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The Hidden Canon: Discover Ukrainian literary classics

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How Ukraine's annual radio dictation brings a nation together, one word at a time
Culture

How Ukraine's annual radio dictation brings a nation together, one word at a time

by Kate Tsurkan

As it turns out, dictation exercises are not just for schoolchildren. On Oct. 27, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians — from diaspora communities abroad to service members on the front lines — will take part in an annual tradition: listening, writing, and testing their mastery of the Ukrainian language. Organized by Ukrainian Radio since 2000, the annual Radio Dictation celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language, bringing participants together to transcribe a text broadcast live acros

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Thursday, October 29

Ukraine war latest: 'Russia's mass murder' — Deadly Russian strikes on Dnipro, Chernihiv, Kremenchuk

Key developments on Oct. 28: * 'Russia's mass murder:' Drone strike on Dnipro station kills 14 amid deadly daytime attacks on Chernihiv, Kremenchuk * Ukraine destroys 2 Russian Su-34 bomber jets in Neptune missile strike on airfield, Navy says * Route demining completed in Russian-occupied Oleshky as humanitarian convoy prepares to enter, Ukraine's ombudsman says * Ukraine strikes Russian 'drone port' in Bryansk Oblast, damaging storage facilities, military says * UN appoints Russian diplo

Why did Russia agree to the Oleshky ceasefire?

Moscow's consent to a temporary ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky seems like a long-overdue and welcome concession from a country that has repeatedly rejected or violated ceasefire proposals during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So why is the Kremlin so on board with Oleshky? Experts, as well as information from Oleshky itself, suggest Russia's motives go far beyond addressing the humanitarian catastrophe it created itself. Instead, the highly publicized ceasefire brokered by U.S. Fir

An aerial view of Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine in a photo published on Sept.16, 2026.

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Our reporting on literature, films, art, and traditions from Ukraine and the latest news on culture in Eastern Europe.

Ukrainian culture
Ukrainian culture has survived centuries of Russian attempts to appropriate Ukrainian art, silence Ukrainian artists, and erase the Ukrainian language. Modern Ukrainian writers, filmmakers, and musicians — some of whom are serving on the front lines — continue to develop Ukrainian culture and fight for Ukraine’s future.

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