Naina Misra and Vladyslav Nekhoroshykh present a podcast on the book "Survival as Victory: Ukrainian Women in the Gulag." This anthropological study was produced by Oksana Kis, translated by Lidia Wolanskyj, and published by HURI Books. The work examines the day-to-day lives of Ukrainian women imprisoned in the Gulag. Kis pulls from firsthand accounts, memoirs, and oral histories to reveal the resilience of these women as they fought to maintain their identity, traditions, and humanity. Join Misra and Nekhoroshykh with this new podcast from HURI, as they explore this chapter of Ukrainian history.

Survival as Victory Podcast

In the flagship episode of the podcast series for the book "Survival as Victory: Ukrainian Women in the Gulag" by Oksana Kis, Naina Misra, and Vlad Nekhoroshykh introduce the first chapter: "The Daily Life of Women in the Gulag in Research and Personal Memoirs." They explore the harsh conditions faced by Ukrainian women imprisoned in the Soviet Gulags from the 1930s until the 1950s, and how these women built communities, maintained hope, and preserved their identities despite unimaginable hardship. This episode introduces the challenges they faced, the effort that went into documenting these experiences, and the importance of remembering and honoring their retellings as part of Ukraine’s historical and cultural legacy.

"Survival as Victory" Podcast — Episode 1

Hosts Naina Misra and Vlad Nekhoroshykh delve into Chapter 2 of Survival as Victory, "Living Conditions in the Prisons and Camps in the 1940s and 1950s," examining the harrowing living conditions faced by prisoners of the Soviet Gulags. Through powerful testimonies from survivors and detailed historical analysis, this episode provides insight into the brutal realities of overcrowded barracks, extreme weather, starvation, disease, and forced labor, highlighting the superhuman resilience, resourcefulness, and solidarity that Ukrainian women utilized to survive.

"Survival as Victory" Podcast — Episode 2

Naina Misra and Vlad Nekhoroshykh discuss Chapter 3 of Survival as Victory, "National Identity and Christian Faith During Imprisonment," examining the ways in which women preserved their Ukrainian identity and Christian faith during their time in the Gulags, and how this served as a form of resistance against Soviet rule. Also discussed are the power of ethnic solidarity, religious practices, and the deep emotional bonds that sustained the women through decades in the prison. Through stories of exchanging secret letters to holding hidden church services, these experiences highlight resilience, inner power, and the enduring human spirit.

"Survival as Victory" Podcast — Episode 3

In the 4th Chapter of Survival as Victory: Ukrainian Women in the Gulag, "Creativity and Free Time," Misra and Nekhoroshykh explore how Ukrainian women used their creativity as a form of resilience and cultural preservation. During their time in the Gulags, the women engaged in forms of artistry, including embroidering, singing, poetry, and theatre, to hold onto their identities, uplift each other, and preserve their mental health. These acts were defiant, even risky, but served as an important way to foster community among the women and maintain the hope that they would one day be free. Through these methods, the women stood fast against the Soviet oppressors and transformed their free time into a space of healing.

"Survival as Victory" Podcast — Episode 4

In Chapter 5 of Survival as Victory, "Humanity and Femininity in Captivity," the HURI Podcast explores the brutal tactics used in Soviet labor camps and how the Ukrainian women were able to face this ordeal. Prisoners were stripped of their identities, reduced to numbers, and subjected to physical and psychological torture. Despite these inhumane conditions, the women developed a unique sisterhood. After their release, many of these women continued to help each other for decades through the lifelong friendships and support networks they had formed. This chapter showcases the prisoners’ determination to preserve not just their lives, but their humanity.

"Survival as Victory" Podcast — Episode 5

Founded in June 1973, the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) serves as a focal point for graduate and undergraduate students, fellows, and associates pursuing research in Ukrainian language, literature, and history as well as in anthropology, archaeology, art history, economics, political science, sociology, theology, and other disciplines. 