Explaining Ukraine

Tetyana Ogarkova, a journalist and head of the international department at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre, discusses Ukraine's complex relationship with the U.S. in light of increasing pressure from the Trump administration, now acting as a mediator. She argues that proposed peace talks could prevent Ukraine from regaining occupied territories, effectively leading to defeat. The conversation also highlights the potential dangers of negotiations as tactics for Russia, the impact on military support, and ongoing struggles with anti-corruption amid the war.

Kateryna Leshchyshyn leads international partnerships at the Come Back Alive foundation, which has raised over $1 billion to support Ukraine's defense since 2014. She shares the evolution of the NGO from a charity to a key military-support entity. Kateryna highlights the vital role of NGOs in boosting resilience and provides insights into the types of equipment they procure, including drones and vehicles. She discusses the challenges of working with international donors and urges listeners to support Ukraine through various means, stressing community involvement.

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