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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

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The unnamed project, lacking a defined team or political platform, seeks to offer an alternative to the Kremlin at a time when Russia's opposition operates largely from abroad and remains fractured, with its ability to influence domestic politics remaining low.

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

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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