Notes of the Ukrainian conscripted civilian about the painful things
By the end of March, it was a year since I chose to leave my teaching and library work for the service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, I find it worthwhile to reflect a little bit on my personal "betrayals" and "victories", advantages and disadvantages, in other words to sum up the year. […]
Preventing schools and hospitals from being closed: how local communities forced the government to reckon with their interests
Reforms in education, healthcare, as well as the decentralization reform, have caused serious changes in the social sector, since the closure and “optimization” of a significant number of schools and hospitals was meant to be a part of these reforms, especially in rural areas. However, such unpopular changes can be successfully stopped when the community […]
Solidarity Is Our Weapon. What Do Left-Wing Activists in the Army Think
Two years ago on February 24 Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. Ahead of this anniversary, we spoke with left-wing activists from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus who decided to join the ranks of the Ukrainian army. In these frank monologues, they shared personal stories about how they made decisions, how their understanding of Russian […]
The Maidan Shooting: Conspiracy Theories and Unanswered Questions
A decade ago, the Euromaidan protests successfully toppled the Yanukovych government. Paradoxically, nobody faced justice for the bloodiest attack against the protesters, the mass shootings of people who went up Instytutska Street on 20 February. All the killed supporters of Euromaidan became immortalized as the Heavenly Hundred, with their names and photos being publicly displayed […]
Children of the Occupation: “I Feel Like a Nobody. It’s Like I Don’t Exist”
In 2014, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions were occupied. At the time, many children aged 10–15 lived there. Some of them left together with their parents, but then returned to the occupied territories, while others never left at all. During the 10 years of war, the children grew up, but for various reasons they […]
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
Women raising children in Ukraine had been a vulnerable group already before the war. Stuck at the rampless entrance, unable to get inside with a stroller. Denied promotion or fired because of pregnancy. Seen as an unreliable tenant because of the kids. The full-scale war, however, has reinforced the challenges mothers have always faced — […]
