Hot topic, Culture, Alyona Alyona, Entertainment

Weekend in Kyiv – Dec. 17-19

by Artur Korniienko December 17, 2021 8:42 AM 1 min read

Ukrainian rapper Alyona Alyona performs at the Atlas Weekend festival on July 8, 2021 in Kyiv. (Atlas Weekend)

This audio is created with AI assistance

Our picks for the best art, music, film and more in the capital. All venues require one of the following: certificates of vaccination, negative test or recovery from Covid-19.

From a nursery teacher to Europe’s best young artist – in the last three years, Alyona Alyona has done so much for Ukrainian music that it’s easy to take her for granted. The rapper will show just how much more she has in store at the Dec. 19 show in Atlas with songs from the latest record and acoustic versions of her old bangers.

Alyona Alyona (rap, hip hop, pop). Atlas (37-41 Sichovykh Striltsiv St.). Dec. 19. 7 p.m. ₴600-1400

Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of "West Side Story" mostly lives up to the classic musical and can be watched in English at Zhovten, Planeta Kino (Blockbuster) and Kinoman (Cosmo). Also screening at Zhovten and Planeta Kino (Blockbuster) is "Spencer," an unusual biopic of Princess Diana played beautifully by Kristen Stewart.

West Side Story (musical, romance in English). Zhovten, Planeta Kino (Blockbuster), Kinoman (Cosmo). Dec. 17-19. ₴115-220

The Berlin powerhouse duo FJAAK is playing at the untitled nightclub at 41 Kyrylivska St. on Dec. 18. Legowelt, the Dutch explorer of techno, house and old school acid, will spin records the same night at Arsenal XXII.

FJAAK (house, techno). 41 Kyrylivksa St. ₴450

Christmas Intermezzo vintage market by Kyivness is a good place to look for chic holiday presents or a new look for the parties. The event is a daytime party in itself, this time held at the Chocolate House estate on Dec. 18-19.

Christmas Intermezzo by Kyivness (curated vintage and local brands market). Chocolate House (17/2 Shovkovychna St.) Dec. 18-19. 12-8 p.m. ₴200

Artur Korniienko

Reporter

Artur Korniienko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, currently on a leave to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He previously reported on Ukrainian literature, art, music, film and social issues for the Kyiv Post, including the controversial Babyn Yar memorial and other development projects opposed by the community. In 2021, he ran a podcast about Ukrainian migrant workers for RFE/RL on the Vaclav Havel Fellowship in Prague. With a Master's in Journalism from the Ukrainian Catholic University, Korniienko had also worked as a freelance journalist and a TV correspondent.Read more

News Feed

2:10 PM

6 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed eight missiles of different types, and 87 long-range drones – 33 of which were shot down and 36 turned out to be decoy, on April 19.

1:23 PM

Republican US Congressman Fitzpatrick visits Ukraine’s front line, signs a shell for Putin.

"I encourage all my colleagues in Congress to come here," U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-Ukraine Republican representing Pennsylvania, said during his visit to the front line.

11:12 AM

Russia prepares to push toward Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, monitoring group says.

Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18.

10:15 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 940,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

8:14 AM

Moldova's fall parliamentary elections could threaten pro-EU majority.

Moldova's parliament voted on April 17 to hold elections on Sept. 28 – a vote that could potentially threaten the majority currently held by pro-Western President Maia Sandu's party.

6:38 AM

US has preliminary plan to monitor ceasefire in Ukraine, WSJ reports.

The U.S. indicated during recent talks in Paris that it has developed a draft concept for how a comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia might be monitored if one can be achieved, a Western official said.

4:34 AM

Russian attacks cause blackouts in Sumy Oblast after Moscow says energy truce over.

The attacks come shortly after Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that the 30-day partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes had expired.

3:10 AM

Lithuania to strengthen border infrastructure amid security concerns, Politico reports.

Lithuania will upgrade and fortify a second route through the Suwałki Gap, a strategically critical stretch of land along the Polish border viewed as one of the most likely targets for a future Russian attack on NATO.

1:56 AM

Russia jails 19-year-old activist for quoting Ukrainian poet, criticizing war.

A court in St. Petersburg sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to two years and eight months in a penal colony for allegedly "discrediting" the Russian army.

12:45 AM

Trump admin considers recognizing Russian control of Crimea as part of peace deal, Bloomberg reports.

Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea would mark a significant win for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long pushed for international legitimacy over the territory.

10:49 PM

Peace Talks

What to know about the 5 ‘key territories’ at the heart of Ukraine peace talks

10:46 PM

Russia

Decolonizing Russia — what it means and why it matters

10:43 PM

Ukraine, Russia to conduct prisoner swap before Easter, Sky News reports.

The swap will reportedly involve 246 POWs from each side, as well as 46 injured soldiers, an undisclosed source told Sky News.

10:40 PM

NATO

As Trump mulls cuts, NATO's integrity is on the line

2:19 PM

(Updated: April 18, 2025 10:37 pm)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: Events to look out for this week

10:12 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US proposes leaving occupied areas under Russian control, easing sanctions, Bloomberg reports

10:05 PM

'You're fools' — US may 'take a pass' on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says.

"If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

8:25 PM

Kremlin spokesman claims 'progress' in peace talks but says energy ceasefire period has expired.

"There are already some developments, but, of course, there are still many complicated discussions ahead," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

7:44 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Poland reports attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman

7:12 AM

(Updated: April 18, 2025 7:28 pm)

Russian missile attack on Kharkiv on Good Friday kills 1, injures 112.

“According to preliminary information, the strikes on Kharkiv were carried out with ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions. That is why the affected areas are so extensive," Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote.

6:54 PM

Mariupol defender appointed commander of Azov Brigade amid military reform.

Following the start of Russia's full-scale war in 2022, Hrishenkov defended Mariupol, where he was injured. After 86 days of defending the encircled city under heavy Russian bombardment, he and about 2,500 other fighters left the Azovstal steel plant after Ukrainian commanders ordered the defending garrison to lay down their arms.

6:21 PM

Video

4 days of hunting Russian drones.

The Kyiv Independent contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent four days following an air defense unit guarding the skies over a region in eastern Ukraine, seeing how they live, work, and save civilians from the dozens of Russian drones flying toward Ukrainian cities each night.

5:38 PM

US proposes leaving occupied areas under Russian control, easing sanctions, Bloomberg reports.

One of the officials told Bloomberg that the U.S. plans, which require further discussion with Kyiv, would not be a final settlement and that European allies would not recognize the occupied territories as Russian.

4:13 PM

Interview

‘More traitors in Russia’ — Ukrainian intel officer shares secrets of recent deep-strike drone successes

3:48 PM

Vance 'optimistic' about efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war.

"I want to update the prime minister (Giorgia Meloni) on some of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine... even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said.

MORE NEWS

Weekend in Kyiv – Dec. 17-19

Most popular

'Shoot them' — Russian commander ordered troops to open fire on their comrades, intercepted call suggests

Ukraine's navy responds to reports US was 'angry' at sinking of Russia's Moskva Black Sea flagship

Day after Russia kills civilians in Sumy, Kremlin claims deliveries of Taurus missiles will lead to escalation

Ukrainian-born US lawmaker says Ukraine should cede land to Russia, demand Zelensky's resignation

Minerals deal disrupted by those with 'their hand in the till,' US official claims