Culture

The Hidden Canon: Discover Ukrainian literary classics

A Kyiv Independent project backed by the Ukrainian Institute

How Ukraine's annual radio dictation brings a nation together, one word at a time

by Kate TsurkanOctober 26, 2026

As it turns out, dictation exercises are not just for schoolchildren. On Oct. 27, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians — from diaspora communities abroad to service members on the front lines — will take part in an annual tradition: listening, writing, and testing their mastery of the Ukrainian language. Organized by Ukrainian Radio since 2000, the annual Radio Dictation celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language, bringing participants together to transcribe a text broadcast live acros

“This Cursed Beautiful Land” by Gershkovich, and charred trees in Voronezh, Russia, on Aug. 1, 2010.

The trouble with loving Russia: Evan Gershkovich's memoir seeks sentimentality in a lost country

by Kate TsurkanOctober 24, 2026

Russian drone debris damages artwork of famous contemporary artist at museum in northwestern Ukraine

by Kate TsurkanOctober 14, 2026

The cover of “Naive My Love,” by Gunia Project, and “Pigeon and Dove” by Primachenko.

Inside Ukraine's world of naive art — and the Gunia aesthetic it inspired

by Kate TsurkanOctober 11, 2026

A man walks past a closed bar at the Bessarabskyi Market in Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 6, 2026.

Food court flop? Kyiv’s historic market empties after million-dollar makeover

by Alessandra HayOctober 9, 2026

Ukrainian actor Serhii Strelnikov enlists in Unmanned Systems Forces

by Kate TsurkanOctober 8, 2026

Luke Harding's 'Betrayal' charts the collapse of the rules-based order — and who is to blame

by Kate TsurkanOctober 5, 2026

20-year-old sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ukrainian language advocate, ex-lawmaker Iryna Farion

by Kate TsurkanOctober 1, 2026

NewsLetters

News Feed

Tuesday, October 27

10:16 PM

Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv university, medical centers, major bridge — 1 dead, 15 injured

Russia launched two waves of ballistic missiles at the capital overnight, targeting a major bridge, metro stations, and other civilian infrastructure.

08:05 AM

Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says

Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, which weaponize winter to inflict suffering, amount to war crimes, a UN inquiry has found.

08:00 AM

Ukrainian media face pressure as they step up scrutiny of authorities in wartime

Over the past year, Ukrainian independent media have stepped up investigations into corruption among top officials and abuse in the military, despite the constraints and risks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Yet this work is coming at a cost. Ukrainian media have faced a wave of lawsuits, controversial court rulings, threats, and smear campaigns on social media. "An environment is gradually taking shape in which it is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists to do their jobs," Inna V

07:03 AM

Russian sabotage network behind Romanian arson attack, officials say

The attack is "part of a larger campaign of sabotage operations attributed to the Russian Federation in Europe," according to the Romanian Intelligence Service.

05:54 AM

New report tracks how Russia helps China build better drones

The investigation found that Russian designs for rocket-launched drones likely helped shape weapons China unveiled in 2025 and that Russian wind tunnels kept testing aircraft models for China's top arms maker after the invasion of Ukraine.

04:58 AM

Local ceasefire in besieged Oleshky begins, Ukrainian, Russian officials say

A ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Russian occupied city began as Russian forces launched ballistic missiles at other parts of Ukraine.

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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June 11, 2025'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative

March 26, 2025Explainer: Some Ukrainians speak Russian language — it doesn’t make them Russian

Culture

How Ukraine's annual radio dictation brings a nation together, one word at a time

The trouble with loving Russia: Evan Gershkovich's memoir seeks sentimentality in a lost country

Russian drone debris damages artwork of famous contemporary artist at museum in northwestern Ukraine

Inside Ukraine's world of naive art — and the Gunia aesthetic it inspired

Food court flop? Kyiv’s historic market empties after million-dollar makeover

Ukrainian actor Serhii Strelnikov enlists in Unmanned Systems Forces

Luke Harding's 'Betrayal' charts the collapse of the rules-based order — and who is to blame

20-year-old sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ukrainian language advocate, ex-lawmaker Iryna Farion

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NewsLetters

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Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv university, medical centers, major bridge — 1 dead, 15 injured

Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says

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Russian sabotage network behind Romanian arson attack, officials say

New report tracks how Russia helps China build better drones

Local ceasefire in besieged Oleshky begins, Ukrainian, Russian officials say

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The trouble with loving Russia: Evan Gershkovich's memoir seeks sentimentality in a lost country

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