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

Top European nations vow to boycott Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns

by Yevgeniya DoludaNovember 3, 2026

Controversial court ruling paves way for Russia's return to world ice hockey as Canada, European nations push back

by Chris PowersOctober 30, 2026

Russian general charged in absentia for missile strike on museum dedicated to 18th century Ukrainian philosopher

by Kate TsurkanOctober 29, 2026

Foreign Minister Sybiha calls for Russian athlete travel ban as Moscow's ice hockey return risks forcing Ukraine out

by Chris PowersNovember 1, 2026

The Kyiv Independent 2026 Holiday Gift Guide still life (Bogdana Ferguson/The Kyiv Independent)

’Tis the season to shop Ukrainian: Kyiv Independent launches 2026 Holiday Gift Guide

by Kyiv IndependentOctober 30, 2026

On Ukraine's language day, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv

by Kate TsurkanOctober 27, 2026

“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

NewsLetters

News Feed

Tuesday, November 3

06:08 PM

Kyiv faces emergency power cuts, widespread water outages after Russia's largest attack on energy infrastructure this year

The widespread power and water outages in Kyiv follow Russia's largest mass attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this year, which targeted substations, transmission systems, and power plants across the country.

08:56 PM

Civil unrest near Kyiv exposes deeper social tensions but 'outside influence' played a role, Budanov says

Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov said on Nov. 3 that the incident was "not without outside influence."

07:32 PM

Ukraine charges Zelensky's former press secretary Iuliia Mendel with treason

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General's Office accused Iuliia Mendel of conducting "information and subversive activities against Ukraine."

07:24 PM

The US and Europe have a narrow window to change Russia's war trajectory

Editor's note: The op-ed is based on a broader report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on Oct. 13, 2026. The United States and Europe risk squandering the best opportunity since 2022 to alter Russia's trajectory toward a longer and larger war. Ukraine currently has the best chance of seizing the strategic initiative against Russia since December 2022, even as it faces the greatest risk to its momentum. Russia's ballistic missile and jet-powered drone campaign against Ukr

A man is seen through a broken window inside a damaged building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 14, 2026.

06:39 PM

Ukraine, allies to coordinate peace efforts ahead of planned talks with Russia

The European Commission will host talks on Ukraine in Brussels on Nov. 4, bringing together representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, NATO, and several European countries.

05:46 PM

Top European nations vow to boycott Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns

"We are currently gathering as many countries as possible to form a common front to tell the IIHF that none of us will play against Russia in this situation," said Heikki Hietanen, chairman of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.

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.

June 12, 2025‘I feel like I lost 3 years’ — Ukrainian author turned soldier Artem Chapeye on culture during war

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

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What the US midterms could mean for Ukraine

Culture

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

Top European nations vow to boycott Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns

Controversial court ruling paves way for Russia's return to world ice hockey as Canada, European nations push back

Russian general charged in absentia for missile strike on museum dedicated to 18th century Ukrainian philosopher

Foreign Minister Sybiha calls for Russian athlete travel ban as Moscow's ice hockey return risks forcing Ukraine out

’Tis the season to shop Ukrainian: Kyiv Independent launches 2026 Holiday Gift Guide

On Ukraine's language day, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv

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

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NewsLetters

News Feed

Kyiv faces emergency power cuts, widespread water outages after Russia's largest attack on energy infrastructure this year

Civil unrest near Kyiv exposes deeper social tensions but 'outside influence' played a role, Budanov says

Ukraine charges Zelensky's former press secretary Iuliia Mendel with treason

The US and Europe have a narrow window to change Russia's war trajectory

Ukraine, allies to coordinate peace efforts ahead of planned talks with Russia

Top European nations vow to boycott Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns

About Culture

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