Explaining Ukraine

How did two friends save hundreds of civilians? How did one restaurant feed tens of thousands in a besieged city? What does a former entrepreneur feel while recovering the bodies of fallen soldiers every day? What is life truly like under Russian occupation? And most importantly—why is the Ukrainian resistance impossible to grasp without understanding the role of ordinary people, like you and me? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet covering Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko—Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. This episode features a conversation held at PEN Ukraine in late February with the authors of the book Dark Days, Determined People: Stories from Ukraine under Siege, written by journalists Bohdan Ben and Orysia Hrudka. Part of the "Ukrainian Voices" series, the book was published in English by Ibidem-Verlag and is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Days-Determined-People-Ukrainian/dp/3838219589 The book brings together 20 reportage stories documented between 2022 and 2024 across Ukraine. Originally published mostly by Euromaidan Press, these stories capture the lived experiences of Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, artists, students, and children. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — Why Ukrainian resistance is impossible to grasp without the effort of the ordinary people 01:51 — Writing a book together: natural or unthinkable? 04:40 — The first days of invasion: urgency to inform the world 06:20 — The “human spirit radar”: stories of unexpected courage 08:15 — Small decisions that changed the war’s outcome 09:30 — Beyond the headlines: the secret to Ukraine's first victories 10:45 — The political nature of freedom: why a state is a necessity 12:56 — Navigating hell: the raw motivation behind civilian evacuations 14:39 — When heroism isn't planned, but becomes survival 17:29 — Vulnerability revealed: when nothing is guaranteed anymore 21:00 — Farming in minefields: the sheer determination to feed a nation 23:15 — Stealing warmth: Russia’s war on basic human needs 25:19 — The psychological toll of recovering the fallen 27:45 — The physical limit: the truth about endurance 30:17 — A nation turned factory: drones, innovation and resistance 31:57 — Ukraine as Europe's military asset, not a victim 34:10 — Second Life: rediscovering the will to live 36:30 — Sniper theologian: when ethics collide with survival 41:24 — Orcs and adventures: how parents explain the war 45:23 — Why Ukraine needs its own films 51:30 — Rewriting in real time: the grind of wartime reporting 54:30 — Dark stories, real hope: what keeps them going 56:30 — Where Ukrainians find hope for the future 59:45 — Stories left untold: what didn’t make the book 01:02:45 — How the war shapes the Ukrainian society 01:05:30 — The intensity of life when facing death

Why has Ukraine rapidly emerged as a global leader in advanced defense technology? What is the secret behind this innovation? How has warfare evolved over the past few years, and how are these shifts manifesting not only in the Russo-Ukrainian war but also in the Middle East? Are new drone technologies permanently altering the balance of power between major powers and smaller nations? Finally, what is required to defend the world against the Russian and Iranian regimes—and why is the Ukrainian experience the key to global security? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet covering Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko—Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Yulia Marushevska, a civic activist, former head of the Office of Support for Reforms at Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence and currently Supervisory board member at Brave 1, a platform for Ukrainian defense innovations. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Guest: Yulia Marushevska’s background in defense reform and innovation 01:52 Ukraine’s shift from security recipient to security provider. 03:49 What have Ukrainians learned about modern warfare? 05:58 High-precision weapons vs. cheap drone swarms 08:14 Can Western bureaucracy adapt to modern production needs? 11:04 What is a "Defense Ecosystem"? 14:15 Ukrainian civil society as a contributor to the Ukraine’s defense 16:13 A lack of urgency: key problem of Ukraine’s partners 19:03 Are authoritarian regimes better prepared for a war of attrition? 22:12 Why is joint air defense between Ukraine and the EU essential for European security? 28:18 How do volunteers "buy time" for state institutions? 34:59 Expectations for the new Ministry of Defense team 38:32 Hope through horizontal connections and people 40:10 How to support UkraineWorld.

Since Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, Russia has drastically escalated its missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. In January 2026, launches exceeded 6,000—a sharp increase from approximately 2,000 in January 2025. The use of guided aerial bombs (KABs) also reached a record high of almost 6,000 per month. With the Trump administration significantly cutting military aid to Kyiv, Ukraine now finds itself in an increasingly vulnerable position. What are the underlying causes of this policy shift, and what does it reveal about Trump’s vision for global order and human rights? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet covering Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko—Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Christopher Atwood, an American human rights and communications expert and Head of Ukraїner International—the international branch of the popular Ukrainian media platform, Ukraїner. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Intro 06:00 Why is it important to be in Ukraine? 10:08 Analysis of the US political shift: Biden VS Trump 13:58 Trump and violence 15:00 "Empathy Recession": How cruelty has become a cultural zeitgeist 21:10 The role of the media establishment 27:11 Trump`s perspectives on Ukraine: Is he a mediator or closer to Putin’s vision? 30:43 The threat to Europe 35:27 Trump’s economics 40:01 Public vs. Political support: Why most Americans still favor Ukraine 44:04 Building a coalition of the willing

During this record-breaking cold winter, millions of Ukrainians are regularly left without electricity, water, or heat as temperatures plummet to -20°C and below. Does Russia intend to make life in Ukraine unlivable? Can the country’s civilian infrastructure continue to withstand such a massive, relentless assault? And what are the alternatives for the future? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet covering Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko—Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Oksana Ishchuk, an analyst specializing in international and energy relations at the Centre for Global Studies "Strategy XXI," a prominent Ukrainian think tank. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 02:05 — The real goal behind Russian energy strikes on Ukraine 05:10 — Is a "total blackout" in Ukraine possible? 09:00 — A Soviet-built system: pros and cons 12:20 — Why Ukrainian cities go dark all at once 14:40 — Why every citizen must prepare for the next winter now 16:40 — The reason Russia succeeded only this winter 18:30 — Fragmenting the grid: Russia’s new energy tactics 19:55 — Why can’t Ukraine defend every power plant? 22:30 — The terrifying reality of Russia’s "indirect" nuclear terrorism 27:40 — Rebuilding the grid for a long war 32:10 — Why sanctions policy should be improved 34:30 — How Russia bypasses sanctions via the Baltic Sea 36:40 — The kind of Ukraine’s resilience Europe tries to understand

What are the prospects for peace talks — and why are many Ukrainians skeptical about them? Does Ukraine have technological parity with Russia on the battlefield? And how has Ukrainian civil society become one of the country’s greatest assets during the war? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Volodymyr Havrylov, retired major general of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, former deputy defense minister, and former Ukrainian defense attaché to the United States. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld and brought to you by Internews Ukraine. This episode is created with support from Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO. 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. 01:26 - On peace negotiations. 08:31 - Who is winning the technological war? 15:30 - Key challenges of Ukrainian military technological progress 18:59 - Why we need integration of European and Ukrainian military production 24:19 - What’s next in war tech? 30:05 - Is Ukraine digitizing its defense? 33:38 - Can reliance on Chinese components become a risk? 38:44 - What to expect from Russia in the coming years? 47:53 - Where should we look for hope? 51:00 - Outro. 51:35 - Support us: patreon.com/ukraineworld

What can the deep past of Ukrainian lands reveal about the global story of humanity? Six thousand years ago, "mega-sites" flourished in what is now central Ukraine—but can these be considered the world’s first cities? How were they organized without central authorities, and how do they challenge everything we thought we knew about early social life? *** This is Thinking in Dark Times, a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language multimedia project about Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: David Wengrow, a renowned British archaeologist and Professor of Comparative Archaeology at University College London. He is the co-author, alongside David Graeber, of the international bestseller "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity". *** Thinking in Dark Times is produced by UkraineWorld and brought to you by Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation and Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. What can the deep past of Ukraine reveal about the global story of humanity? 00:14 - Were the world’s first cities actually built in what is now Ukraine? 02:51 - Why does the Ukrainian soil play a key role in rethinking the origins of cities and states? 03:55 - Why are standard narratives of human history fundamentally wrong? 09:15 - What were the Cucuteni-Trypillia megasites? 17:23 - Why does the existence of egalitarian cities overturn political history itself? 20:35 - What does a circular city say about how people imagined the world? 21:27 - How did thousands of people govern themselves without rulers? 26:36 - Did democracy exist thousands of years before ancient Greece? 28:29 - Were Hobbes and Rousseau both wrong about human nature? 42:29 - Is Ukrainian history shaped by a tension between freedom and vulnerability? 47:22 - What do burning rituals reveal about cyclical views of life and nature? 50:51 - Why does Ukraine’s past matter for the future of humanity?

In 2025, Ukraine is facing unprecedented pressure from one of its key partners, the United States. The Trump administration has chosen not to act as Ukraine’s ally, but rather as a mediator between Ukraine and Europe on the one hand, and Russia on the other. This shift has fundamentally changed the geopolitical framework of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Around the world, the language of victory has largely been replaced by the language of peace. Yet under current conditions, “peace” often implies that Ukraine will not regain its occupied territories—and such a peace may, in fact, amount to Ukraine’s defeat. In this episode, we explain why this is a dangerous path. We also look back at 2025 and summarize its key developments *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian journalist and public intellectual, the head of the international department at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre, and author of the podcast “L’Ukraine face a la guerre”, “Ukraine facing the war”, in French. *** 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 *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Introduction 01:46 - US's shift from ally to mediator in Russia-Ukraine war. The impact of the Trump administration's approach to military aid. 06:13 - Trump and Putin's similar world vision regarding spheres of influence. 07:03 - Key elements of proposed peace plans: territorial concessions, security guarantees, and military withdrawal. 08:38 - Ukraine's public opinion against territorial concessions. 13:55 - The "fog" of peace negotiations occurring amidst ongoing total war and Russia's strategy of buying time. 17:33 - Legal and moral challenges of territorial concessions and skepticism about the legitimacy of peace plan negotiators. 20:48 - The escalation of the war, increased civilian suffering due to infrastructure bombardments, and Ukraine's strategy to target the Russian economy. 25:01 - Ukraine's dilemma in peace talks and Russia's strategy of worsening conditions over time. 29:04 - Donald Trump's political weaknesses and Zelenskyy's strategy 30:57 - The security situation on the front line: the rise of drone warfare, its increasing danger to civilians, and the expanding "kill zone." 39:07 - Ukrainian internal politics: the war against corruption, the role of civil society, and Zelenskyy's responsiveness to public opinion. 46:45 - Concluding remarks and a call for support for UkraineWorld.

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: [email protected]. *** 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

Ukraine has its own tradition of geopolitical thinking — a tradition that reaches deep into the past and continues to shape the country’s strategic imagination today. What are its key traits? Why was it developed more by writers than by statesmen? And how does it relate to Ukraine’s current reflection on its identity? *** 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: Danylo Lubkivsky, a Ukrainian diplomat and thinker, deputy foreign minister in 2014, and currently director of the Kyiv Security Forum. *** 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: [email protected].

What makes the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church so unique? Why is it such a remarkable attempt to bridge the divide between Eastern and Western Christianity? How can its history help us better understand the history of Europe and of the Christian religion? How has it shaped Ukrainian national identity? And how did it survive the Soviet era, when the authorities sought to eradicate it? *** 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: Natalia Shlikhta, a well-known Ukrainian historian and professor at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. *** 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: [email protected]. *** This episode is made in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and under the framework of the project “HER-UKR: Challenges and opportunities for EU heritage diplomacy in Ukraine”, co-funded by the EU within the ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Policy Debate action.

Ukrainian cultural heritage is not something that quietly settles into national archives. In reality, it is the result of a dramatic struggle against destruction and oblivion. This makes this heritage so magnetic—precisely because it is not always visible or accessible, yet can be reconstructed like a lost mosaic. In this episode, we talk about what the Ukrainian cultural heritage is, and how we can understand it. And also about the role of cultural institutions during Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine. *** Guest: Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, a prominent Ukrainian public intellectual and art manager, director of the Art Arsenal (Mystetskyi Arsenal), one of Ukraine’s major cultural institutions. Olesia regularly appears on lists of the most influential figures in the Ukrainian cultural sphere compiled by various media and rankings. Host: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian literary scholar at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the head of the international department at Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. She also runs the French-language podcast L’Ukraine face à la guerre. *** 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 *** 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: [email protected]. *** This episode is made in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and under the framework of the project “HER-UKR: Challenges and opportunities for EU heritage diplomacy in Ukraine”, co-funded by the EU within the ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Policy Debate action.

Russian propaganda claims that Ukraine is not a separate nation, but merely a “preliminary form” of Russia. Today’s Kremlin ideology seeks to annex Ukrainian history in order to justify its territorial aggression. But this myth has a birth certificate. It emerged in the 19th century, when the Russian Empire started inventing its “ancient” medieval roots. Before that, Russian travellers in Ukrainian lands showed little interest in such historical questions. In this episode, we trace the genealogy of the myth that Kyiv is a “Russian city” and that its history somehow belongs to Muscovy. *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media platform about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** Guest: Kateryna Dysa, a Ukrainian historian and Associate Professor at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. She has been a visiting fellow at Harvard, Stanford, Paris, and Oxford, and a visiting professor at the University of Basel. Currently, she is researching how the image of Kyiv was constructed in travel literature from the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Kateryna Dysa, a Ukrainian historian and associate professor at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. 00:15 Where and when did the myth of Kyiv belonging to Moscow actually begin? 02:05 How did 18th-century Russian travelers initially view Kyiv, and why was their interest superficial? 04:05 How did the rise of history as a discipline change Russia's perception of Kyiv? 12:17 Why did the French philosopher Madame de Staël describe Kyiv as a "semi-Tatar" or nomadic place? 15:17 What were the two extreme ways Westerners described Kyiv? 21:04 When did the annexation of the past become an "aggressive policy" and a part of Russian imperial ideology? 35:03 Why were Russian travelers unwilling to communicate with locals, stressing that Ukrainians were "the other"? 38:07 Why did Russian travelers consistently feel "not at home" in a place the Empire claimed as its "cradle"? 39:16 What aspects of Kyiv's social and cultural history in the 19th century still remain "understudied"? *** This episode is made in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and under the framework of the project “HER-UKR: Challenges and opportunities for EU heritage diplomacy in Ukraine”, co-funded by the EU within the ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Policy Debate action.

She is not only a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is not only one of the most visible human-rights defenders in Europe in recent decades. She is not only a tireless activist with profound empathy for others. She is also a thinker — someone who reflects deeply on the moral foundations of freedom and dignity. Our guest today is Oleksandra Matviychuk, a prominent Ukrainian human-rights defender and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. In this episode, we discuss the moral ideas that hold Ukrainian society together. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN 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 *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk: On Freedom, Dignity, and War 02:24 "Not Nobel Peace Prize changed my life - the large-scale war has changed my life" 08:32 Torture, rape, enforced disappearances, filtration camps — the reality of Russian occupation 11:55 Why are Ukrainians not "ideal victims"? 15:57 The horror of Russian captivity: Ihor Kozlovskyi`s experience 19:44 Why is freedom existential for Ukrainians? 24:16 Ukrainian strength lies in the people's belief that their efforts matter 31:38 Over 170,000 registered Russian war crimes in Ukraine 32:18 Why is justice important now, not after the end of the war? 35:41 Why is the Russian war against Ukraine genocidal? 43:50 What gives Oleksandra Matviichuk hope today? *** 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

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: [email protected].

Ukraine is not a burden for Europe — it’s a chance for Europe. Today, European security is unthinkable without Ukraine. Ukraine has the strongest army in Europe, a dynamic defense industry, and citizens with vast military experience. The real question is: to what extent does Europe itself understand the threat posed by the new authoritarianisms? And to what extent does it realise that helping Ukraine is, in fact, a matter of its own survival? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. Frontier Institute: https://frontier.pro-mova.com/en *** 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. 02:04 Has the dynamic shifted, making Ukraine a supplier of security to Europe rather than just a recipient? 07:49 Is the acute 'need' driven by war a stronger motivator for entrepreneurship and creativity than peacetime opportunity? 10:25 Why is the historical understanding of the Russian threat still proving ambivalent in some Central and Southern European countries? 15:01 Should the European Union transform into a geopolitical union by adding a military security component to its integration? 22:36 Is the Ukrainian governance model inherently more resilient because of civil society? 27:59 Why is Europe failing to find the necessary political will to take decisive action on Russian assets, sanctions, and information warfare? 30:31 Is the perception of Ukraine as a 'burden' outdated? 35:03 What about NATO? 43:48 What long-term economic and demographic impacts will follow if the current threat isn't addressed?

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: [email protected]. *** 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: [email protected]. *** 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

Where do Ukrainians get their news? What are the key trends in Ukraine’s media sector during the war? Do citizens trust information coming from the government? And why is Ukrainian society so dependent on Telegram, a Russian social network? In this episode, we discuss a report, “Ukrainian media. News Consumption and Trust in 2025”—a new study conducted by Internews Ukraine with support from its partners. Read the report: https://internews.ua/en/opportunity/media_trust_consumption_2025_release *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kostiantyn Kvurt, a Ukrainian media expert and chair of the board of Internews Ukraine, one of the country’s largest media NGOs. *** 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 This episode podcast is created by Internews Ukraine as part of the project “Strengthening Truth, Transparency and Democracy to Counter Disinformation”, supported by the Government of Canada. *** SUPPORT: You can support UkraineWorld 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: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 – Introduction and Context of the Research 03:42 – Main Trends in Ukrainian Media Consumption 06:00 – Trends of Different Media Platforms 14:06 – Government Communication and Electoral Logic 17:45 – Media Literacy and the Disinformation Gap 25:49 – Changing Perceptions of War Coverage in Ukrainian Media 36:16 – Russian Information Influence

In September 2025, in Kyiv, a prominent American historian Timothy Snyder received the Vasyl Stus Prize — a Ukrainian award honoring the name of Vasyl Stus, one of Ukraine’s greatest poets and dissidents of the 20th century, killed by the Soviet regime in 1985. Founded in 1989 by Yevhen Sverstiuk, another prominent Ukrainian dissident, the prize is now awarded by PEN Ukraine, the publishing house Dukh i Litera, and the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School. Before the award ceremony, we held a public conversation with Snyder on the good and bad ways of thinking about history. Since interpretations of history often lie at the heart of both the good and the evil that people do, this question remains vitally important. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Thinking in Dark Times seeks to find the light through — and despite — today’s darkness. *** UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine Listen to our podcasts: Explaining Ukraine: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Thinking in Dark Times: https://li.sten.to/thinkinggg *** Special thanks to the Ukrainian History Global Initiative, PEN Ukraine, and the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School for helping organize this event. This episode was made possible with the support of Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** You can also listen to several other conversations with Timothy Snyder from previous years: On freedom: Timothy Snyder in Kyiv https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-344 Timothy Snyder in Kharkiv: A conversation about freedom https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-340 Freedom as a value and a task https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-258 Ukraine, the war, and the plurality of values https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-144 *** SUPPORT: You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00:00 Timothy Snyder, world-known historian 00:03:04 What are the good and bad ways to use history to understand who we are? 00:08:53 How does a 'single line' view of the past, like Putin's or Trump's, take away our freedom? 00:25:18 Why recognizing the 'difference' of people in the past is a liberating act for us in the present? 00:49:55 Is the world truly living in a 'post-history' era where conflict and tragedy are safely in the past? 00:56:22 Does seeing a pattern in history mean the war is repeating, or is it a moment of new responsibility? 01:03:35 Was the US response in March 2022 a failure because American leaders were stuck in 'memory' instead of 'history'? 01:13:52 How does the power of data-driven tools force us to be careful about the human questions we ask? 01:24:21 Was the printing press as disruptive to society as social media is today?

What do we know about theatre — the most ephemeral of the arts — in Ukraine? What role did Ukrainian theatre play in Soviet times? How is the heritage of the Executed Renaissance generation still alive today? And why are women in theatre so important — and yet so often ignored? *** The Explaining Ukraine podcast is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian literary scholar at Kyiv Mohyla Academy and journalist at Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. She also runs a French-language podcast, “L’Ukraine face à la guerre”. Guest: Mayhill C. Fowler, historian and associate professor in the Department of History at Stetson University. Her first book, “Beau Monde on Empire’s Edge: State and Stage in Soviet Ukraine” (Toronto, 2017), tells the story of how theatre in Soviet Ukraine was formed, through a collective biography of young artists and officials in the 1920s and 1930s. *** This episode is produced in partnership with the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. Special thanks to the Ukrainian History Global Initiative for helping organize this conversation. *** SUPPORT: UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, [email protected]

Why is Taras Shevchenko not only the founding father of Ukrainian poetry but also of Ukrainian identity? What aspects of his legacy remain alive today? And how does poetry shape a nation? *** Host: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian literary scholar at Kyiv Mohyla Academy and journalist at Ukraine Crisis Media Centre who also runs a French-language podcast, “L’Ukraine face à la guerre”. Guest: Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge. He launched the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies programme in 2008. His book “Blood of Others: Stalin’s Crimean Atrocity and the Poetics of Solidarity” has received numerous awards. Find the book: https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781487558253 Our earlier conversation about this book: https://ukraineworld.org/en/articles/russian-aggression/crimea-fresh-view) *** This episode is produced in partnership with the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. Special thanks to the "Ukrainian History Global Initiative" for helping organize this conversation. *** SUPPORT: UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, [email protected]

Are all empires equally bad? If some were better than others, what criteria can we use to make such judgments? Why must we study networks, not only hierarchies, to understand our past, present, and future? What happens to societies in times of catastrophe, and who has the best chances of survival? And finally — why is Ukraine so important for the world today? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Niall Ferguson — a renowned British-American historian and author of numerous books, including “Empire”, “The Square and the Tower”, “The War of the World”, “Doom”, and others. Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. We had this conversation during the Yalta European Strategy Forum in Kyiv in September 2025. *** Thinking in Dark Times is a podcast of reflection from Ukraine. We try to see the light through — and despite — the current darkness. This episode was made possible thanks to the support of Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro: Niall Ferguson, a renowned British American historian and author of numerous books. 01:58 - Why does historian Niall Ferguson keep coming back to Kyiv, and what value does he find here? 04:06 - Does the war in Ukraine truly hold a global meaning? 10:01 - Was the British Empire good or bad for the world? 12:17 - What's the difference between a 'liberal' empire and an 'illiberal' one? 19:30 - Does the European Union find a balance between the Empire and the Nation-State? 26:59 - Can Ukraine become an 'antifragile' state? 28:48 - Is being threatened by a 'big bad neighbor' the key to becoming an innovative society? 31:07 - How did the last decade of Russian aggression ultimately lead to the birth of the Ukrainian nation?

Let’s take a deeper look into drone warfare and the long-term changes it is bringing to the battlefield. How is Ukraine countering Russian drone attacks? How is it developing systems of drone interceptors? Are we moving toward a future where drones will fight other drones? And what skills must our societies cultivate to prepare for this new reality? *** The “Explaining Ukraine” podcast 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 Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Taras Tymochko, a consultant at Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym), one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations supporting the military and veterans since 2014. Taras coordinates the foundation’s project “Dronopad”—“the fall of drones”—which aims to develop a system of interceptor drones for the Ukrainian army to take down as many Russian drones as possible. *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. We rely on your contributions to keep UkraineWorld going. You can also help finance our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we assist both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Taras Tymochko, "Come Back Alive" Foundation Consultant, "Dronefall" Project Lead. 02:15 How did drones eliminate the traditional front line? 03:10 “Kill zone”: a wide space between the two armies in which soldiers on both sides are extremely vulnerable because of the drones. 04:35 Comparing Russian and Ukrainian drone capabilities 06:03 Dronefall Project: producing interceptor drones 12:47 Why do cheap interceptors defeat expensive missiles? 18:02 AI on Battlefield: How close are we to autonomous interceptor drones? 21:21 How new interceptor divisions are created in Ukraine's forces 26:49 How Ukraine counters fiber optic drones 29:39 The future war: the role of drones vs. infantry 33:13 Starlink: advantages, vulnerabilities, and alternatives in communication 37:54 Why is "battlefield experience" so important? 42:57 What "battlefield-tested" quality means

How is Ukrainian IT transforming the country’s defence? Why is technology key to success in today’s war? Why is Ukraine one of the world’s most dynamic IT nations — and why does it still hold so much untapped potential? And finally, how has the IT sector become a driver of social change, reshaping Ukraine’s social fabric today? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine SUPPORT OUR WORK: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** My guest today is Taras Tymoshchuk, a board member of the IT Ukraine Association and CEO of Geniusee, a Ukrainian IT company. Read the “Digital Tiger” report by the IT Ukraine Association. https://itukraine.org.ua/files/DigitalTiger2024.pdf *** This episode is brought to you by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, and funded by Norway and Sweden. *** You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. We rely on your contributions to keep UkraineWorld going. You can also help finance our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we assist both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] --- CONTENTS: 00:00 Guest: Taras Tymoschuk, Member of the Board of Representatives, IT Ukraine Association, and CEO & Founder of Geniusee 01:36: The IT sector is the backbone of the Ukrainian economy 02:56: What are the key technologies in war? 04:20: War Boosting Tech. How does it influence civil life? 07:25: Russia VS Ukraine: Who is ahead in the technological war? 09:31: What directions of war technology does Ukraine develop? 11:30: Business & Investment: What countries are the most interested in Ukrainian expertise? 14:08: The Cyber War: Russian attacks (e.g., Kyivstar) and Ukraine's defence experience 18:17: How the War Boosts AI Technology 22:40: The IT Economy Structure in Ukraine 25:31: The secret of Ukraine's IT success 28:28: Diia App. The penetration of IT solutions in Ukrainian society 37:06: What is the biggest challenge of funding in Ukraine? 40:40: Winning the Tech War. What does Ukraine need?

Yaroslav Hrytsak is one of Ukraine’s leading historians and public intellectuals. His recent book in Ukrainian, "Overcoming the Past: A Global History of Ukraine", became a bestseller. His English-language book, "Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation", is now a key reference work on Ukrainian history. We met in Lviv to discuss the global dimension of Ukrainian history, and the features of Ukraine’s political culture that explain why the country has so often fought against tyranny. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. This episode is made in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are vital—we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas of Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The untold global story of Ukraine 01:33 — Why the world can’t ignore Ukrainian history 03:06 — Why world wars revolved around Ukraine 06:02 — Russia’s dangerous dream of the 21st century 09:28 — Good empires vs. bad empires 14:13 — The empire paradox 17:27 — Russia’s secret weapon: violence 20:59 — Why Ukrainian nobles felt “freer” than Russians 30:31 — Ukraine’s miracle: democracy against all odds 33:35 — Breaking the myth of Moscow’s “Third Rome” 37:06 — Khmelnytsky’s gamble: alliances that changed history 41:28 — Ukraine’s naive hope: negotiating within the empire 44:13 — The only way to stop Russia’s imperial comeback 48:53 — Why history still matters

If Ukraine does not receive real security guarantees, the war will continue—and is likely to spill over into the rest of Europe. But what kind of guarantees are truly needed, and which of them are realistic? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Our guest today is Hanna Shelest, one of Ukraine’s leading experts on international security and foreign policy. She is Director of the Security Studies Program at the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism,” and Editor-in-Chief of the journal UA: Ukraine Analytica. Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are vital—we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas of Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Hanna Shelest, director of the Security Studies Programme at the Foreign Policy Council 'Ukrainian Prism' 02:04 A Century of Broken Promises: What History Teaches Us About Security Agreements 04:24 The NATO Paradox: Is Article 5 a Paper Tiger or a Real Deterrent? 16:20 The Baltic States on the Brink: How Real is the Threat of a Russian Blitzkrieg? 22:55 Non-Mutual Animosity: When a 'Gentleman's Agreement' Meets a Rapist 26:40 Has the US Abandoned Its Role as Ally to Become a Mediator? 30:32 Why Can't Europe Play This Role in the Conflict? 32:39 Alaska Fallout: Was the Meeting a Strategic Victory or a Destructive Blunder? 41:42 Sanctions in the Gray Zone: Why Do Loopholes Still Undermine Global Efforts? 47:35 The 'Orange' Fallacy: Why Ceding Territory is an Act of Awarding Aggression? 49:34 The Deeper Cost of War: Why Are We Talking About Land, Not People?

Maksym Butkevych is a prominent Ukrainian human rights defender. Before the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he dedicated his efforts to the protection of people whose rights were violated. When Russia launched its war against Ukraine, Maksym joined the Ukrainian army to defend his country. In June 2022, he was taken prisoner of war by Russia and accused of committing a war crime. The case was entirely fabricated: Russia sought to “balance” the real war crimes committed by the Russian soldiers in Ukraine and prosecuted by Ukrainian courts with invented charges against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Maksym was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He spent almost two and a half years behind bars in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories before being freed in a prisoner exchange in October 2024. He endured beatings, deprivations, and torture, but his spirit remained unbroken. We met with Maksym in late August 2025. Our conversation turned philosophical—about life and death, freedom and fear, hope and despair. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential — we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. Who is Maksym Butkevych 02:23 - Maksym’s recollections of Russian captivity 08:16 - The role of violence in Russian captivity 12:30 - How does the Russian machine distort the law 22:33 - Death and fear as key elements of the Russian violence system 29:07 - Staying yourself in captivity 37:17 - Is it possible to survive in captivity without thinking about love? 45:01 - Outro 45:41 - Support us: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** The podcast 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 Ednannia.

Why is technology playing such a decisive role in this war? Who is ahead in technological innovation—Ukraine or Russia? How are drones reshaping the battlefield, and how might they also transform technologies of peace? And why must Europe step up its technological cooperation with Ukraine? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Glib Voloskyi, analyst at the Initiatives Centre of Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine This episode is also made in partnership with Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO focusing on preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The role of technology in war: who's winning the tech race? 01:34 — Russia’s real strategy: what are the goals? 02:12 — How Russia miscalculated: failed plans, logistics collapse and retreats 05:52 — The evolving Russian strategy: attrition and imperial ambitions 08:41 — Is this really a “Ukrainian conflict” or is it actually a Russian imperial war? 10:10 — Ukraine’s defence: from resilience to drone innovation 11:32 — The fierce race in drone technology 13:41 — What’s next? Land robots, unmanned vehicles and battlefield robotics 15:07 — Artificial intelligence at war: from target recognition to social media scans 16:40 — Dependency on Chinese tech: risk or overstated concern? 17:54 — Europe’s wake-up call: how possible it is to lose the technological race 20:33 — Tanks, drones and the future of warfare: what lessons are really learned? 25:24 — NATO partners and military conservatism: who adapts, who resists? 26:19 — Ukraine’s defence industry revival: grassroots innovation vs. scaling up 29:56 — Naval drones, land drones and robotics: Ukraine’s asymmetric advantage 31:37 — The myth of a "wonder weapon" 37:32 — Human body vs. artificial bodies: why soldiers can’t be replaced 39:01 — Why Russia destroys cities instead of capturing them 40:26 — The hidden battlefield: information wars and internal destabilisation 42:12 — The greatest danger ahead: forced concessions

Kherson may be the most dangerous regional center in Ukraine. Occupied by Russian forces in 2022, its residents were subjected to torture and intimidation. The city was liberated by Ukrainian forces in November 2022 — but almost immediately came under daily bombardment and shelling from Russian troops stationed just across the Dnipro River. In June 2023, Kherson was hit by a catastrophic flood caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant — an explosion orchestrated by the Russian military. Today, the city’s residents are hunted by Russian drones, as if caught in some macabre human safari. “Kherson: Human Safari” is the title of a documentary film by Zarina Zabrisky, an American filmmaker who has spent significant time in Kherson, reporting from this brave and embattled city. Link to the film: https://khersonhumansafari.com/ *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Zarina Zabrisky, an American filmmaker and writer, author of the film “Kherson: Human Safari”. Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. *** LISTEN on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 – Zarina Zabrisky, a U.S. journalist in Ukraine 02:30 – Why is Kherson so important in the war? 04:56 – Life in Kherson: What does it look like now? 13:50 – Why does a central store in Kherson look better than posh stores in the U.S.? 15:01 – In memory: Victoria Amelina in Kherson 16:12 – Kherson: Human Safari — the story of Kherson from the start of the full-scale invasion to date 19:40 – How did Zarina Zabrisky document the newest war crime against humanity? 24:02 – Do Russians conduct the “human safari” in Kherson for fun, or is it a strategy? 26:04 – A terror campaign: How does Russia attempt to erase Kherson? 29:20 – What exactly do Russians want to achieve with their cruelty toward Ukrainians in frontline territories? 36:00 – How Russia influences the ecosystem 41:12 – Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam: Survival and resistance stories from locals 43:30 – The rescue of Ukrainian children from Russian captivity 48:10 – Deportation of Ukrainian children as a form of genocide 50:00 - Support us: https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld

Trump is set to meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15. Media reports and leaks ahead of this meeting, along with statements by President Trump and members of his administration, suggest that the two leaders may have discussed a plan in which Ukraine would cede some or all of the occupied territories to Russia in exchange for “peace.” This brings us back to the basics: the fundamental truth that violating internationally recognized borders through military aggression cannot lead to sustainable peace. In this episode, we explain why the idea of a territorial swap is dangerous — why it would undermine international law, destabilize the global order, and why neither Ukraine nor most EU member states are likely to accept it. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian journalist and public intellectual, the head of the international department at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre, and author of the podcast “L’Ukraine face a la guerre: (Ukraine facing the war), in French. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected]

Russia has committed over 160,000 war crimes in Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General's office. What kinds of crimes are most widespread in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Why is the Russian approach to war so heavily marked by cruelty? Why do Russian forces torture Ukrainian civilians and abduct Ukrainian children? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Oleksandra Romantsova, a Ukrainian human rights activist and Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties — a Ukrainian NGO that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 Centre for Civil Liberties: https://ccl.org.ua/en/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The war that started in 2014: a history of Russian war crimes. 03:00 — First steps of the occupiers: a blueprint for terror. 07:11 — Why Russia fails to understand Ukrainians: a crucial mistake. 11:54 — The myth of “honest” Russian courts and police 14:19 — How Russia kidnaps Ukrainian children 16:07 — How Russia changes Ukrainian demography and militarizes Ukrainian children 19:23 — Preparing teenagers for the Russian army 21:26 — Is there a place for justice in a Russian world? 23:48 — Why returning people and achieving justice is critical 26:06 — A new war crime: kidnapping civilians 28:40 — Why documenting war crimes is crucial 29:50 — How Russia destroys any law in the occupied territories 31:20 — Using captives as hostages and resources 33:28 — Russian torture chambers exist even in small villages 34:30 — Chaos strategy: Moscow tries to create “grey zones” near NATO borders 36:10 — Why Russia is fighting a war against Ukrainian civilians. 39:23 — Why Putin fears democracy 41:14 — Breaking Ukrainians through religious persecution 42:43 — Three levels of justice: punishment, victims’ rights and historical truth 44:36 — Why crimes must be recorded now 47:02 — Lessons from other countries: never wait until the war ends 49:16 — Solutions: universal jurisdiction and a special tribunal

How can we understand what’s happening inside the Ukrainian army? How do soldiers feel? What challenges do they face? What parts of military life do they believe aren’t working? Traditional sociology doesn’t always provide the answers. But another discipline — anthropology, also called ethnography — offers a different approach. This method involves deep immersion into the everyday lives of soldiers. A more recent innovation, called mobile ethnography, takes this further — allowing researchers to stay connected with soldiers even when they’re not physically present. We wanted to learn more about what such a deep dive can reveal about the Ukrainian army. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Oleksiy Moskalenko, an analyst at the Initiatives Centre of Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. *** Come Back Alive foundation: https://savelife.in.ua/en/ The Foundation’s Initiatives Centre: https://cbacenter.ngo/en From Civilian to Soldier: A Study: https://cbacenter.ngo/en/page/how-civilians-become-soldiers-come-back-alive-initiatives-center-studies-basic-military-training-in-ukraine *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: [email protected] *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. Support UkraineWorld on patreon.com/ukraineworld 01:51 - What is "Mobile Ethnography"? How a Civilian Foundation Studies the Ukrainian Army's Reality 15:14 - What Do Soldiers Really Struggle With? 17:55 - Risk Management for Civilians: How Understanding Army Life Can Prepare You? 20:49 - What "Sovietness" Really Means: Deconstructing the Biggest Complaint in the Ukrainian Army 35:12 - Ukraine's Existential Question: Can You Value Life and Still Win a War? 38:04 - From Civilian to Soldier: How Ukraine's Army is Changing from the Inside Out 43:03 - The "After-War" Problem: Why Ukraine Needs Help NOW