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A Venetian Gothic facade adorned with banners for the 2026 Venice Biennale, in Venice, Italy, on Feb. 25, 2026.
Culture

What's on at the Venice Biennale? Russian soft power

by Kate Tsurkan

In the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian pavilion is set to return to the Venice Art Biennale with a “musical festival come to life” that serves as “a space for dialogue and exchange.” The pavilion was effectively canceled in 2022 after the artists and curator chosen to represent Russia withdrew in protest of the invasion. At the time, the organizers of the Biennale released a statement praising the decision and condemning “all those who use violence to prevent

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Thursday, March 19

We interviewed Iran’s envoy to Ukraine and it was absolutely wild

Two days after the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by U.S.-Israeli strikes earlier this month, the Iranian embassy in Kyiv was in mourning. Candles flickered on the floor beneath his portrait. Heavy curtains muted the daylight. Staff dressed in black directed visitors into a small side room, where a condolence book lay open. But, outside, there was no queue. Each page of the book was turned before a new visitor approached. No one could see what had been written b

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Russia uneasy as Trump's envoy quietly courts Moscow's closest ally

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s representative John Coale in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 11, 2025.

A pro-Kremlin blogger lashed out at Putin; he ended up in a psychiatric ward

A prominent pro-Kremlin blogger known for his aggressive attacks on Russia’s opposition abruptly turned against President Vladimir Putin publishing a series of scathing critiques. A day later, he was allegedly admitted into a psychiatric hospital in St. Petersburg. The blogger, Ilya Remeslo, had built his public profile by targeting the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his allies, often filing complaints and supporting legal cases against them. His sudden reversal — and the speed wit

About Culture

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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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine targets Moscow with drones for 4th consecutive day

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine targets Moscow with drones for 4th consecutive day

Key developments on March 17: * Ukraine targets Moscow with drones for 4th consecutive day, launching at least 40 in latest strike * 'No region can feel safe' — Russia's ex-Defense Minister Shoigu raises alarm over Ukraine's drone strikes * Russia slams 'EU warmongers' for not backing Trump's war against its ally * 201 Ukrainians now in Middle East helping counter Iranian drone attacks, Zelensky says Russian air defenses intercepted 206 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight on

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