Culture

'Some are forged into poets during hostilities' — Medic, former POW, and poet on how war is shaping Ukraine's writers

by Andrea JanutaJuly 8, 2025

Before her harrowing footage of life in Mariupol under siege from Russian invaders was viewed around the world in 2022, Yuliia Paievska — call sign "Taira" — was already well known to Ukrainians for leading a volunteer medical unit in Donbas. Now, the volunteer, soldier, athlete, global activist, and former POW is being lauded once again – as a poet whose debut collection, Nazhyvo (Live), has captured audiences in Ukraine with its fervent writing, inspired by some of the war's most brutal episo

Attendees of the Meridian Czernowitz literary festival in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on June 28–29, 2025.

‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia

by Andrea JanutaJuly 3, 2025

Ukrainian author killed by Russia awarded UK’s prestigious Orwell Prize in political writing

by Kate TsurkanJune 25, 2025

As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko

by Kate TsurkanJune 25, 2025

The Rasmus brings its music back to Kyiv, headlines Ukraine's largest festival amid Russian bombardment

by Linda HouraniJuly 21, 2025

Ukraine moves to reclaim Ukrainian names for foreign places in official use

by Andrea JanutaJuly 19, 2025

Ukrainian artist's 'Sculpture' series normalizes injured bodies of Ukraine's soldiers

by Kate TsurkanJuly 18, 2025

The origins and meaning of the tryzub, the Ukrainian coat of arms

by Natalia YermakJuly 13, 2025

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July 20, 2025 11:31 PM

Over 119,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation

Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 119,154 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. The publications' latest report covers the period of February 24, 2022 to July 17, 2025. Since it was last updated at the start of July, 2,436 additional Russian military personnel have been confirmed killed. The journalists note that the actual figures are likely significantly higher, as their verified information come

July 20, 2025 09:56 PM

Military releases video of Ukrainian drones destroying 'costly and rare' Russian drone warfare system

The 424th "Svarog" Battalion of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) published a video on July 20 showing Ukrainian drone operators successfully targeting and destroying an experimental "KOP-2" Russian electronic warfare system.

July 20, 2025 07:15 PM

'Our goals are clear' — Kremlin unwilling to compromise on demands ahead of proposed 3rd round of peace talks

"The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a Russian-state media reporter on July 20.

July 20, 2025 05:48 PM

Zelensky slaps sanctions on Russian exiled journalist, ex-Ukrainian lawmakers

President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 20 imposed sanctions on five individuals, three Ukrainians and two Russians.

July 20, 2025 04:37 PM

Ukraine to secure $6.9 billion in arbitration from Russian Gazprom, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian ambassadors will receive detailed instructions on July 21 on how to proceed with the recovery of the awarded funds.

July 20, 2025 12:52 PM

Russia moves to restrict foreign messaging apps on Putin’s order

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, WhatsApp, owned by Meta tech giant, is a likely target for blocking.

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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Ukraine war latest: Drones attack Russia's Black Sea Fleet; Russian pipelines explode in country's Far East, HUR says

Key developments on July 5-6: * Drones reportedly attack Russia's Black Sea fleet * Pipelines supplying Russian military explode in Russia's Far East, HUR source says * Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfield hits bomb depot, aircraft * Ukraine hits Russian electronic warfare facility making Shahed, Iskander components, General Staff says * Ukraine's army chief warns of new Russian offensives in northeast as he visits Kharkiv Oblast front Drones attacked Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the

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As Russia closes in on Pokrovsk, battle for key city enters its final act

Culture

'Some are forged into poets during hostilities' — Medic, former POW, and poet on how war is shaping Ukraine's writers

‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia

Ukrainian author killed by Russia awarded UK’s prestigious Orwell Prize in political writing

As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko

The Rasmus brings its music back to Kyiv, headlines Ukraine's largest festival amid Russian bombardment

Ukraine moves to reclaim Ukrainian names for foreign places in official use

Ukrainian artist's 'Sculpture' series normalizes injured bodies of Ukraine's soldiers

The origins and meaning of the tryzub, the Ukrainian coat of arms

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As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko

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

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'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative

Author Yuri Andrukhovych on Ukrainian dissident art in Soviet times

NewsLetters

News Feed

Over 119,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation

Military releases video of Ukrainian drones destroying 'costly and rare' Russian drone warfare system

'Our goals are clear' — Kremlin unwilling to compromise on demands ahead of proposed 3rd round of peace talks

Zelensky slaps sanctions on Russian exiled journalist, ex-Ukrainian lawmakers

Ukraine to secure $6.9 billion in arbitration from Russian Gazprom, Zelensky says

Russia moves to restrict foreign messaging apps on Putin’s order

About Culture

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Ukraine war latest: Drones attack Russia's Black Sea Fleet; Russian pipelines explode in country's Far East, HUR says

Ukrainian hackers wipe databases at Russia's Gazprom in major cyberattack, intelligence source says

'Impeccable results' — New Skynex video shows Ukrainian forces destroying Russian drones with German gun

Drones reportedly attack Russia's Black Sea fleet

Editors' Picks

As Russia closes in on Pokrovsk, battle for key city enters its final act

Growing pains: The lives of Ukrainian teenagers at war

'Russia's tactic is obvious' — Shahed drone 'terror' now reaches all of Ukraine

Ukrainians grapple with how to memorialize a war still being fought