War against culture

Decolonising culture: Ukrainian artists, banned and stolen by Russia

For centuries, Ukraine was effectively a colony of Russia, with Ukrainian culture constrained and forced to develop under deeply complex and often dramatic conditions. Ukrainian artists faced relentless repression, bans, and persecution from their self-proclaimed “big brother”, leaving them with...

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine: the path to independence from Moscow

From ancient times to the present, the Ukrainian church has faced numerous challenges. Its history may seem complex and convoluted, having been under the shadow of the Russian empire and later Soviet occupation since the late 17th century.

What is the repatriation of cultural property? Experiences after World War II and during the Russo-Ukrainian war

The term “repatriation” is heard more and more as discussions around returning Ukraine’s cultural heritage gather steam. Some are looking to other nations’ colonial and postwar pasts as a guide for how these return processes might unfold.
This material seeks...

Culture during the War. The West: Korsaks’ Museum and Territory of Terror

Due to the full-scale war, Ukrainian museums with priceless exhibits were threatened with destruction. Some of them are under occupation and have already been looted by the Russians; some have suffered from shelling, and museum workers are forced to leave...

Culture during the War. The West: story of Andriy Lyubka, Ukrainian writer and volunteer from Uzhgorod

Mutual aid is one of the key factors in how Ukrainians are valiantly resisting Russian aggression. Many settlements in regions far from the front became shelters for people who had to leave their homes because of the war, and

How Russia Russified the east of Ukraine

For centuries, Ukrainians have had their unique Ukrainian language and culture. These developed separately from Russian society, in a parallel tradition. However, when the Ukrainian territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, the Russian authorities...

Dnipro: Jazz and Support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Due to the full-scale Russian invasion, many cultural initiatives have switched their activities to help the military and civilians. However, their main mission to create art remains unchanged as the art evolves into a special weapon to encourage the nation’s...

Resistance in Zaporizhzhia: tours, posters, and informational front

Zaporizhzhia, one of Ukraine’s regional capitals, is located relatively close to the front line. It is a vital hub for supporting Ukrainian defence and for receiving internally displaced people from temporarily occupied territories. The city is also an influential cultural...