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Artur Korniienko photo

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.

[email protected]

Articles

Culture

Weekend in Kyiv – Feb. 18-20

by Artur Korniienko
Our picks of the best art, music, film and more in the capital. Listed venues require one of the following: certificate of vaccination, negative PCR or antigen test, or proof of recovery from Covid-19. * Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic 1970s love story about self-discovery and this year's Oscar nominee for best film, "Licorice Pizza" has limited screenings only in English at the Zhovten cinema, Multiplex and Planeta Kino chains. The new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s "Death on the Nile" runs
Hot topic

Defense ministry, state banks suffer 'powerful' cyberattack

by Artur Korniienko
The websites of Ukraine’s defense ministry and armed forces witnessed a cyberattack on Feb. 15, which also hit Ukraine's two largest banks - PrivatBank and Oschadbank. Starting at 3 p.m. the affected websites could not be accessed and clients of the banks reported issues with their payments and apps. "We managed to eliminate the consequences of the DDOS attack and restore the stable operation of the systems," PrivatBank wrote in an official statement. A similar statement was published by Oscha
Ukraine

Biden, Macron hold talks with Putin as tensions peak

by Artur Korniienko
U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12. Both Western leaders tried to dissuade Putin from a deeper military invasion of Ukraine. Biden, who spoke with Putin for about an hour, had a direct message to his Russian counterpart: A further invasion of Ukraine will make the U.S. and its allies "respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia." "Biden said that while the U.S.
Hot topic

Blinken-Lavrov call results in another stalemate for Ukraine crisis

by Artur Korniienko
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov seem to have come to no agreement during their Feb. 12 telephone call concerning the threat of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Blinken reiterated that more aggression against Ukraine by Russia will result in "a resolute, massive, and united Transatlantic response," according to State Department spokesman Ned Price. Blinken also told Lavrov that a diplomatic path to resolving the crisis remained open, but "it would
Culture

Weekend in Kyiv – Jan. 28-30

by Artur Korniienko
Our picks of the best art, music, film and more in the capital. All listed venues require one of the following: certificate of vaccination, negative PCR or antigen test, or proof of recovery from Covid-19. * A portrait of the generation Z, yet timeless in its empathy for the teenage experience, "Stop-Zemlia" runs with English subtitles at Zhovten and Kino42. Our pick among Ukraine's best movies of 2021, it’s also now available to stream in the U.S. Award-winning musical drama "Annette" and vis
Culture

Early look at Ukraine's exhibit at Venice Art Biennale – exploration of world's exhaustion

by Artur Korniienko
From an artist’s response to his city’s water mismanagement in 1995 to a work reflecting the world decline in 2022 – the "Fountain of Exhaustion" by Pavlo Makov has come a long way. Its ultimate destination is the oldest international Venice Art Biennale, where it will represent Ukraine in April. The idea is that the 27-year-old concept will mean much more in times of climate change, which is especially felt in Venice, whose famous canals have been alternating between droughts and floods, the p
Culture

Ukrainian rap diva Alina Pash wins EU award for young artists

by Artur Korniienko
Ukrainian singer and rapper Alina Pash received the Music Moves Europe Award, the European Union’s prize for upcoming artists who "present the sound of today and tomorrow." "I’m so honored. It means a lot to me and those people who believe in my heart," Pash said on Instagram after the awards ceremony in Groningen, the Netherlands on Jan. 20. There were 14 nominees for the awards, and Pash received the recognition along with five other acts from Europe. Belgian singer-songwriter Meskerem Mees
Hot topic

Weekend in Kyiv – Jan. 14-16

by Artur Korniienko
Our picks of the best art, music, film and more in the capital. All listed venues require one of the following: certificate of vaccination, negative PCR or antigen test, or proof of recovery from Covid-19. * Ukrainian hip-hop pioneers Tanok Na Maidani Kongo, or TNMK, will yet again play a show along with a vertep, a traditional costumed Christmas pageant. Ukrainian carols, TNMK's best-known hits, and songs from their new album "Vatra Red" will be on the set list on Jan. 15 at Bel Etage.
Hot topic

Prosecutors block accounts of steel giant ArcelorMittal in tax evasion probe

by Artur Korniienko
The standoff between the Prosecutor General's Office and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, the country's largest steel mill, reached new heights on Jan. 4 when the company's bank accounts were frozen by the state. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the non-cash funds of the steel mill were frozen as part of a tax evasion probe launched in November. The Ukrainian steel mill, owned by Luxembourg based ArcelorMittal, called the investigation "political pressure." The mill is located in the sou
Culture

Netflix responds to criticism over 'offensive' Ukrainian character in 'Emily in Paris'

by Artur Korniienko
An ignorant shoplifter with bad fashion sense – that’s how the hit Netflix romantic comedy series "Emily in Paris" portrayed a character named Petra, who happens to be a Ukrainian. This creative decision caused outrage in Ukraine. Criticism from social media influencers, public officials and ordinary Ukrainians poured in after the show released its second season that introduces the character on Dec. 22. Ukraine’s culture minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said he issued a complaint to Netflix, brand
Hot topic

War, crime, teenage angst: Best Ukrainian movies of 2021

by Artur Korniienko
Despite the pandemic production challenges and rollback of government support, Ukrainian cinema continued to make gains this year on the momentum built by the previous management of the State Film Agency. Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to preoccupy the minds of Ukrainian filmmakers but there were also movies that examined old and recent history, as well as shared cultural and existential experiences. Our selection includes the seven best Ukrainian movies that premiered or were released
Hot topic

Year of musical introspection: Ukraine's best albums of 2021

by Artur Korniienko
The second year of the pandemic has been productive for Ukrainian musicians across the board. We heard many new names, especially in rap and electronic music, but established artists also stepped up with plenty of new pop, alternative and indie rock. Besides giving them more time to record, another year of quarantine restrictions seems to have made Ukrainian artists more introspective in their music. We picked seven of our favorite Ukrainian albums this year, along with a few honorable mentions
Hot topic

Happy holidays in Kyiv: best parties, concerts, winter villages

by Artur Korniienko
The second Christmas and New Year’s season of the pandemic will be less restrictive in Kyiv, with a selection of winter villages and celebrations around the city. Still, all indoor events require certificates of vaccination, negative test or recovery from Covid-19. Face masks are advised even outside in crowded areas. But it should not spoil the holiday cheer. Winter villages Ukraine’s main Christmas tree on the Sofiivska Square was lit up on Dec. 18, the eve of Saint Nicholas Day in Eastern
Hot topic

Weekend in Kyiv – Dec. 17-19

by Artur Korniienko
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

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