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

On holiday celebrating Ukrainian language, 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

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

NewsLetters

News Feed

Tuesday, October 27

05:45 PM

Kyiv approves alternative Dnipro crossings after Russian strikes on bridges

Kyiv's Southern Bridge was struck by at least one Russian ballistic missile on the morning of Oct. 27, leaving a large hole in the structure and closing the bridge to both road and rail traffic.

10:16 PM

Deadly Russian ballistic missile attack hits Kyiv university, bridge, medical centers

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

Smoke rises from Kyiv's Southern Bridge after a Russian missile attack

05:23 PM

Ukrainians fled west for safety. Now Russian drones are following them

Andrii Mazur has spent 24 years with Ukraine's State Emergency Service in Volyn Oblast, but during all that time, nothing has compared to the situation that has unfolded in recent weeks. He and his team have been dispatched to disaster areas eight times in seven days, operating round the clock as swarms of Russian jet-powered drones bombard Western Ukraine. "Above all, we fear for our colleagues on site, as nothing outweighs the worth of a human life," he told the Kyiv Independent. Russia has

04:58 AM

Oleshky ceasefire begins, Ukraine confirms

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

04:39 PM

Blackout in Sumy Oblast's Konotop enters fourth day with no end in sight

Water is currently being heavily rationed in the city, with supplies only available for six hours per day, Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin said.

04:01 PM

On holiday celebrating Ukrainian language, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv

The disruption to KSD's planned releases is the latest blow to Ukraine's book industry, which has endured repeated Russian strikes on printing facilities and warehouses since the start of the full-scale war.

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

Editors' Picks

Culture

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

On holiday celebrating Ukrainian language, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv

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

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Kyiv Independent recommends 5 translated Ukrainian books to look out for in late 2026 and early 2027

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NewsLetters

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Kyiv approves alternative Dnipro crossings after Russian strikes on bridges

Deadly Russian ballistic missile attack hits Kyiv university, bridge, medical centers

Ukrainians fled west for safety. Now Russian drones are following them

Oleshky ceasefire begins, Ukraine confirms

Blackout in Sumy Oblast's Konotop enters fourth day with no end in sight

On holiday celebrating Ukrainian language, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv

About Culture

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