Explaining Ukraine

Ukraine has started a conversation with the countries of the "Global South." This conversation is difficult, but it is opening up new prospects for understanding. What do we still lack to better understand each other? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites you to a conversation at the PEN Ukraine / UkraineWorld event “Ukraine, South Africa, India: How can we better understand each other?” The conversation took place in Kyiv, as part of PEN Ukraine's project "In Solidarity with Ukraine", on May 2nd, 2024. Guests: Damon Galgut, a South African writer, winner of the Booker Prize in 2021 for his novel The Promise. His work has been translated into 35 languages. Anjan Sundaram, an Indian author, journalist, and academic, winner of 2015 Frontline Club prize for his war reporting from the Central African Republic. Sundaram also received a Reuters environmental journalism prize in 2006 for his reporting from the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected]. This podcast episode is produced with the support of the Ukrainian Institute (https://ui.org.ua/en/). The full episode is available for UkraineWorld’s patrons at https://www.patreon.com/posts/114232265

Both India and Ukraine suffered from artificial famines imposed on them by British and Russian colonial authorities, respectively. In both cases, colonialists who committed mass crimes against the indigenous populations were considered “heroes” in their imperial metropoles. Yet there were also differences in how the relations between the colonial master and the colonized were organized. It is time to analyze both the similarities and differences of these cases and to map a more comprehensive picture of the imperialisms and colonialisms of the past and present. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites you to a conversation at the PEN Ukraine / UkraineWorld event “Learning more about each other: Indian authors in Ukraine.” The conversation took place in Kyiv, as part of PEN Ukraine's project "In Solidarity with Ukraine", on April 17th, 2024. Guests: Tehnaz J. Dastoor - human rights activist and the UNICEF ex-Global Coordinator for Landmines and Focal Point for Child Soldiers Bishan Samaddar - Director at Seagull Books, an Indian publishing house specializing in translating world literature. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected]. This episode has been made with the support of the Ukrainian Institute (https://ui.org.ua/) The full version of this episode (with Q&A section) is available for UkraineWorld patrons at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/113800708?pr=true

Could a new alliance be taking shape in Europe? In 2022, just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK, Poland, and Ukraine forged a partnership. Yet its path forward remains unclear. Does this format have a future? And what motivates each country? This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s Global Partnerships” produced by UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. In this episode, Deputy editor-in-chief at UkraineWorld Anastasiia Herasymchuk spoke with James Rogers, Co-founder and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy, Przemysław Biskup, a Senior Analyst in the European Union Programme at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, and Dr. Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism" This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s global partnerships” made as a partnership between UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. This podcast series was created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

Are Russians still using their troll armies to influence public opinion in Europe? Is their effect substantial? How does this work in different countries? How can we identify coordinated non-authentic behavior on social networks? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Robert van der Noordaa, a Dutch journalist and analyst, and the founder of the Trollrensics initiative to uncover disinformation campaigns on social media. We discuss a recent study published by Robert and his team. 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 Ukraine’s largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected].

Germany has shown its support for Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian invasion. Yet questions arise whether this support is as substantial as it could be and needs to be. What are the deeper reasons for Germany’s cautious position on the Russian war against Ukraine? Guests: renowned German politicians and civil society figures Marieluise Beck and Ralf Fücks, co-founders of the Center for Liberal Modernity (https://libmod.de/en/) in Berlin. 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 Ukraine’s largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected].

What Ukrainian non-fiction books are available in English? Why is Ukrainian non-fiction important to read for those who want to understand Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Russia’s war against Ukraine? Why has documenting wartime reality become so important for today’s Ukrainian literature? The Explaining Ukraine podcast speaks to Iryna Baturevych, co-founder and development director of Chytomo.com, a Ukrainian media about books and literature. 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 Ukraine’s largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected]. This episode is produced in partnership with the Ukrainian Book Institute. Some books mentioned in this episode: Illia Ponomarenko, I Will Show You How It Was. The Story of Wartime Kyiv https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/i-will-show-you-how-it-was-9781639733880/ Oleksandr Mykhed, The Language of War https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/461801/the-language-of-war-by-mykhed-oleksandr/9780241690840 Kateryna Zarembo, The Rise of the Ukrainian Sun: History of Donetsk and Luhansk at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Academic Studies Press (USA) - to be published Victoria Amelina, Looking at Women Looking at War. A War and Justice Diary https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250367686/lookingatwomenlookingatwar Pavlo Kazarin. Wild West of Eastern Europe. Ibidem Verlag, Germany - to be published

Ukraine has succeeded in restoring its food exports to pre-2022 levels. It has achieved this tremendous victory despite the loss of large swaths of its agricultural lands to occupation, combat, and mines. Ukraine also had to overcome the loss of several key ports, Russia’s attempts to blockade Odesa and its surrounding ports, and the threat of ongoing Russian strikes. Despite all this, Ukraine has again shown a miraculous capacity to produce and export food globally. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of the Economy and the country’s trade representative to discuss how the war influences Ukraine’s economy and trade. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected].

Ukraine and Qatar - two nations with seemingly little overlap. But what brought these countries closer? How did Qatar become involved in Ukraine's most sensitive humanitarian issues? How does Qatar navigate its stance on the Russian invasion, and why does it matter? And what cooperation opportunities between Ukraine and Qatar should we look out for? In this episode, Deputy editor-in-chief at UkraineWorld Anastasiia Hersymchuk spoke with Prof. Dr. Omar Ashour, Professor of Security and Military Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (Qatar) and the University of Exeter, Director of the Strategic Studies Unit at the Centre for Research and Policy Studies, and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, and Dr. Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism", Editor-in-chief at UA: Ukraine Analytica This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s global partnerships” made as a partnership between UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. This podcast series was created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

On July 8th “The Guardian” featured an open letter titled, “The Nato Alliance should not invite Ukraine to become a member”. It claimed that, by admitting Ukraine into the Alliance it would reduce the security of other Nato allies, at a considerable risk to all. In this episode, we argue the opposite: that Ukraine’s NATO membership will be an asset for global security and can put an end to Russia’s aggressive wars. The guest of the Explaining Ukraine podcast is Andreas Umland, Senior Expert at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future in Kyiv, and a research fellow at the Swedish Institute for International Affairs in Stockholm. Host: Daria Synhaievska, an analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld. UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine. 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: [email protected].

Ukraine and Canada share a strategic relationship. It is bolstered by a large Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and an extensive legal framework, that allows for easy cooperation. Yet, we must ask: Does the label "strategic" reflect the real nature of their bilateral ties? And, in light of Russia’s aggression, is Canada responding adequately to the Russian threat on a global scale? In this episode, Deputy editor-in-chief at UkraineWorld Anastasiia Hersymchuk spoke with Dr. Balkan Devlen, Director of the Transatlantic Program at the Macdonald Laurier Institute, Canada - and Yevhen Hlibovytsky, Director of the Frontier Institute, Ukraine. This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s global partnerships” made as a partnership between UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. This podcast series was created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

What is the current situation on the frontlines of the Russo-Ukrainian war? What is the theory of victory for Ukraine and its partners? How can Ukraine use asymmetric approaches against Russia? What mistakes have Ukraine’s partners made, and what can they do now to help Ukraine win? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a Ukrainian defense expert and the country’s former Minister of Defense (2019-2020). 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 Ukraine's largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected].

Why should Putinism be considered as absolute evil? Why should we treat it in the same way as fascism or Nazism? Why does Europe need to view the task of defending Ukraine as its own war? UkraineWorld invites Nicolas Tenzer, the French philosopher and strategist. Mr. Tenzer’s latest book is "Notre guerre, le crime et l’oubli" (Our War: Crime and Oblivion). This episode is a recording of a meeting between Mr. Tenzer and the Ukrainian and international public in Kyiv, at the UkraineWorld Club and PEN Ukraine, held on June 3rd, 2024. It is part of UkraineWorld’s series Thinking in Dark Times. The FULL episode is available for UkraineWorld's patrons: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108299782 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 Ukraine’s largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected]. Check out another conversation with Mr. Tenzer: Nicolas Tenzer - On Morality in Geopolitics https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-221

Is this war somehow fundamentally new in character? What is the role of technology in this war? How can Ukraine protect its cities from Russian missiles and bombs, and why does the West need to do things much faster than it is now? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Ben Hodges, the former commanding general of the United States Army Europe. 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 Ukraine's largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected].

This war also concerns the politics of knowledge production. Today we will talk about the epistemically unjust myth of Russian imperial innocence and why the episteme of pacifism is deadly dangerous. In this episode, Daria Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld is joined by Olga Burlyuk, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam and the co-author of the article that achieved the prestigious award Best Article Prize of the American Association for Ukrainian studies. Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, a multi-lingual website about Ukraine. UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. You can support our work at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Ukraine and Australia - two geographically distant nations with shared values. But what was the tragedy that initiated real cooperation between these states? Why is supporting Ukraine important not just for Kyiv but for Canberra as well? And what prospects lie ahead for this partnership? In this episode, Deputy editor-in-chief Anastasiia Hersymchuk spoke with: - Mick Ryan, top-resident Fellow at Lowy Institute (Sydney) and Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington DC), and - Yuliia Shaipova, Affiliated Expert at the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism" This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s global partnerships” made as a partnership between UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. This podcast series was created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

What challenges does democracy face in light of the Russian war on Ukraine? How can Ukraine defeat Russia while remaining a democracy? The guest of the Explaining Ukraine podcast is Lucan Way, Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto, Co-Director of the Petro Yatsyk Ukrainian Studies Programme at the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES), researcher of the evolution of political regimes in post-Soviet countries. Host: Daria Synhaievska, an analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine. 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: [email protected].

Is democracy in decline today? What is “Post-Wall” Europe, born after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and why is it now gone? How is Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion changing Europe? UkraineWorld invites Timothy Garton Ash, a British historian, Professor of European Studies at the University of Oxford, Isaiah Berlin Professorial Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. His latest book is "Homelands: A Personal History of Europe". This episode is a recording of Professor Garton Ash’s meeting with the Ukrainian public in Kyiv, at the UkraineWorld Club and PEN Ukraine, on May 15th, 2024. It is part of UkraineWorld’s series Thinking in Dark Times. 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 Ukraine's largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. The FULL conversation (with questions from the audience and replies by Timothy Garton Ash) is available for UkraineWorld's patrons at https://www.patreon.com/posts/timothy-garton-106112059 You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected]. Check two other conversations with Professor Garton Ash: Timothy Garton Ash on Ukraine’s role in Europe https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-225 Timothy Garton Ash on Europe, Lviv and Wounded Soldiers https://ukraineworld.org/en/videos/garton

How can history help us understand the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Why can Moscow not even imagine itself without Kyiv? Is Russia an empire in decline? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Professor Serhii Plokhii, a prominent Ukrainian historian, director of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI), and author of numerous books about Ukraine, Russia, and Eastern Europe. His latest book is The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History. This conversation was held in Kyiv on May 24th, 2024, before Plokhii met with the Ukrainian public at the UkraineWorld Club and PEN 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 Ukraine's largest media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected]. Check two other podcasts with Plokhii: What Makes Ukrainian History Interesting to the World https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-46-ukrainian-history World War II and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-223

Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s official data. Russia’s figures are much bigger: it says it has relocated more than half a million of Ukrainian children - and is not going to give them back. This is a horrible, systematic policy of depriving the Ukrainian nation of its future. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Khrystyna Shkudor, advocacy manager of the campaign “Where Are Our People?” (https://deportation.org.ua/). The campaign is aimed at uncovering Russia's policy of forcible deportations of Ukrainians. It is run by PR Army, a Ukrainian non-profit communication initiative. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Do India and Ukraine share common ground for cooperation? What shared interests might emerge from their unique contexts? And in the face of Russian aggression, how can these nations forge relations that benefit both sides? In this episode, UkraineWorld's Deputy editor-in-chief Anastasiia Hersymchuk spoke withSwasti Rao, Associate Fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Center, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and Olha Vorozhbyt, an affiliated expert with the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”, deputy editor-in-chief of the “Ukrayinskyi Tyzhden” news website. This episode is part of a joint series “Ukraine’s global partnerships” made as a partnership between UkraineWorld and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. This podcast series was created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

What do citizens of the EU and the United Kingdom think about Ukraine? How substantial is their support? How high the Ukrainian topic is on their agenda? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites experts from “More in Common” - an international initiative aiming to understand the forces driving people apart, find common ground, and bring people together to tackle shared challenges. Guests: Mathieu Lefèvre, CEO and Co-founder of “More in Common”; Luke Tryl, Director of “More in Common” UK. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

A conversation about Ukraine, the Russian invasion, resistance, ideas, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things, - held during Volodymyr Yermolenko’s visit to Yale University in February 2024. Timothy Snyder is an American historian and Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University. Marci Shore is an American historian and associate professor at Yale University. Volodymyr Yermolenko is a Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld and president of PEN Ukraine. Let us thank Yale University and Ukraine House at Yale for organizing this discussion and helping us to publish its recording. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

We tend to look at today’s world as a consequence of World War II. Yet, in the first years after that war, there were several directions which the world could have turned. There was a chance that China would not have become communist. There was also a chance that Europe would have become much more communist. A few years ago, Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, the current editor of Foreign Affairs magazine, wrote The China Mission, a book in which he explores the attempt by George Marshall, the architect of the Allies’ victory against the Nazis, to bring China closer to America. Find the book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393240955 We discuss why this mission failed, how the world could look differently if it had succeeded, and what lessons we can draw from that episode for today’s world. We also talk about how Russia's invasion of Ukraine is changing the world now. Daniel Kurtz-Phelan is the Editor of Foreign Affairs. His book The China Mission was published in 2018 and named a best book of the year by The Economist and an editor's pick by the New York Times Book Review. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Jen Stout is a Scottish journalist who has spent a significant amount of time in Ukraine during the hottest stages of the full-scale Russian invasion. She has just published a book "Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia's War", a very touchingly personal account of the people she has met and experiences she has lived traveling through war-torn Ukrainian cities and villages. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Jen Stout to talk about her book and her experience of being in Ukraine and reporting on the war. Book: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/night-train-to-odesa/ 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at: patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the front lines at PayPal: [email protected]

Ukraine has passed the long-awaited mobilization law. It aims to ensure that Ukraine's army has more people, as it faces hundreds of thousands of newly mobilized soldiers on the Russian side. Ukraine's army, on the contrary, lacks personnel. But will this law solve Ukraine's problems? Particular criticism was voiced at the fact the law doesn't provide conditions for demobilization. This means that soldiers who are on the frontline don't know when they will come back home. 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, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 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. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Do we have the concepts and ideas necessary to think critically about Russian cultural imperialism? Why are the existing concepts not sufficient? Are “Russian studies” still dominating Western academia’s view of Eastern Europe? Why is it time to rethink Russian cultural imperialism and decolonize the “Slavic” or “Eurasian” studies? Our guest on the Explaining Ukraine podcast is Vitaly Chernetsky, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Kansas, and the current President of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Germany searches for Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine not only in NATO countries but also throughout the world. Meanwhile, NATO states consider establishing a fund to secure assistance for Kyiv if Trump returns to office. 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, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 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. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Russia returned to its tactics of destroying Ukrainian energy infrastructure, attempting to plunge Ukrainians into darkness. Ukrainians across the country endured a week of unprecedented combined aerial attacks. Meanwhile, as March marked the tenth anniversary of the illegal referendum in occupied Crimea, we reflect on political and ethnic persecution by the occupiers. 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Why are identity and political values, rather than geopolitics, the genuine causes of the Russian invasion of Ukraine? How can we locate the Russian invasion in the wider context of Ukrainian-Russian relations? How can we describe the divergent paths that Ukraine and Russia took after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and how do these divergent paths explain the current war? The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel, authors of the book "Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States", published last year. The book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Russia-Ukraine-Entangled-Histories-Diverging/dp/1509557369 Maria Popova is a professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal, Canada Oxana Shevel is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, USA, and Director of the Tufts International Relations program. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

In violation of international law, Russia held sham presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. But this was far from the only violation. The terrorist attacks against Ukrainian cities continue. Meanwhile, several European intelligence services warn about the possibility of Russian aggression against the West. 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine’s former foreign minister, to talk about Ukraine in the world today, Ukraine’s endeavor to join the Western world, and the urgent need to stop Russia. Pavlo Klimkin was Ukraine’s foreign minister for 5 years (2014-2019), including during the first five years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now he is an independent intellectual, serving as a board member of the International Renaissance Foundation and of the Come Back Alive (Povernys’ Zhyvym) Foundation. 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

While the Russians have resorted to the scorched earth strategy on the frontlines, the Czech Republic brings the much needed ammunition closer to Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine holds the upper hand in the Black Sea after destroying the corvette Sergei Kotov. 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, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 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. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

There is an increased level of debate regarding the threat Russia poses to Europe. Emmanuel Macron’s statement that sending troops to Ukraine is not excluded stirred up the infospace, causing an ambiguous reaction from NATO allies. The message, however, reached the Russian leadership bringing with it yet another warning of “tragic consequences”. But what do the statements of European leaders mean? 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Ukraine commemorated the end of the second year since the commencement of Russia's full-scale war, a testament to its century-long struggle against Russian imperialism. This war proves that those seeking peace must be prepared to fight against dictatorships' expansionist views in the coming future. Ukraine has consolidated partners, but the war proves more is needed. 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, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 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. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

On the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and on the 10th anniversary of the Russian invasion in total, UkraineWorld's chief editor, Volodymyr Yermolenko, reflects upon the major causes of this war. These are the issues relating to identity, political values, and ethics. More - in our "Explaining Ukraine" podcast. UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. SUPPORT us at www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. LISTEN on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine

The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites prominent American historian Larry Wolff to talk about history, imagination, and politics around Eastern Europe, in particular Ukraine. Larry Wolff is a professor of history at New York University. He is the author of numerous books about Eastern Europe, in particular Inventing Eastern Europe: The Map of Civilization on the Mind of the Enlightenment (1994), The Enlightenment and the Orthodox World: Western Perspectives on the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe (2001), The Idea of Galicia: History and Fantasy in Habsburg Political Culture (2010), and Woodrow Wilson and the Reimagining of Eastern Europe (2020). 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

Russia has intensified its military operations on the battlefield, as a result of which, after months-long campaign to take Avdiivka, it fell. Amid these developments, the call to introduce more technological solutions grows louder. Ukraine has increased military production but still seeks more international support. President Zelenskyy secured new important agreements in his latest visit to Europe. And Ukraine’s partners in Ramstein are looking for more effective tools to counter Russia. 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

2024 could become a year of consolidation of authoritarian regimes. Liberal democracies are weak and often do not fully understand approaching threats. Can we still win the war against Russia in these circumstances? A new coalition of freedom-loving societies needs to assert itself, and the response to Russian aggression must be far more decisive. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Peter Pomerantsev, the renowned British-American author, intellectual, senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University, and author of the best-selling books, This is Not Propaganda and Nothing is True and Everything is Possible. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld and president of PEN Ukraine Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-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: [email protected].

President Zelenskyy appoints Colonel General Syrsky to lead the Armed Forces in an attempt to reset the system, establishing an all-new management team for the defence forces. This episode focuses on the reasons for and impacts of this decision. Meanwhile, human rights researchers presented Russia's crimes in occupied Mariupol, occupiers continued to shell Ukrainian territory, killing citizens of Kyiv and Kharkiv and causing infrastructure damage in Mykolaiv, Lviv, and other cities. 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. Listen our podcast on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-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: [email protected].

He is one of Ukraine’s top constitutional lawyers and experts in EU law. But he is also the founder of a mobile medical hospital which has saved hundreds of thousands of lives on the frontline since 2014. Today’s Ukraine is a country where these social roles are often combined. The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Gennadiy Druzenko, a Ukrainian lawyer and founder of the Mykola Pyrohov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PDMSh), which works every day to aid , evacuate, and stabilize wounded and sick Ukrainian soldiers from the frontlines. Hospital’s website: https://www.pdmsh.ua/en Support their work: https://www.medbat.org.ua/en/to-support-the-hospital/ 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. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 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: [email protected].

A new method of war based on technology, a new training philosophy, and new combat capabilities - that’s what Ukraine needs to create a more favourable advantage on the battlefield, according to Valeriy Zalyzhnyy in his last article for CNN, which was published amid ongoing rumours about his possible dismissal. Meanwhile, EU leaders agreed on €50 billion of support for Ukraine - a vital aid package. 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Let us look again at the human stories of this war. Let us recall the hundreds of people in Yahidne forced by Russian soldiers to live in a village school basement for almost a month. Let us hear the story of the crowd of people at Kramatorsk railway station struck by a Russian missile while they were waiting for an evacuation train. Let us remember stories of people living in residential buildings on which Russians warplanes dropped bombs in Chernihiv. Let us remember that the war is always about human suffering, and that this war in particular is about unthinkable Russian cruelty. Most of all, let us work hard to ensure that justice prevails. The Explaining Ukraine podcast speaks to Nataliya Gumenyuk, one of Ukraine’s best-known reporters and founder of the Reckoning Project. It recently published a book of reports from this war titled The Most Horrible Days of My Life (Найстрашніші дні мого життя), telling some of the human stories of this war in detail. 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 https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Russia intensifies cooperation with its allies striving to strengthen its international position and overcome the negative effects of the sanctions regime. Ukrainian partners keep looking for mechanisms not to let Ukraine lose its existential war. Meanwhile, Ukraine is seeking ways to find common ground with its neighbours, in particular Slovakia. 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. Listen on various platforms: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Yahidne is a Ukrainian village where the Russian army forced over 300 Ukrainians into a school basement and kept them for almost a month. 10 people died from suffocation and a lack of food and water. It was just one of Russia's countless war crimes during this war. A group of Dutch writers visited Yahidne in December 2023 as part of a trip organized by PEN Ukraine with support from the Ukrainian Institute and the Prague Civil Society Centre. We organized a discussion with them afterward to talk about war crimes, compassion, and solidarity. Speakers: Lisa Weeda – Dutch writer of Ukrainian origin, author of literary programs, screenwriter, and VR director. Florian Jacobs – Dutch writer, director of the publishing department at the International School of Philosophy. Jaap Scholten – Dutch writer and journalist. Author of a book about his journeys across Ukraine (Three Suitcases of Women’s Clothes and a Sniper). Founder of the charitable organization Defend Ukraine. Manon Uphoff – Dutch author, screenwriter, and artist. 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: [email protected].

SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld --- While Russian occupiers attempt to breach Ukrainian supply lines in Avdiyivka, Ukraine remains on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson oblast, rendering Russian forces unable to dislodge Ukrainian defenders. In addition to frontline developments, the previous week brought encouraging news regarding international support for Ukraine. France plans to increase artillery production of French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzers specifically for Ukraine while also ramping up the quantity of 155mm projectiles Ukraine requires. The Norwegian government has also allocated funds for artillery ammunition. 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, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 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. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support us at https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected].

Europe took a sleeping pill in 1989, and needs to wake up to face the challenge of Russian authoritarianism. Does it have the courage to do so? Pascal Bruckner, one of France’s most influential philosophers, came to Kyiv in December and participated in a public discussion at PEN Ukraine on December 7th. This episode is the recording of this conversation. This episode is part of our series "Thinking in Dark Times" 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. FULL VERSION of this episode (with Q&A session) is available for our patrons https://www.patreon.com/posts/pascal-bruckner-96674503 You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: [email protected]. Listen: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine --- Key topics: - How Russia has fallen into totalitarianism - Why the West represents something new in the history of civilization - The problem of the West is the loss of faith in itself - Europe and its colonialism: a critical analysis - Russian colonialism today - The problem of the West’s «tyranny of guilt» - «We have done horrible things but we also invented remedies to cure them» - On heroes and victims. Why today everybody wants to be a victim - Victim story and warrior story in Ukraine - Why the idea of fight is lacking in Europe - Why the consumer’s attitude to the Russian invasion is wrong - How overprotection decreases responsibility - Why did Europe take a strong sleeping pill in 1989 and needs to wake up

Over the past week, Russia has been attempting to establish a 15-kilometre "buffer zone" in Kharkiv oblast, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to launch a partial counter-offensive and recapture several positions occupied by the Russians near Kupyansk. Along with frontline developments, this episode focuses on the main achievements of the Security Agreement with the UK, delivered by “the representative of the oldest parliament to the most courageous parliament.” 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: [email protected]. Listen on various podcast platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify etc): li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine

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: [email protected].

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: [email protected].

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: [email protected].