How can we rethink cultural imperialism and colonialism today? How can Russian imperialism be described? Is the Ukrainian culture part of the European heritage? Volodymyr Yermolenko, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, spoke to Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, director of Mystetskyi Arsenal (Art Arsenal), one of the most reputable Ukrainian cultural institutions. This episode is made with support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. UkraineWorld.org is brought to you by Internews Ukraine. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

Ep. № 99: Culture and imperialism in Eastern Europe – with Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta

How can we describe the Ukrainian political culture? In which way is it rooted in the European political traditions? How is it different from the Russian political culture? Volodymyr Yermolenko, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, spoke to Vakhtang Kebuladze, a well-known Ukrainian philosopher, professor at Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University. This episode is made with support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. UkraineWorld.org is brought to you by Internews Ukraine. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

How does Ukraine fit into the European political culture? – with Vakhtang Kebuladze | Ep. 101

Why does the world know so little about Ukrainian cultural heritage? Can Ukraine offer a new dimension to European and global culture? What are the topics central to the Ukrainian culture? Volodymyr Yermolenko, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, spoke to Volodymyr Sheiko, director general of the Ukrainian Institute, Ukraine’s key cultural diplomacy institution. This episode is made with support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. UkraineWorld.org is brought to you by Internews Ukraine. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

Why Ukrainian culture has plenty to impress – with Volodymyr Sheiko | Ep. 103

100 days of the full-scale war, 8 years since Russia’s first invasion in 2014: the war does not seem to end soon. We draw some conclusions from the 100 days and analyse how it can proceed in the future. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor at UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, Ukrainian scholar and journalist in charge of international outreach at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. UkraineWorld.org is brought to you by Internews Ukraine. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

One hundred days of the full-scale war - don’t expect it will end soon | Ep. 106

This episode of the Explaining Ukraine podcast is made in partnership with Fiction/Non/Fiction podcast. With this podcast’s hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell we discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the lens of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. We talk about how Russian literature and Russian culture have separated crime from punishment, creating a society that distrusts laws and regulation, and values power and impunity. “Explaining Ukraine” hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, and chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, who heads the international department of Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

Dostoevsky, crime, justice, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, with Fiction/Non/Fiction podcast | Ep. 150

Russian hostile propaganda against the “West” and the democratic world has been getting ever more insane over the past years. But the “anti-Western” topics in Russian propaganda have deep cultural roots. The opposition to the “West” has been a recurrent topic in the thinking of key Russian intellectual figures, regardless of their ideology. In this episode, we try to analyze and understand these roots. – Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, Ukrainian scholar and journalist, in charge of international outreach at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

Why is Russia so hostile to the “West”? An attempt at a cultural history. - Ep. 165

What are the consequences of the Wagner “revolt” against the Kremlin? Will it weaken Putin’s power? What is the future of Russian criminal paramilitary groups like Wagner? Listen to our Twitter space with Petro Burkovskyi and Maria Zolkina, analysts at the Ilko Kocheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, a Ukrainian think tank. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org. 

UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld

The Wagner “revolt”: what are its consequences for the world?

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***
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

Russian war crimes explained by Nobel-winning Ukrainian NGO - with Oleksandra Romantsova

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***
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 


Ukraine vs Russia: who leads the tech battle? - with Glib Voloskyi

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***

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.

Сaptivity, torture, violence, and love - with Maksym Butkevych

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***

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?
 

Can Security Guarantees Stop Russia’s War? — with Hanna Shelest

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***

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


Why Ukrainian History Matters Globally — with Yaroslav Hrytsak

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

---

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?

How Ukraine's IT keeps surprising the world - with Taras Tymoshchuk

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

***

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 Ukraine fights Russian drones - with Taras Tymochko

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, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com 

***
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?


Niall Ferguson on Empires, Networks, and Ukraine

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, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com 


How Poetry Shaped the Ukrainian Nation — with Rory Finnin

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, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com 


A Brief History (and Present) of Ukrainian Theatre — with Mayhill Fowler

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, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com 

***
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?


Timothy Snyder on why history matters — and how we get it wrong

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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 


Where Ukrainians get their news in war - with Kostiantyn Kvurt

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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 




Ukrainian children, kidnapped and reprogrammed by Russia - with Kateryna Rashevska

In this episode, we will talk about “Ukraïner”: a great initiative that has done a great deal to help rediscover Ukraine — both from within and from abroad. 

“Ukraïner” launched expeditions to villages and towns across the country, researched the lifestyles and cultures of Ukraine’s diverse communities, and created outstanding textual and visual projects that help us better understand our own land. It has also done much to tell the Ukrainian story to the world.

***
Host: Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Julia Tymoshenko, head of Ukraïner.
Ukraïner website: https://www.ukrainer.net/en/ 

***
Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine.

***
The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR

***
SUPPORT: 

You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld 
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
CONTENTS:
00:00 - Intro
01:43 - The phenomenon of the Ukraїner project
15:13 - How did the full-scale invasion reshape the project
22:13 - Challenges of spreading Ukraine’s voice abroad
27:57 - Seeking stories that resonate with foreign audiences
33:48 - Shoving Ukrainians the world's perspectives
42:53 - Communication strategy of building a mutual understanding
48:51 - Outro
49:22 - Support us



How to rediscover Ukraine: the story of Ukraïner - with Julia Tymoshenko

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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?


Why Europe’s security depends on Ukraine - with Yevhen Hlibovytskyi

How is the life of a soldier different from that of a civilian? Which aspects of it are hardest for civilians to understand?
What is happening on the frontline today — and how will the outcome of this war depend on the technological race?

***
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Vladyslav Urubkov, a former soldier of the Ukrainian army and now a manager for military affairs at Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014.
Come back alive: https://savelife.in.ua/

***
Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine.
Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine 
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en 

***
SUPPORT: 
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld  
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.


Being a Ukrainian soldier - what is it like? - with Vladyslav Urubkov

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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


Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk on Ukraine’s Moral Core

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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.


How Russia built its myth of Kyiv - with Kateryna Dysa

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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 culture: how to reassemble a broken picture - with Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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.


Why the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is unique - with Natalia Shlikhta

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.


Ukrainian geopolitical thought - with Danylo Lubkivsky

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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



How Ukrainians fund their own defense: the story of “Come Back Alive”

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: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

***
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.


Ukraine in 2025: can peace talks succeed?

A podcast by UkraineWorld.org, a multimedia project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Explaining Ukraine, its politics, society and its culture. Support us: patreon.com/ukraineworld

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