Culture

Igor Pomerantsev in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in September 2021.
Culture

‘A cult of death’ — Former Soviet dissident on Russia and authoritarianism's global rise

by Kate Tsurkan

In an authoritarian society, it’s free thinkers who are targeted by those in power. A book, a social media post, a private conversation — anything can be used against those who refuse to conform in a country ruled by intimidation, lies, and outright violence. This is why, in a world where authoritarianism appears to be on the rise, a free press is more important than ever. Few understand this reality better than Igor Pomerantsev, a veteran radio broadcaster, poet, and former Soviet dissident. H

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'Every day, we feel more hate towards Russia' — Kyiv families struggle to stay warm in near-freezing homes

Pechersk is a leafy, affluent neighborhood in central Kyiv. Its prerevolutionary buildings are tucked away from the main roads, surrounded by quiet courtyards and trees. In peacetime, it's where many Ukrainians dreamed of living. Now, in the fourth winter of the war, it's 3 degrees celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) inside some apartments without additional heating, and the temperature continues to drop. Thick brick walls once insulated the well-off residents from the city's noise — now they make

EU reveals details on 90 billion 'Ukraine Support Loan'

Sixty billion euros ($70 billion) will be earmarked for defense, with the remaining 30 billion euros ($35 billion) allocated to support Ukraine's budget, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said during a press conference in Brussels on Jan 14.

Why NATO can’t survive a return to spheres of influence

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kurt Volker, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, about U.S. foreign policy, NATO’s future, and the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine war latest live: Minibus carrying soldiers shot at near Lviv

This is Chris York reporting from a very chilly Kyiv on day 1,421 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: A minibus full of soldiers was shot at in the morning of Jan. 14 in the village of Rudno near Lviv in western Ukraine, by an as-yet-unknown individual. No one was injured in the incident but some shots did hit the vehicle, local police reported. "The driver of a Volkswagen Passat fired several shots at the Volkswagen Transporter, after which he left the scen

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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