Explaining Ukraine
The world has yet to hear Ukraine’s complete story. With “Explaining Ukraine,” the Kyiv Independent is illuminating its path.
Animation by dukhovne lychko
Pysanky: Ukraine's centuries-old easter egg tradition
The Executed Renaissance: Ukraine’s cultural rebirth and its violent death
Ukraine’s struggle for independence
Ukraine’s long fight for sovereignty — from the 1918 Battle of Kruty to today — reveals a nation’s enduring quest for freedom.
The Ukrainian origins of avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich, long mislabelled as Russian
Malanka: Ukraine's winter ritual of masks, mischief, and good fortune
Alla Horska’s life and death in Ukraine’s struggle against Russian annihilation
The origins and meaning of the tryzub, the Ukrainian coat of arms
The trident, known in Ukrainian as tryzub, is instantly recognizable as the central element of Ukraine's modern coat of arms.
When did the war in Ukraine start? A timeline of Russia's aggression
Russia's war against Ukraine began immediately following the end of the EuroMaidan Revolution in February 2014, when Russia swiftly moved to annex and occupy Crimea
The meaning behind the vyshyvanka, Ukraine's traditional shirt
Vyshyvanka, a traditionally styled embroidered shirt or dress, is the central feature of Ukraine’s national clothing.
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
Ukraine is interesting not only for its heroic actions, but also for its history, culture, and identity.
What is the Explaining Ukraine project?
The world is full of distorted versions of Ukrainian history. The Kyiv Independent wanted to make sure readers had a reliable source of information about important Ukrainian historical events, figures, and cultural traditions.
The articles featured here are thorough and detailed pieces that span centuries to the current day and include topics from Ukraine’s presidents to the country’s culinary traditions.
The Hidden Canon:
Discover Ukrainian literary classics
“The Hidden Canon: Ukraine's Literary Iconoclasts,” a Kyiv Independent project backed by the Ukrainian Institute, unveils bold Ukrainian classics long hidden from international readers. These writers defied censorship, reimagined cultural identity, and pushed the boundaries of art itself — showing that Ukrainian literature is a daring, vital, and unforgettable part of the global literary canon.
Learn moreEditors' Picks
Explainer: How a corruption scandal and loyalty to Zelensky brought down Ukraine’s prosecutor general
Explainer: What's behind the standoff between Ukraine's two intelligence agencies?
'Hanging by a thread' — Kyiv under psychological siege amid ceaseless strikes
