The War in Ukraine: Agenda for the Left
The situation on the military front is grim. Despite certain tactical achievements, high hopes for the counter-offensive were not fulfilled. Instead, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, has openly acknowledged a stalemate. The national polls indicate emerging exhaustion. The global community is losing interest, aid packages are stalled, truck haulage is blocked. Winter is here, and so […]
Who is Hidden behind the Figure of a Genius? The Context of Dovzhenko’s Work
Oleksandr (Alexander) Dovzhenko may be considered the most famous Ukrainian director of the twentieth century. Ukrainian and foreign researchers have written a great number of studies dedicated to him. Most of them form roughly the same image of Dovzhenko: a lone national genius, the only “Ukrainian director” of his time, and a peasant poet who […]
“Leaving never crossed my mind.” How doctors saved lives in inhumane conditions
Many Ukrainian doctors risked their lives in order to save others. This article explores the narratives of healthcare professionals who, in spite of the warfare, stayed by their patients and fulfilled their duties. Among them, is a family doctor who responded to emergency calls amidst shelling, a senior nurse who organized a hospital in her […]
The Waffen-SS “Galicia” Division: The Dead End of Glorification
On September 22, during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the Canadian Parliament, the audience gave a standing ovation to 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, who was invited by Parliament Speaker Anthony Rota. Rota introduced the guest as a “hero of Ukraine and Canada” who “fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.” As it turned out, Hunka was […]
Every day is a rainy day: what impoverished motherhood in Ukraine is like
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, as well as both national and international policies to deal with the impact of the war, have surely influenced the spaces and networks of social reproduction, both in Ukraine and in refuge. The destruction and resulting displacement, neoliberal austerity, unprecedented border regulations, and refugee policies, have all […]
The anti-social ferocity of Ukrainian neo-liberals
The recent statements of Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych about "destroying everything social" and "taking Ukrainians out of their comfort zone" have caused significant public outcry and a wave of criticism. Yet this is not the first time that officials directly involved in social policy have publicly taken anti-social stances. What does the presence […]
We must fight for the future of Ukrainian education. Interview with the Priama Diia (the Direct Action) student union
On the eve of September 1st, the Day of Knowledge, Commons spoke to activists of the student union Priama Diia about the right to education in a country at war. They explain why they decided to relaunch the union, what obstacles there are to protecting students' rights, and share their plans and dreams for the […]
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: UN needed to avoid catastrophe in Ukraine
Last week, Ukraine warned the world that Russia may be planning a catastrophic attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The reaction to this crisis has been another failure of the United Nations – one that comes in amid a larger failure by the UN to enforce international law and diplomacy against Russia. Usually, when […]
Ukrainian economy and society: whither the (postwar) country?
On February 24, 2022, when Russia yet again invaded Ukraine, it was already one of the poorest and most indebted countries in Europe, at war since 2014. Its needs and losses have grown exponentially – dislocation of the labour force, infrastructure destruction, ecological damage, etc. This article argues a case for large-scale multi-faceted international assistance, […]
Nine Months in a Juvenile Shelter. Musician David’s story about Deportation to Russia
On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued warrants of arrest for russian*[1] president Vladimir Putin and children’s commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for the mass abduction of Ukrainian children. The court's statement holds them accountable for the harm inflicted upon Ukrainian children due to the war crimes of forcibly displacing individuals from […]
