War against culture

Religion was referred to as the “opium of the people” by the Soviet authorities, along with religious holidays and their associated customs. All Christmas traditions were not only abolished but replaced with artificially invented ones. For example, authentic carols were...

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...

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.

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...

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...

Despite how much certain states want to look at Russia pragmatically and search for dialogue opportunities, it continuously proves its inability to come to civilised solutions. In addition, the state-aggressor takes advantage of how its culture and lifestyle can be...

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...

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...