“Russia is playing both sides of the coin.” @ksvarnon.bsky.social explains how Russia constructs two parallel identities: one for the West, built around “whiteness,” Christianity, and traditional values, and another for the Global South, framed as anti-colonial and anti-racial.

Russia tried not only to denigrate Azov, but to copy their own version of the unit. Why didn’t it work? Chief of Staff of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov," Arsen Dmytryk, call sign Lemko, shared his thoughts in an interview with Ukraïner.

On the night of June 14–15, Ukraine endured another large-scale Russian attack. Our thoughts are with the families of those killed. Furthermore, several important cultural sites were damaged in what appear to have been deliberate strikes. Here's what we know so far. 🧵

12 years ago, the Ukrainian Army succeeded in reclaiming the land of Mariupol, a culturally wealthy, modernized industrial hub. The case of Mariupol shows resilience and strength in yet another time of History when freedom is something Ukrainians have to fight for. 🧵

History Professor Marci Shore explains how one of the most profound issues facing Russia today is a failure to recognize the subjectivity of the perpetrators of Stalinist terror, instead interpreting the evils of Russia's past as a metaphysical act of nature.

What makes someone in Spain stop scrolling and feel the weight of a war happening far away? Spanish journalist Alicia Alamillos talks with us about the challenges of telling stories from Ukraine and beyond, and why Russia's disinformation works so well in Latin America.

We are turning 10 this summer. 1802 people have already joined our community. With your support, we can do great things. How can you make it move on? Join the Ukraїner community via a monthly subscription: www.ukrainer.net/en/donate-en/

Ukraїner turns 10. We’ve spent these years traveling across Ukraine, documenting it as it is, and sharing its stories with the world. We’ll be honest with you — it’s hard work. If you value independent journalism, support us by becoming a monthly subscriber to Ukraїner. Thank you for being with us.

For years, much of Eastern Europe was interpreted through Moscow's perspective in both journalism and academia. Natalia Antelava, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Coda Story, reflects on how this legacy persists and why Ukraine has played a key role in changing the conversation.

Russia is rapidly scaling up its UAV forces while transferring personnel from infantry units to new drone battalions. Arsen Dmytryk, call sign Lemko, Chief of Staff of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov", outlines two possible reasons behind this strategy.

💬 “I don’t expect people to be preoccupied with what’s happening with the protests in Georgia, the war here or the war in Gaza. It’s up to journalists to connect the dots and explain how something that happens in these remote places affects their lives”

Who gets to be seen as truly “European”? We talk with Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon, an American scholar, about how the perception of Ukrainians in Europe shifted after 2022, and how ideas of Europeanness and whiteness expand, but can just as quickly contract again under political pressure.

“Countermeasures against drones will be developed soon. Just wait.” Arsen Dmytryk, callsign “Lemko,” Chief of Staff of Ukraine's 1st Azov Corps, talks about why the cult of drones is the wrong approach.

Taiwan and Ukraine face similar challenges in today’s world. Both are under constant pressure from authoritarian neighbors and targeted by large-scale disinformation campaigns. We explore the parallels with Chris Liu, Vice President of Radio Taiwan International and media expert 🧵

Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon (@ksvarnon.bsky.social), an American scholar, talks about the growing connections between the American far right, ideas of whiteness, and the romanticization of Russia as a “traditional” white state.

Mamure Chabanova, a Crimean Tatar philologist, teacher, and translator born in Bakhchysarai and raised there, speaks about language as a space of memory and how Russification and occupation have shaped its survival. 🧵

Russia portrays itself differently across regions. Historian and writer @ksvarnon.bsky.social explains how Russia projects itself as a bastion of traditional values to the West and as anti-colonial to the Global South. Watch our latest interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUF-...

“I don’t like terms like ‘brainwashing’ because that sort of envisages a passive recipient of propaganda, and it’s not like that. It’s a two-way street. Effective propaganda gives people a script they want to play.” We discussed with @peterpomeranzev the mechanisms of propaganda.

Sloviansk in Donechchyna lies just 15 km from the frontline and faces constant shelling. Russia wants the region handed over in exchange for a ceasefire. But what do locals think? We went to Sloviansk and asked residents.

For Ukraine, Europe Day is more than history. It stands for freedom, equality, and peace—the values that inspired millions during the Revolution of Dignity. Ukrainians took to the streets not for abstract politics, but for the right to live with dignity in a free country.

In Sloviansk, we meet local activist Vasyl Khomenko. He speaks about a local school he once considered one of the best in the city—now destroyed after a guided aerial bomb strike—and reflects on how education has become a target in Russia’s war of aggression.

The draft of the new Civil Code No. 15150 passed its first reading in the Verkhovna Rada. A number of its provisions have sparked outrage and contradict Ukraine’s commitments to European integration. On May 5, Ukrainians took to the streets in Kyiv to protest it. Here's why 🧵

“First, Russia must be defeated. Then Russian society must feel collective guilt for what happened under Stalinism and for the slaughters inflicted, especially on Ukrainians. There must be this collective sense of guilt. Russian children must learn the truth in textbooks of what Russians did.”

Well-meaning supporters of labor rights sometimes thoughtlessly share Soviet imagery or praise the Soviet Union. This positive perception is often rooted in a romanticized, theoretical concept of the USSR. We explain why the Soviet Union was actually opposed to labor rights.

In a recent interview, French political analyst Nicolas Tenzer explains why many political leaders avoid addressing Russia’s crimes despite overwhelming evidence. Here’s what he said 👇

April is Genocide Awareness, Remembrance, and Prevention Month. For Ukraine, this means highlighting Russia’s atrocities since 2014 and remembering the Holodomor—the man-made famine of 1932–33—because today’s crimes can’t be understood without historical context.

Millions of people in Ukraine are watching a livestream of a single stork nest in Pyriatyn National Nature Park. We stopped by during our expedition across the Poltava region and interviewed zoologist Anatoliy Podobailo. He told us how the livestream was set up.

In 1937, Guernica became a symbol of modern aerial terror. Today, attacks on civilians, the destruction of cities, and war against civilian infrastructure once again raise the same question: what have we learned from history?

In February 2025, a Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement over Chornobyl’s reactor no. 4. Experts say it may have been directly targeted, with no new international sanctions imposed. The strike caused a major fire and serious damage. Here’s what we know. 🧵

Russia suffers from a crisis of subjectivity on all levels of society and the country requires the same kind of total reset Germany experienced after WWII. History Professor Marci Shore explains why, for Russia to have a democratic future, something needs to be radically, radically different.

Under our previous posts about Iryna Kalinina’s photo, some comments claim the woman on the stretcher is a “propagandist.” This is false. The myth is so widespread that a chapter in Evgeniy Maloletka’s book The Siege of Mariupol is titled “Iryna and Marianna.”

In history, it is incredibly rare for a critical mass of people to cross to the other side of fear at the same time. @marcishore.bsky.social, history professor and author of “The Ukrainian Night,” explains why Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity should be understood as a miracle.

Every year around Easter, more and more people discover the Ukrainian tradition of eating at cemeteries. It often causes surprise or confusion — how can this be a thing? We explain its deep meaning and long history. 🧵

How Come’s new episode is now live! In it, @yuliatymosha.bsky.social spoke with historian Marci Shore about revolution, war, American self-criticism, and the myth of a “genetic immunity” to fascism. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg6a...

French academic and writer Nicolas Tenzer spoke with us about what needs to happen for him to have hope for the future of Russia — a full acceptance of guilt and the need for Russia’s defeat.

Today Ukraine celebrates Easter, rooted in ancient traditions that predate Christianity. Here we present the most common rituals—reflecting a deep connection to nature and the seasons, symbolizing hope, renewal, and enduring bonds between people.🧵

In western Ukraine, a Hungarian minority feels trapped in rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine. War, politics, and uncertainty shape daily life. Border villages are quiet, many men have gone. Volunteer and editor Keno Verseck shares insights from his recent visit.🧵

Pekka Toveri, a former Finnish general and Member of the European Parliament, talks about how some European countries have shifted their stance toward Russia and explains Russia’s military potential.

Evgeniy Maloletka, photojournalist and author of The Siege of Mariupol, won in the European region. The award-winning photo, taken April 24, 2025, after a missile attack on Kyiv, features Valeriia Syniuk.

The English translation of the The Siege of Mariupol is now available to pre-order! These are the memories of the siege from photojournalist Evgeniy Maloletka, who spent 20 days on the besieged city.

Four years ago today, Russia struck Kramatorsk railway station, killing 61 people, including 9 children, and injuring over 100. Before it closed, Myroslav Laiuk and Slava Ratynskiy spoke with a witness to the attack and those evacuating.

Prominent French intellectual Nicolas Tenzer explains that Russia’s war against Ukraine is a fight of evil against good, not just a war with two sides.

Easter in Ukraine is a light that never fades, even in the darkest times. Rooted in ancient traditions like baking sacred bread and decorating eggs, it celebrates spring and renewal. Today, these customs connect people to generations past. Here are some of the key elements 🧵

Stronger Europe depends on a voting system that actually works. In this clip from the new How Come interview, Pekka Toveri, a former Finnish general and MEP, explains why the EU’s current unanimity-based decision-making can block crucial defense and security actions.

Lika is a commander of a strike UAV crew in the 412th Nemesis Brigade. She joined the military driven by hatred — to avenge a volunteer from a movement she co-founded to help the army, who was killed by Russians. Almost four years later, she reflects on the limits of revenge.

💬 “We have Article 7 from our founding rules, which says that if a member state creates a threat towards the EU and other member states, we can take their voting rights away. We should use Article 7 to take voting rights away from Hungary.”

What can the world learn from Finland’s security model? After the Winter War, Finland integrated security into law and daily life, building more shelters than its population, improving conscription, and protecting critical infrastructure.

The Winter War the Soviet Union launched against Finland lasted 105 days and proved that Russia measures victory in meters, just enough to bury its dead. Despite overwhelming numbers and firepower, it failed to take what mattered: Finland’s freedom and sovereignty.

Here’s how K-2 Brigade pilots of ground robotic units save lives in Ukraine. From a small 2017 reconnaissance group to a full brigade in 2025, K-2 leads in robotic warfare. In this video, we see what makes them unique—and why these drones shape the future of war.

We spoke with Aishe Kurtamet, a Crimean Tatar fighting for the return of her son Appaz and her ex-husband, Khalil Kurtamet, from Russian captivity. She talks about the ongoing persecution of Crimean Tatars by Russia and the unfounded accusations against her family. 🧵