotal role in promoting Kyiv's significance and the romanticized narratives that followed. Listeners will learn about the architectural misinterpretations and the varied comparisons made by travelers, alongside the emergence of Ukrainian counter-narratives.

In this engaging discussion, Oleksandra Matviychuk, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, shares her insights as a leading advocate for human rights in Ukraine. She highlights how the ongoing war reshaped her life's purpose, emphasizing the moral imperative behind Ukrainian resistance. Oleksandra critiques the perception of Ukrainians as passive victims and stresses the necessity of active agency in the face of adversity. She also explores the genocidal nature of the conflict and the importance of pursuing justice even amidst war.

How is the life of a soldier different from that of a civilian? Which aspects of it are hardest for civilians to understand? What is happening on the frontline today — and how will the outcome of this war depend on the technological race? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Vladyslav Urubkov, a former soldier of the Ukrainian army and now a manager for military affairs at Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. Come back alive: https://savelife.in.ua/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute, discusses Ukraine's crucial role in European security. He argues that Ukraine is transitioning from a security recipient to a provider, actively restraining Russian aggression. The conversation also covers how insecurity drives innovation and the need for the EU to integrate security into its framework. Hlibovytskyi warns of the risks of European fragmentation and emphasizes that delayed action could lead to significant long-term costs.

In this episode, we will talk about “Ukraïner”: a great initiative that has done a great deal to help rediscover Ukraine — both from within and from abroad. “Ukraïner” launched expeditions to villages and towns across the country, researched the lifestyles and cultures of Ukraine’s diverse communities, and created outstanding textual and visual projects that help us better understand our own land. It has also done much to tell the Ukrainian story to the world. *** Host: Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Julia Tymoshenko, head of Ukraïner. Ukraïner website: https://www.ukrainer.net/en/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - The phenomenon of the Ukraїner project 15:13 - How did the full-scale invasion reshape the project 22:13 - Challenges of spreading Ukraine’s voice abroad 27:57 - Seeking stories that resonate with foreign audiences 33:48 - Shoving Ukrainians the world's perspectives 42:53 - Communication strategy of building a mutual understanding 48:51 - Outro 49:22 - Support us

In this episode, we discuss how Russia destroys Ukrainian families, kidnaps Ukrainian children — including those who have parents — and reprograms them, changing their identity, their way of thinking, their lifestyle, their homes. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kateryna Rashevska, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, expert at the Regional Centre for Human Rights, and a tireless fighter for the liberation of Ukrainian children. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights 02:00 How many Ukrainian children were deported to Russia? 03:37 Why does Russia use words like "rescue" or "salvation" instead of "deportation"? 04:48 Ignoring the law: Why Russia refuses to return Ukrainian children 07:54 Militarizing Ukrainian children and the role of "UNARMIA" (Young Army) 08:25 Russia's plan to destroy the Ukrainian nation 10:36 Russia re-education: Children were taken to “camps” in Crimea and separated from their parents 15:33 The horror for parents: Losing contact and facing deprivation of parental rights as coercion 20:45 Will Putin or Lvova-Belova ever face justice? 25:33 Analysis of Melania Trump's letter to Putin 30:26 The humanitarian obligations Russia has failed to meet 35:05 Kateryna talks about her work: Submitting evidence to the ICC, proposing sanctions, and providing legal assistance