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Culture

The Hidden Canon: Discover Ukrainian literary classics

A Kyiv Independent project backed by the Ukrainian Institute

Ukrainian InstituteLearn more
The cover of “Kvitky” by Old Khata and a drawing featured in the book.
Culture

Old Khata's 'Kvitky' — Tribute to beauty and enduring legacy of Ukrainian folk art

by Dinara Khalilova

Imagine your family has survived World War I, a nationwide revolution marked by brutal violence and constantly changing governments, and a famine. Then, less than a decade later, another, even more devastating famine strikes your land under its new rulers. You and the people around you have suffered for years, and many have died. No end to the suffering is in sight.   Yet, on the eve of an important religious holiday, you sit down and decide to continue one of your people's most beautiful and h

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Friday, November 13

Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia, injures 50, including 8 children

Local authorities later on Nov. 13 reported that a rescue worker from the Cobra emergency service was killed when a concrete slab fell on him while he was clearing debris from a building damaged in the Russian attack.

We must return Ukrainian journalists still imprisoned in Russia

On Nov. 15, the global community marks the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, also known as Empty Chair Day. You will not find this date in traditional calendars of public holidays, but that does not diminish the gravity of a day that reminds the world of hundreds — if not thousands — of unlawfully imprisoned writers, journalists, media workers, and cultural figures. Empty Chair Day was established by PEN International as a human rights initiative to draw attention to writers, artists, journalists,

Vladyslav Yesypenko stands next to a chair bearing his name during the Empty Chairs rally in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 15, 2025.

Trump will never back Ukraine, O’Brien says

Was Donald Trump ever serious about securing peace for Ukraine? After nearly two years of U.S.-mediated negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, another round of talks on Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough. The Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek speaks with Phillips O'Brien, a U.S. historian and professor of strategic studies, about the latest negotiations and Trump's approach to ending Russia's war against Ukraine. O'Brien argues that the U.S. is pushing for a deal that favor

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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