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A Venetian Gothic facade adorned with banners for the 2026 Venice Biennale, in Venice, Italy, on Feb. 25, 2026.
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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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Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party is ramping up Ukraine-skeptic rhetoric ahead of upcoming elections, in what analysts say is a bid to win back far-right voters after its 2023 defeat. After pushing conservative Karol Nawrocki into the presidential palace, PiS tapped ex-Education Minister Przemyslaw Czarnek — a controversial hardliner — as its candidate for prime minister in next year's election. Czarnek has a track record of criticizing the Ukrainian leadership over historical

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These Russians fought for Ukraine. Then, they faced risk of deportation — to Russia

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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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