UkraineWorld Podcasts

Putin is threatening to deploy Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. This could amount to a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. China and Japan have opposing attitudes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which shows a clear divide between the two major Asian powers. In a new episode of the series Around Ukraine, Volodymyr Yermolenko, U…

Fighting corruption is an essential element of Ukraine’s EU integration. To understand the EU perspective on this process, we spoke to Allan Pagh Kristensen, a Danish diplomat who heads the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld. UkraineWorld is brought to you by …

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its occupation of large parts of Ukraine’s Black Sea littoral zone caused serious problems for the exports of Ukrainian food worldwide. Although a “grain deal” was signed, it remains fragile, with Russia threatening to end it and blaming Ukraine for causing a food security crisis. In this episode of our “Propaganda …

China’s leader Xi Jinping paid a visit to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin and stress the strength of the China-Russia axis. The visit took place days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and Russia’s children rights ombudswoman Mariya Lvova-Belova for ordering and overseeing the kidnapping of Ukrainian c…

Askold Melnyczuk is a prominent American writer of Ukrainian descent, and author of books What Is Told; Ambassador of the Dead; House of Widows; The Man Who Would Not Bow, and others. His novels have earned honors as a New York Times Notable, an LA Times Best Books of the Year, and an Editor’s Choice by the American Library Association’s Booklist. …

Gillian Tett is a British journalist and author. She is chair of the editorial board and US editor-at-large of the Financial Times. She is the author of "Fool's Gold"; "The Silo Effect" and "Anthro-Vision: A New Way to See in Business and Life". Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld, speaks to Gillian Tett abo…

In this episode of our "Propaganda Diary", we discuss joint Ukrainian-Slovak research studying the key narratives of Russian propaganda in both countries. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld. Guests: Peter Dubóczi, Research fellow of Adapt Institute and Director of Infosecurity.sk, and Alona Hryshko, j…

Is there a risk of the West changing course with its Ukraine policy? Are democratic values moving eastwards with the protests in Georgia? Why should we be worried about Russian-Iranian military trade? In a new episode of our Around Ukraine series, Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld’s chief editor, speaks to UkraineWorld analyst Maksym Panchenko. Ex…

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is a Ukrainian rock star, the leader of the rock band Okean Elzy, and one of Ukraine’s most popular modern musicians. He is also a civic activist, and formerly a politician, who founded the political party Holos (“Voice”). Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and UkraineWorld’s chief editor, speaks to Vakarchuk about U…

Despite the war, many Ukrainian academics and students remain in the country and continue doing academic and research work. In this episode, we explain why Ukrainian universities and academics need support, and why the war is a time for thinking, but also for action. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, speaks to Aaron James …

A few days ago we made a trip to Nikopol, an industrial town in southern Ukraine located 6 kilometers from the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, now occupied by Russian troops. Russians shell the town every day with artillery, but despite this regular bombardment and the risk of a major nuclear disaster, we met active and optimistic people. Hosts: …

Kryvyi Rih is a big industrial Ukrainian city, and the hometown of president Zelenskyy. We went there to see what the city looks like during the war, and how (and if) it is changing. In this episode, we try to describe both the civic and political life of the city. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of U…

In this episode of our Propaganda Diary, we analyze the vocabulary of Russian propaganda about Ukraine. An “anti-Russia,” “puppet of the West,” “former country”, “nezalezhnaya,” and “terrorist state” - why and how do Russian propagandists use these words, and what purpose do they serve? Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld’s chief editor, speaks to U…

Ukraine may be preparing a counter-offensive in the spring, and therefore needs military support, both in equipment and ammunition. Ukrainian pilots are in the US, which might mean that fighter jets may be on the way in the future. The G20 summit in New Delhi features Russia, but not Ukraine. In a new episode of the series Around Ukraine, Volodymyr…

Marci Shore is an American historian and associate professor at Yale University, where she teaches modern European intellectual history. She is the author of Caviar and Ashes: A Warsaw Generation’s Life and Death in Marxism, 1918-1968; The Taste of Ashes: The Afterlife of Totalitarianism in Eastern Europe, and The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate Histo…

How is Russian imperialism similar to, and different from, other imperialisms that we know? What are its key traits with regard to the questions of difference and sameness, domination, nation-states, and mythology of the past? Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, …

In this episode of our Propaganda Diary, we continue looking at the genocidal rhetoric of Russian propaganda. We analyze the most common messages of the Russian “media” and “experts” that Ukraine should not exist, that Russia should “de-Ukrainianize” Ukraine, and that its strikes against civilians are “justified.” Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld…

China has released a peace plan with the aim of putting forward ideas that could stop Russia’s war against Ukraine - but are they realistic? The UN General Assembly’s recent resolution demanding a Russian withdrawal shows overwhelming support for Ukraine, but the “abstaining” countries form a stable block. Belarusian partisans reportedly blew up a …

What are the parallels between Putinist Russia and Syria of Bashar al-Assad? Why is the cult of violence widespread in both countries? Targeting hospitals, humanitarian corridors, and civilian infrastructure - how have Russian tactics in Syria and Ukraine been similar? What are the parallels between the Arab Spring and Ukrainian Maidans? Why is Ukr…

In this episode of our Propaganda Diary, we look at the genocidal rhetoric of Russian propaganda. Before starting the full-scale war, Russian politicians and media figures systematically spread the message that Ukraine does not exist and is an artificial state which should be eliminated. During the war, this propaganda turned into genuine genocidal…

One year has passed since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine. In this episode, we draw lessons from this past year: the strength of Ukrainian society, its transformative power, its grassroots nature, as well as the weakness of Russian authoritarianism and its imprisonment in the past. We also analyze the global dimension of this war…

This episode is an interview given by UkraineWorld’s chief editor and host of the Explaining Ukraine podcast Volodymyr Yermolenko to "Die Kulturmittler", a podcast by ifa, Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, a German organisation for international cultural relations. Together, we look at the past year and how Ukrainian civil society and the cultural …

US president Joe Biden paid an unexpected visit to Kyiv, showing support for Ukraine and sending a strong signal to Russia. The Munich Security Conference showed a solidified consensus among Western leaders that Russia must be militarily defeated. A Russian-planned coup-d’etat was foiled in Moldova. China announced that it would put forward peace p…

What is it like to live inside history? Why was Fukuyama’s idea of “the end of history” wrong? What does history mean, and why is Ukraine important for the world’s future? Why is Russia a captive of the past, while Europe is a captive of the present - and why is this dangerous? Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chie…

In this episode of our Propaganda Diary, we look at the top methods Russian propaganda has used during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We analyze how Kremlin propagandists mirror their opponents’ arguments; deny Ukraine’s existence, dehumanize Ukrainians and other nations, sanctify their aggression, use conspiracy theories, bring out pseudo-exp…

What would Ukrainian victory in this war look like? Why is Ukraine’s accession to NATO essential? Is the West’s support of Ukraine sufficient? Could Russia become a new Latin America? UkraineWorld’s chief editor Volodymyr Yermolenko speaks to Ostap Kryvdyk, a Ukrainian security and defense expert, active-duty Ukrainian soldier, and chair of the Ukr…

In this episode of our Around Ukraine series, we discuss the 9th Ramstein meeting held this week; the latest mass wave of Russian missile strikes against Ukraine, with one missile allegedly flying over a NATO member’s territory; and increasing calls from the Western governments to their nationals to leave the territories of Russia and Belarus. Volo…

In this episode of our Propaganda Diary, we look at how Russian propagandists have responded to the catastrophic earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, as well as how they continue to threaten missile strikes on European capitals, and how they try to dismiss the idea of a tribunal against Putin and his regime. Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld’s chief e…

In this episode of our series Around Ukraine, we talk about the EU-Ukraine summit held in Kyiv and strong EU support for Ukraine’s victory and recovery. Also, President Volodymyr Zelensky visits London and Paris, and Ukraine shows solidarity with the Turkish and Syrian peoples after their horrible earthquake. Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld’s ch…

This war is full of incredible stories of Ukrainians who resisted the Russian invasion. We went to northeastern Ukraine, right along the Russian border, and talked to people there who lived through very difficult moments one year ago. In this episode, we will tell you their stories. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist,…

Northeastern Ukraine, one of the most vulnerable areas of the country, is very close to the border with Russia. How did this region get through the Russian invasion one year ago, and how is it living now? We went to the borderlands of Sumy Oblast, in northeastern Ukraine, just a few dozen kilometers from the Russian border, to learn more. Hosts: Vo…

Why is helping Ukraine’s small and medium enterprises a vital component of the country’s recovery from the war? What are the challenges Ukraine is and will be facing from the war’s large-scale destruction? Explaining Ukraine speaks to Dana Pavlychko, owner of Osnovy Publishing, and CEO of United for Ukraine, a foundation that provides emergency rel…

In our new series, “Propaganda Diary," we analyze both new and recurring topics of Russian propaganda justifying the current invasion of Ukraine. In this episode, we look at how Russian propagandists responded to the news that Ukraine’s allies decided to supply the country with modern tanks. Volodymyr Yermolenko, UkraineWorld’s chief editor, speaks…

In our new series, “Around Ukraine," we analyze the international context of the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, to understand how it can influence Ukraine’s resistance and resilience. In this episode, we talk about the decision by Ukraine’s allies to supply the country with modern tanks and the prospects of further arms supplies. Also, we tal…

What lessons does Ukraine have for the world today? How does its history resemble the histories and cultures of other post-colonial nations? Can Ukraine develop a new 21st-century ecoculture based on its folkloric traditions? This is a new episode of the Explaining Ukraine podcast from UkraineWorld. Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and j…

Can we call the current conflict a genocidal war? Why is Russia willing to eliminate Ukraine and Ukrainian identity? Why does it consider Ukraine an “artificial nation?” What are the deeper roots of Russia’s genocidal intentions? This is a new episode of the Explaining Ukraine podcast from UkraineWorld. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philos…

Oleksandra Matviychuk is a Ukrainian human rights defender, and the head of the Centre for Civil Liberties, a Ukrainian NGO which was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, speaks to Oleksandra Matviychuk about her Nobel lecture, the need to bring back focus on human rights worldwide, and the nee…

Local apocalypse in Eastern Ukraine. We went there again, and this is what we can tell you. In some villages, every single house has been destroyed, without exception, and some tiny towns have been practically wiped off the face of the earth. It will be a long time before normal life can return to these places. This is the result of the Russian cri…

Anne Applebaum is an American journalist and historian, Pulitzer Prize winner (2004), author of numerous books about Eastern Europe and global politics, and Washington Post columnist. Volodymyr Yermolenko, chief editor of UkraineWorld, speaks to Anne Applebaum about the deep roots of the Ukrainian resistance, the history of Russian totalitarianism,…

In this episode, we’re giving an overview of Ukraine in 2022: suffering and heroism of the full-scale war; Russian war crimes and genocidal violence; and the strength and resistance of Ukrainian society. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, Ukrainian scholar and j…

Kherson, a regional capital in Southern Ukraine, was liberated from Russian occupation in November. Since then, Russians have been trying to make life in the city unbearable. They shell it with artillery every day. We went to Kherson on a volunteer mission with PEN Ukraine and will tell you the city's story in this episode. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermole…

The city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine has been under constant Russian bombardment for 9 months. The city has lived without water and electricity for a long time. The situation improved after Ukrainians liberated Kherson, another regional capital 80 km from Mykolaiv. We went to Mykolaiv with PEN Ukraine to learn how the city is living today. Host…

Why do women play such an important role in Ukrainian culture? How is Ukrainian feminist emancipation connected with national emancipation? Who are the Ukrainian female authors you need to know about? Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, Ukrainian scholar and jour…

How can we explain Russian war crimes? Do they derive from a specific cult of violence present in Russian history? Why is the value of life so low in Russian politics and society? Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org, and Tetyana Ogarkova, Ukrainian scholar and journalist, in charge of …

Russia shelled the center of Kherson on Dec 24th, on Chrismas eve, killing at least 10 and wounding over 50 people. Putin and Lukashenka are preparing a new attempt to attack Kyiv. Zelensky visited the frontline in Bakhmut, and made the first (since Feb 24) trip abroad to Washington and Warsaw. This is an overview of key events and trends in and ar…

Ukrainian social and political life is profoundly decentralized. It is based upon the idea of the hromada, an autonomous grassroots community, able to defend itself when it is facing aggression. This is what is happening now with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One of the intellectual roots of this decentralized political culture can be found in t…

Kazymyr Malevych was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His Black Square and other paintings revolutionized the avant garde art of the early 20th century. He was born in Kyiv to a Polish family, and his style and thinking were inspired by Ukrainian folk art, but he is still presented worldwide as a Russian artist. In this epis…

What does it look like to spend 36 hours without electricity, water, mobile connection, and heating? We, along with so many other Ukrainians, are experiencing longer electricity cuts because of Russian missile and drone strikes, and are preparing for a challenging winter. - Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief ed…

What can philosophy and literature contribute during wartime? How do we shape our relationship with the past? How do we assess our identities? Moreover, how do we deal with reality? In the podcast of the International School for Philosophy (ISVW) in Netherlands, its host Bart Geeraedts talks to Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, chief e…

A feminist, environmentalist, and one of the greatest dramatists in European literature, Lesya Ukrainka’s works are now getting new attention from Ukraine and beyond. Her texts are not widely translated into foreign languages - a gap that certainly needs to be filled. Our conversation about Lesya Ukrainka is part of our new series Discovering Ukrai…