Kyiv rebukes Jared Leto over controversial remarks on Russia, war
"There can be no appeasement for Russia when it continues its attempts to solve the 'problem' of Ukraine’s very existence," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.
Culture
Opinion: Documenting war ethically means going beyond capturing suffering
When a country goes through a war, documentarians often feel empowered to capture reality with the aim of creatively reflecting the pain on both a national and personal level. As the history of documentary cinema shows, such conditions can be the birthplace of groundbreaking films that shape the genre. Yet,
Forced to flee war-torn Kherson, bar finds new life as popular Kyiv spot
In late summer of 2022, Lunca Bar owner Yehor Lohvynovskyi and his team were taking a walk in central Kyiv when they spotted an empty courtyard — “We should open a bar here!” one of his coworkers said half-jokingly. None of them knew at the time that the joke would turn
Ukraine's SBU investigating director of controversial 'Russians at War' documentary Trofimova
Anastasia Trofimova's documentary has faced criticism for what many perceive as an attempt to whitewash Russian soldiers involved in the war.
Pope appoints Ukrainian bishop to College of Cardinals
When inaugurated, Ukraine-born Bishop Mykola Bychok will be one of the youngest members of the College and the only cardinal from the country.
Ukraine's futsal team wins historic bronze in match against France at World Cup
Ukraine's national futsal team achieved a decisive victory with a score of 7:1.
Ukrainian artifacts stolen by Russia appearing on black markets, Kyiv says
"These artifacts, stolen from our museums and archeological sites, are now appearing on black markets. We already have enough evidence to launch new criminal proceedings," Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said.
Opinion: Why Russia's memory policy in occupied territories leaves some Ukrainian monuments standing
On the night of Jan. 14, 2023, a monument to the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was dismantled from the central square of Melitopol, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine. Ivan Fedorov, the exiled mayor of Melitopol, said Russian forces removed the monument to eradicate every trace of Ukraine in
Jamala's documentary honored with Gold Dolphin at Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards
The Ukrainian documentary "Jamala. Songs of Freedom" won the Gold Dolphin at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, in the Human Concerns and Social Issues category.
Dare to Ukraine | Odesa: Summer by the sea during war
Despite being scarred by Russia’s full-scale war, the city continues to draw locals and tourists to its lively streets, sunny beaches, and legendary nightlife.
Opinion: Ukraine’s avant-garde legacy battles against persistent destruction
On a recent trip to Kyiv, I was fortunate enough to join a tour of the city led by Olena Zaretska, the granddaughter of the legendary Ukrainian artist and dissident Alla Horska. Horska was part of a generation of young writers, artists, and intellectuals who challenged the repressive cultural atmosphere
Amid loss and uncertainty of wartime, Kyiv’s jazz fusion scene plays on — one filmmaker wants to capture it
At the start of Russia’s full-scale war, Kyiv-based Swiss filmmaker Marc Wilkins, like many artists in Ukraine, was struggling to create. “The violence around me left me feeling paralyzed,” Wilkins, who has lived full-time in Ukraine since 2016, told the Kyiv Independent. But then Wilkins learned of an admirable
Toronto Film Festival resumes ‘Russians at War’ screening, ignoring widespread criticism
After announcing on Sept. 12 that screenings of the controversial documentary “Russians at War” would be paused due to “significant threats to festival operations and public safety,” the film is set to return to the Toronto International Film Festival’s lineup on Sept. 17. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Opinion: Life, death, and social solidarity in dark times
The following lecture was delivered in March 2023 at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy as part of a benefit conference to raise funds to support public outreach at Kyiv Mohyla Academy. The topic of my speech is: What is it like thinking
Discovering the majesty of the Carpathians | Dare to Ukraine
In the second episode of “Dare to Ukraine,” we venture into the breathtaking Carpathian Mountains, a region known for its majestic landscapes, deep-rooted traditions, and rich cultural heritage.
Is 'Russians at War' propaganda? We asked 7 people in film who saw it
The documentary “Russians at War” has sparked controversy since its debut on the festival circuit, with many accusing it of whitewashing Russian soldiers and their crimes in Ukraine. Canadian-Russian director Anastasia Trofimova has defended the film, calling it “anti-war.” After facing backlash, the Toronto International Film Festival pulled screenings of
‘No Country for Love’ examines the cost of survival for Ukrainians in past wars
Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions. The accounts of elderly Ukrainian civilians who survived the hardships of World War II in their youth, only to face the brutality of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscore the cyclical nature of history’s relentless and unforgiving course. It’s
Public broadcaster backs off airing 'Russians at War' amid Toronto festival protests
Canada's publicly-funded broadcaster TVO announced on Sept. 10 that it will not be airing a controversial documentary about Russian soldiers, following protests from the Ukrainian-Canadian community against the film's inclusion in the Toronto International Film Festival.
Freeland voices concern over Canadian funds going to ‘Russians at War’
Canadian government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, have strongly criticized the use of public funds to support a controversial documentary that portrays Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
Funders of ‘Russians at War’ documentary dodge questions about accountability
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Canadian broadcaster TVO's statement. TVO has withdrawn support from the documentary "Russians at War" following protests from the Ukranian community. Hot Docs contacted the Kyiv Independent on Sept. 11 to clarify that the 85,000 Canadian dollars was the total sum
Opinion: How Russian propaganda reached Venice’s red carpet
A film about Russian soldiers taking part in the war against Ukraine was recently presented at the Venice Film Festival. The film portrays ordinary people who care about their families, joke, and have doubts, fears, and dreams. Some fight to avenge a fallen comrade, some just to make money, while
Ukrainian athletes win 82 medals at Paris Paralympics, securing 7th place (Photos)
Ukrainian athletes have won 82 medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris, securing seventh place in the medal score, as the competition wrapped up on Sept. 8. Ukraine’s medal count includes 22 gold, 28 silver, and 31 bronze medals. China topped the list this year with 220
Opinion: Russian soldiers in Ukraine are ‘ordinary guys’ who commit horrific war crimes
After two and a half years of brutal aggression and growing evidence of war crimes committed by Russian soldiers, some people abroad still cling to the hope that the reality of what’s happening in Ukraine isn't as grim as it seems: a nation of nearly 150 million people can’
Documentary ‘humanizing’ Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine sparks outrage at Venice, Toronto film festivals
Controversy over the film only grew louder with the revelation by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) that the film is set to be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and has previously received Canadian government funding.
Amid missile strikes, fashion takes the stage in Kyiv (Photos)
The Ukrainian Fashion Week returned to Kyiv for its 55th season from Sept. 1-4 for the first time since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Over the past two and a half years, Ukrainian designers put out showcases in cities like London, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Lisbon, and Berlin
Timothy Snyder: Thinking about freedom in wartime Ukraine
The following lecture was delivered in March 2023 at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy as part of a benefit conference to raise funds to support public outreach at Kyiv Mohyla Academy. The subject I have chosen for myself is thinking about freedom
Russian forces damaging ancient burial mounds in Ukraine, research suggests
Russian forces have damaged several ancient burial mounds on the front line in southern Ukraine, potentially violating the Hague and Geneva Conventions, according to research from the Ukraine Conflict Observatory published on Sept. 4.
Ukrainian athletes win 7 medals on day 7 of Paralympics
Team Ukraine took home four gold and three silver medals on the seventh day of the 2024 Paralympic Games. Ukraine ranks seventh in the overall medal standings.
As Ukrainian children return to school, Russia launches missiles at educational facilities
As the new school year began in Ukraine, Russia intensified its attacks on the country’s educational facilities, further disrupting a study process already severely impacted by the full-scale war and sowing anxiety among students and their families. In just three days, Russian strikes damaged at least 12 educational institutions,
Ukraine's Mariia Shpatkivska wins silver in shot put at Paralympics
Shpatkivska set the European record in the F46 class with a distance of 12.35 meters.
‘She was the culture’: Kharkiv mourns 18-year-old artist killed in Russian attack
At the opening of an art exhibition in Kharkiv’s Yermoliv Center on Aug. 29, 18-year-old artist Veronika Kozhushko, also known as Nika, could be seen jumping on a small trampoline before she landed on her feet with a breathless smile. The following day, Russia killed her. Russia launched glide
Ukrainians find solace, identity in books amid Russia’s war
In downtown Kyiv, trendy bookstore cafes are bustling with people enjoying coffee, reading, working on laptops, or socializing. Remarkably, many of these establishments, such as the 1,500-square-meter Sens bookstore on Kyiv's main street, Khreshchatyk, have emerged only recently – despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Oleksii Erinchak, the owner
Ukraine culture
The latest on literature, films, art, and traditions from Ukraine and the region. 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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