Why is the Soviet and the “Russian” story about Ukraine’s East misleading? Why is the concept of “Donbas” problematic? How are the eastern regions of Ukraine inscribed into the Ukrainian political and cultural history, as well as the history of Europe? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Kateryna Zarembo, a Ukrainian scholar and writer of the recent book Skhid Ukrainskoho Sontsia (The Rise of the Ukrainian Sun). The book tells the story of Ukraine’s east and was shortlisted for BBC Ukraine's Best Essays Book prize, as well as the Shevelyov Prize for the best essay book in Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld and president of PEN Ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

As the world celebrated the winter holidays, Russia launched its most intense missile attack on Ukrainian cities since the start of the full-scale invasion, killing and wounding hundreds. Now, similar attacks of this level are occurring on a regular basis. However, the last week was marked by a long-awaited event: Ukraine managed to bring home 230 prisoners of war from Russian captivity. It has been the first POW swap since August 2023 and one of the largest to date. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analysts and journalists at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Over $330 billion of Russia’s central bank assets have been frozen abroad. These funds should be confiscated to fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s recovery. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invited Olena Halushka, co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, and head of the international department at the Anti-Corruption Action Centre. An air raid siren in Kyiv interrupted our conversation but we continued and made this podcast despite it. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld and president of PEN Ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

The past week was marked by the EU Council's decision to initiate accession negotiations with Ukraine, coinciding with Russia's buildup of forces near Mariinka and its ongoing terror against civilians. The US and Ukraine are fathoming a new strategy for future operations against Russia, slated for implementation in early 2024. The previous week saw Ukraine's persistent efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children abducted by Russian occupiers. Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language website about Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasia Herasymchuk and Daria Synhaievska, journalists and analysts at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events in and around Ukraine for the last week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support our work at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. Support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

President Zelenskyy paid his first official visit to Latin America, attending the inauguration of Argentine President Javier Milei. In addition, he met with the leaders of Paraguay, Uruguay, and Ecuador. Meanwhile, Russia is ramping up its attacks along the entire frontline in eastern Ukraine, following the failure of the US Senate to pass a vote on Ukraine aid. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analysts and journalists at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

The previous week was marked by Ukraine's commitment to comprehensive security and defence sector principles while Russia is attempting to intimidate and spread chaos among the Ukrainian people. Meanwhile, Commander Syrskyi confirmed that the Russian occupiers, although uniting former Storm, Storm Z, and Storm V prisoners to assault Ukrainian positions, do not achieve success in the battle directions. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

What story can Ukraine tell people in Latin America? Why is it important to have a conversation beyond “geopolitics” and focus on human experiences, on suffering and compassion, and on courage and resistance? The guest of this episode is Sergio Jaramillo, former High Commissioner for Peace of Colombia and founder of the campaign of solidarity with Ukraine ¡Aguanta Ucrania!, which is mobilising Latin American writers, musicians, human rights defenders, politicians and other voices in support of Ukraine’s struggle against the Russian invasion. We had this conversation on June 25th, 2023, in Kyiv. The next day, Sergio traveled to the warzone in Eastern Ukraine, together with his Colombian colleagues: writer Hector Abbad, and journalist Catalina Gomez. They were accompanied by a Ukrainian writer, Victoria Amelina. On June 27th, as they were sitting at the Ria Lounge restaurant in Kramatorsk, 40 kilometers from the frontline, it was struck by a Russian missile. Victoria Amelina was severely injured and succumbed to her wounds a few days later in a hospital in Dnipro on July 1st. Since that tragedy, we didn’t know how to publish our conversation, or whether we should publish it all. Emotionally it was tough. It took us several months to come back to it, but we asked Sergio to meet again, this time online, to tell me what happened in Kramatorsk on that day. We attached this excerpt to our conversation. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org. Related episodes: Victoria Amelina. In Memoriam https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/victoria-amelina-memoriam On Empathy - with Catalina Gomez https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-269

Last week, Ukraine hosted the leaders of Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, and the President of the European Council. Defence Ministers of the USA and Germany visited Kyiv ahead of another meeting in the Ramstein format to announce new military aid packages vital for Ukraine. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analysts and journalists at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline last year continue to raise the interest of investigators, with several recent articles pointing at possible Ukrainian involvement. However, these publications sparked criticism in Ukraine. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analysts and journalists at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

A historical event for Ukraine: the European Commission recommended EU states begin accession negotiations with Kyiv. At the frontline, a positional war is being waged, with both sides wanting to take the initiative before the winter period. This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.