How is the life of a soldier different from that of a civilian? Which aspects of it are hardest for civilians to understand? What is happening on the frontline today — and how will the outcome of this war depend on the technological race? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Vladyslav Urubkov, a former soldier of the Ukrainian army and now a manager for military affairs at Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. Come back alive: https://savelife.in.ua/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Ukraine is not a burden for Europe — it’s a chance for Europe. Today, European security is unthinkable without Ukraine. Ukraine has the strongest army in Europe, a dynamic defense industry, and citizens with vast military experience. The real question is: to what extent does Europe itself understand the threat posed by the new authoritarianisms? And to what extent does it realise that helping Ukraine is, in fact, a matter of its own survival? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. Frontier Institute: https://frontier.pro-mova.com/en *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. 02:04 Has the dynamic shifted, making Ukraine a supplier of security to Europe rather than just a recipient? 07:49 Is the acute 'need' driven by war a stronger motivator for entrepreneurship and creativity than peacetime opportunity? 10:25 Why is the historical understanding of the Russian threat still proving ambivalent in some Central and Southern European countries? 15:01 Should the European Union transform into a geopolitical union by adding a military security component to its integration? 22:36 Is the Ukrainian governance model inherently more resilient because of civil society? 27:59 Why is Europe failing to find the necessary political will to take decisive action on Russian assets, sanctions, and information warfare? 30:31 Is the perception of Ukraine as a 'burden' outdated? 35:03 What about NATO? 43:48 What long-term economic and demographic impacts will follow if the current threat isn't addressed?

In this episode, we will talk about “Ukraïner”: a great initiative that has done a great deal to help rediscover Ukraine — both from within and from abroad. “Ukraïner” launched expeditions to villages and towns across the country, researched the lifestyles and cultures of Ukraine’s diverse communities, and created outstanding textual and visual projects that help us better understand our own land. It has also done much to tell the Ukrainian story to the world. *** Host: Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Julia Tymoshenko, head of Ukraïner. Ukraïner website: https://www.ukrainer.net/en/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - The phenomenon of the Ukraїner project 15:13 - How did the full-scale invasion reshape the project 22:13 - Challenges of spreading Ukraine’s voice abroad 27:57 - Seeking stories that resonate with foreign audiences 33:48 - Shoving Ukrainians the world's perspectives 42:53 - Communication strategy of building a mutual understanding 48:51 - Outro 49:22 - Support us

In this episode, we discuss how Russia destroys Ukrainian families, kidnaps Ukrainian children — including those who have parents — and reprograms them, changing their identity, their way of thinking, their lifestyle, their homes. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kateryna Rashevska, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, expert at the Regional Centre for Human Rights, and a tireless fighter for the liberation of Ukrainian children. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights 02:00 How many Ukrainian children were deported to Russia? 03:37 Why does Russia use words like "rescue" or "salvation" instead of "deportation"? 04:48 Ignoring the law: Why Russia refuses to return Ukrainian children 07:54 Militarizing Ukrainian children and the role of "UNARMIA" (Young Army) 08:25 Russia's plan to destroy the Ukrainian nation 10:36 Russia re-education: Children were taken to “camps” in Crimea and separated from their parents 15:33 The horror for parents: Losing contact and facing deprivation of parental rights as coercion 20:45 Will Putin or Lvova-Belova ever face justice? 25:33 Analysis of Melania Trump's letter to Putin 30:26 The humanitarian obligations Russia has failed to meet 35:05 Kateryna talks about her work: Submitting evidence to the ICC, proposing sanctions, and providing legal assistance

Where do Ukrainians get their news? What are the key trends in Ukraine’s media sector during the war? Do citizens trust information coming from the government? And why is Ukrainian society so dependent on Telegram, a Russian social network? In this episode, we discuss a report, “Ukrainian media. News Consumption and Trust in 2025”—a new study conducted by Internews Ukraine with support from its partners. Read the report: https://internews.ua/en/opportunity/media_trust_consumption_2025_release *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kostiantyn Kvurt, a Ukrainian media expert and chair of the board of Internews Ukraine, one of the country’s largest media NGOs. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine This episode podcast is created by Internews Ukraine as part of the project “Strengthening Truth, Transparency and Democracy to Counter Disinformation”, supported by the Government of Canada. *** SUPPORT: You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 – Introduction and Context of the Research 03:42 – Main Trends in Ukrainian Media Consumption 06:00 – Trends of Different Media Platforms 14:06 – Government Communication and Electoral Logic 17:45 – Media Literacy and the Disinformation Gap 25:49 – Changing Perceptions of War Coverage in Ukrainian Media 36:16 – Russian Information Influence

In September 2025, in Kyiv, a prominent American historian Timothy Snyder received the Vasyl Stus Prize — a Ukrainian award honoring the name of Vasyl Stus, one of Ukraine’s greatest poets and dissidents of the 20th century, killed by the Soviet regime in 1985. Founded in 1989 by Yevhen Sverstiuk, another prominent Ukrainian dissident, the prize is now awarded by PEN Ukraine, the publishing house Dukh i Litera, and the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School. Before the award ceremony, we held a public conversation with Snyder on the good and bad ways of thinking about history. Since interpretations of history often lie at the heart of both the good and the evil that people do, this question remains vitally important. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Thinking in Dark Times seeks to find the light through — and despite — today’s darkness. *** UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine Listen to our podcasts: Explaining Ukraine: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Thinking in Dark Times: https://li.sten.to/thinkinggg *** Special thanks to the Ukrainian History Global Initiative, PEN Ukraine, and the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School for helping organize this event. This episode was made possible with the support of Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** You can also listen to several other conversations with Timothy Snyder from previous years: On freedom: Timothy Snyder in Kyiv https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-344 Timothy Snyder in Kharkiv: A conversation about freedom https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-340 Freedom as a value and a task https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-258 Ukraine, the war, and the plurality of values https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts//ep-144 *** SUPPORT: You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00:00 Timothy Snyder, world-known historian 00:03:04 What are the good and bad ways to use history to understand who we are? 00:08:53 How does a 'single line' view of the past, like Putin's or Trump's, take away our freedom? 00:25:18 Why recognizing the 'difference' of people in the past is a liberating act for us in the present? 00:49:55 Is the world truly living in a 'post-history' era where conflict and tragedy are safely in the past? 00:56:22 Does seeing a pattern in history mean the war is repeating, or is it a moment of new responsibility? 01:03:35 Was the US response in March 2022 a failure because American leaders were stuck in 'memory' instead of 'history'? 01:13:52 How does the power of data-driven tools force us to be careful about the human questions we ask? 01:24:21 Was the printing press as disruptive to society as social media is today?

What do we know about theatre — the most ephemeral of the arts — in Ukraine? What role did Ukrainian theatre play in Soviet times? How is the heritage of the Executed Renaissance generation still alive today? And why are women in theatre so important — and yet so often ignored? *** The Explaining Ukraine podcast is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian literary scholar at Kyiv Mohyla Academy and journalist at Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. She also runs a French-language podcast, “L’Ukraine face à la guerre”. Guest: Mayhill C. Fowler, historian and associate professor in the Department of History at Stetson University. Her first book, “Beau Monde on Empire’s Edge: State and Stage in Soviet Ukraine” (Toronto, 2017), tells the story of how theatre in Soviet Ukraine was formed, through a collective biography of young artists and officials in the 1920s and 1930s. *** This episode is produced in partnership with the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. Special thanks to the Ukrainian History Global Initiative for helping organize this conversation. *** SUPPORT: UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

Why is Taras Shevchenko not only the founding father of Ukrainian poetry but also of Ukrainian identity? What aspects of his legacy remain alive today? And how does poetry shape a nation? *** Host: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian literary scholar at Kyiv Mohyla Academy and journalist at Ukraine Crisis Media Centre who also runs a French-language podcast, “L’Ukraine face à la guerre”. Guest: Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge. He launched the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies programme in 2008. His book “Blood of Others: Stalin’s Crimean Atrocity and the Poetics of Solidarity” has received numerous awards. Find the book: https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781487558253 Our earlier conversation about this book: https://ukraineworld.org/en/articles/russian-aggression/crimea-fresh-view) *** This episode is produced in partnership with the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. Special thanks to the "Ukrainian History Global Initiative" for helping organize this conversation. *** SUPPORT: UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

Are all empires equally bad? If some were better than others, what criteria can we use to make such judgments? Why must we study networks, not only hierarchies, to understand our past, present, and future? What happens to societies in times of catastrophe, and who has the best chances of survival? And finally — why is Ukraine so important for the world today? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Niall Ferguson — a renowned British-American historian and author of numerous books, including “Empire”, “The Square and the Tower”, “The War of the World”, “Doom”, and others. Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. We had this conversation during the Yalta European Strategy Forum in Kyiv in September 2025. *** Thinking in Dark Times is a podcast of reflection from Ukraine. We try to see the light through — and despite — the current darkness. This episode was made possible thanks to the support of Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support UkraineWorld on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld We rely on crowdfunding to continue our work. You can also support our regular trips to the frontlines, where we provide support to both soldiers (cars) and civilians (books): PayPal, ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro: Niall Ferguson, a renowned British American historian and author of numerous books. 01:58 - Why does historian Niall Ferguson keep coming back to Kyiv, and what value does he find here? 04:06 - Does the war in Ukraine truly hold a global meaning? 10:01 - Was the British Empire good or bad for the world? 12:17 - What's the difference between a 'liberal' empire and an 'illiberal' one? 19:30 - Does the European Union find a balance between the Empire and the Nation-State? 26:59 - Can Ukraine become an 'antifragile' state? 28:48 - Is being threatened by a 'big bad neighbor' the key to becoming an innovative society? 31:07 - How did the last decade of Russian aggression ultimately lead to the birth of the Ukrainian nation?

Let’s take a deeper look into drone warfare and the long-term changes it is bringing to the battlefield. How is Ukraine countering Russian drone attacks? How is it developing systems of drone interceptors? Are we moving toward a future where drones will fight other drones? And what skills must our societies cultivate to prepare for this new reality? *** The “Explaining Ukraine” podcast is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Taras Tymochko, a consultant at Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym), one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations supporting the military and veterans since 2014. Taras coordinates the foundation’s project “Dronopad”—“the fall of drones”—which aims to develop a system of interceptor drones for the Ukrainian army to take down as many Russian drones as possible. *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. We rely on your contributions to keep UkraineWorld going. You can also help finance our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we assist both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Taras Tymochko, "Come Back Alive" Foundation Consultant, "Dronefall" Project Lead. 02:15 How did drones eliminate the traditional front line? 03:10 “Kill zone”: a wide space between the two armies in which soldiers on both sides are extremely vulnerable because of the drones. 04:35 Comparing Russian and Ukrainian drone capabilities 06:03 Dronefall Project: producing interceptor drones 12:47 Why do cheap interceptors defeat expensive missiles? 18:02 AI on Battlefield: How close are we to autonomous interceptor drones? 21:21 How new interceptor divisions are created in Ukraine's forces 26:49 How Ukraine counters fiber optic drones 29:39 The future war: the role of drones vs. infantry 33:13 Starlink: advantages, vulnerabilities, and alternatives in communication 37:54 Why is "battlefield experience" so important? 42:57 What "battlefield-tested" quality means

How is Ukrainian IT transforming the country’s defence? Why is technology key to success in today’s war? Why is Ukraine one of the world’s most dynamic IT nations — and why does it still hold so much untapped potential? And finally, how has the IT sector become a driver of social change, reshaping Ukraine’s social fabric today? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine SUPPORT OUR WORK: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** My guest today is Taras Tymoshchuk, a board member of the IT Ukraine Association and CEO of Genuisee, a Ukrainian IT company. Read the “Digital Tiger” report by the IT Ukraine Association. https://itukraine.org.ua/files/DigitalTiger2024.pdf *** This episode is brought to you by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, and funded by Norway and Sweden. *** You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. We rely on your contributions to keep UkraineWorld going. You can also help finance our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we assist both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com --- CONTENTS: 00:00 Guest: Taras Timoschuk, Member of the Board of Representatives, IT Ukraine Association, and CEO & Founder of Geniusee 01:36: The IT sector is the backbone of the Ukrainian economy 02:56: What are the key technologies in war? 04:20: War Boosting Tech. How does it influence civil life? 07:25: Russia VS Ukraine: Who is ahead in the technological war? 09:31: What directions of war technology does Ukraine develop? 11:30: Business & Investment: What countries are the most interested in Ukrainian expertise? 14:08: The Cyber War: Russian attacks (e.g., Kyivstar) and Ukraine's defence experience 18:17: How the War Boosts AI Technology 22:40: The IT Economy Structure in Ukraine 25:31: The secret of Ukraine's IT success 28:28: Diia App. The penetration of IT solutions in Ukrainian society 37:06: What is the biggest challenge of funding in Ukraine? 40:40: Winning the Tech War. What does Ukraine need?

Yaroslav Hrytsak is one of Ukraine’s leading historians and public intellectuals. His recent book in Ukrainian, "Overcoming the Past: A Global History of Ukraine", became a bestseller. His English-language book, "Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation", is now a key reference work on Ukrainian history. We met in Lviv to discuss the global dimension of Ukrainian history, and the features of Ukraine’s political culture that explain why the country has so often fought against tyranny. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. This episode is made in partnership with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the project Heritage Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus programme. *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are vital—we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas of Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The untold global story of Ukraine 01:33 — Why the world can’t ignore Ukrainian history 03:06 — Why world wars revolved around Ukraine 06:02 — Russia’s dangerous dream of the 21st century 09:28 — Good empires vs. bad empires 14:13 — The empire paradox 17:27 — Russia’s secret weapon: violence 20:59 — Why Ukrainian nobles felt “freer” than Russians 30:31 — Ukraine’s miracle: democracy against all odds 33:35 — Breaking the myth of Moscow’s “Third Rome” 37:06 — Khmelnytsky’s gamble: alliances that changed history 41:28 — Ukraine’s naive hope: negotiating within the empire 44:13 — The only way to stop Russia’s imperial comeback 48:53 — Why history still matters

If Ukraine does not receive real security guarantees, the war will continue—and is likely to spill over into the rest of Europe. But what kind of guarantees are truly needed, and which of them are realistic? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Our guest today is Hanna Shelest, one of Ukraine’s leading experts on international security and foreign policy. She is Director of the Security Studies Program at the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism,” and Editor-in-Chief of the journal UA: Ukraine Analytica. Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are vital—we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas of Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Hanna Shelest, director of the Security Studies Programme at the Foreign Policy Council 'Ukrainian Prism' 02:04 A Century of Broken Promises: What History Teaches Us About Security Agreements 04:24 The NATO Paradox: Is Article 5 a Paper Tiger or a Real Deterrent? 16:20 The Baltic States on the Brink: How Real is the Threat of a Russian Blitzkrieg? 22:55 Non-Mutual Animosity: When a 'Gentleman's Agreement' Meets a Rapist 26:40 Has the US Abandoned Its Role as Ally to Become a Mediator? 30:32 Why Can't Europe Play This Role in the Conflict? 32:39 Alaska Fallout: Was the Meeting a Strategic Victory or a Destructive Blunder? 41:42 Sanctions in the Gray Zone: Why Do Loopholes Still Undermine Global Efforts? 47:35 The 'Orange' Fallacy: Why Ceding Territory is an Act of Awarding Aggression? 49:34 The Deeper Cost of War: Why Are We Talking About Land, Not People?

Maksym Butkevych is a prominent Ukrainian human rights defender. Before the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he dedicated his efforts to the protection of people whose rights were violated. When Russia launched its war against Ukraine, Maksym joined the Ukrainian army to defend his country. In June 2022, he was taken prisoner of war by Russia and accused of committing a war crime. The case was entirely fabricated: Russia sought to “balance” the real war crimes committed by the Russian soldiers in Ukraine and prosecuted by Ukrainian courts with invented charges against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Maksym was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He spent almost two and a half years behind bars in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories before being freed in a prisoner exchange in October 2024. He endured beatings, deprivations, and torture, but his spirit remained unbroken. We met with Maksym in late August 2025. Our conversation turned philosophical—about life and death, freedom and fear, hope and despair. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. UkraineWorld is an English-language media about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential — we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both civilians and soldiers. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. Who is Maksym Butkevych 02:23 - Maksym’s recollections of Russian captivity 08:16 - The role of violence in Russian captivity 12:30 - How does the Russian machine distort the law 22:33 - Death and fear as key elements of the Russian violence system 29:07 - Staying yourself in captivity 37:17 - Is it possible to survive in captivity without thinking about love? 45:01 - Outro 45:41 - Support us: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld *** The podcast is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.

Why is technology playing such a decisive role in this war? Who is ahead in technological innovation—Ukraine or Russia? How are drones reshaping the battlefield, and how might they also transform technologies of peace? And why must Europe step up its technological cooperation with Ukraine? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Glib Voloskyi, analyst at the Initiatives Centre of Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine This episode is also made in partnership with Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO focusing on preparing a new generation of change-makers in Ukraine. *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The role of technology in war: who's winning the tech race? 01:34 — Russia’s real strategy: what are the goals? 02:12 — How Russia miscalculated: failed plans, logistics collapse and retreats 05:52 — The evolving Russian strategy: attrition and imperial ambitions 08:41 — Is this really a “Ukrainian conflict” or is it actually a Russian imperial war? 10:10 — Ukraine’s defence: from resilience to drone innovation 11:32 — The fierce race in drone technology 13:41 — What’s next? Land robots, unmanned vehicles and battlefield robotics 15:07 — Artificial intelligence at war: from target recognition to social media scans 16:40 — Dependency on Chinese tech: risk or overstated concern? 17:54 — Europe’s wake-up call: how possible it is to lose the technological race 20:33 — Tanks, drones and the future of warfare: what lessons are really learned? 25:24 — NATO partners and military conservatism: who adapts, who resists? 26:19 — Ukraine’s defence industry revival: grassroots innovation vs. scaling up 29:56 — Naval drones, land drones and robotics: Ukraine’s asymmetric advantage 31:37 — The myth of a "wonder weapon" 37:32 — Human body vs. artificial bodies: why soldiers can’t be replaced 39:01 — Why Russia destroys cities instead of capturing them 40:26 — The hidden battlefield: information wars and internal destabilisation 42:12 — The greatest danger ahead: forced concessions

Kherson may be the most dangerous regional center in Ukraine. Occupied by Russian forces in 2022, its residents were subjected to torture and intimidation. The city was liberated by Ukrainian forces in November 2022 — but almost immediately came under daily bombardment and shelling from Russian troops stationed just across the Dnipro River. In June 2023, Kherson was hit by a catastrophic flood caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant — an explosion orchestrated by the Russian military. Today, the city’s residents are hunted by Russian drones, as if caught in some macabre human safari. “Kherson: Human Safari” is the title of a documentary film by Zarina Zabrisky, an American filmmaker who has spent significant time in Kherson, reporting from this brave and embattled city. Link to the film: https://khersonhumansafari.com/ *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Zarina Zabrisky, an American filmmaker and writer, author of the film “Kherson: Human Safari”. Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. *** LISTEN on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 – Zarina Zabrisky, a U.S. journalist in Ukraine 02:30 – Why is Kherson so important in the war? 04:56 – Life in Kherson: What does it look like now? 13:50 – Why does a central store in Kherson look better than posh stores in the U.S.? 15:01 – In memory: Victoria Amelina in Kherson 16:12 – Kherson: Human Safari — the story of Kherson from the start of the full-scale invasion to date 19:40 – How did Zarina Zabrisky document the newest war crime against humanity? 24:02 – Do Russians conduct the “human safari” in Kherson for fun, or is it a strategy? 26:04 – A terror campaign: How does Russia attempt to erase Kherson? 29:20 – What exactly do Russians want to achieve with their cruelty toward Ukrainians in frontline territories? 36:00 – How Russia influences the ecosystem 41:12 – Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam: Survival and resistance stories from locals 43:30 – The rescue of Ukrainian children from Russian captivity 48:10 – Deportation of Ukrainian children as a form of genocide 50:00 - Support us: https://www.patreon.com/ukraineworld

Trump is set to meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15. Media reports and leaks ahead of this meeting, along with statements by President Trump and members of his administration, suggest that the two leaders may have discussed a plan in which Ukraine would cede some or all of the occupied territories to Russia in exchange for “peace.” This brings us back to the basics: the fundamental truth that violating internationally recognized borders through military aggression cannot lead to sustainable peace. In this episode, we explain why the idea of a territorial swap is dangerous — why it would undermine international law, destabilize the global order, and why neither Ukraine nor most EU member states are likely to accept it. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Tetyana Ogarkova, a Ukrainian journalist and public intellectual, the head of the international department at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre, and author of the podcast “L’Ukraine face a la guerre: (Ukraine facing the war), in French. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

Russia has committed over 160,000 war crimes in Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General's office. What kinds of crimes are most widespread in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Why is the Russian approach to war so heavily marked by cruelty? Why do Russian forces torture Ukrainian civilians and abduct Ukrainian children? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Oleksandra Romantsova, a Ukrainian human rights activist and Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties — a Ukrainian NGO that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 Centre for Civil Liberties: https://ccl.org.ua/en/ *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms (apple, youtube, spotify, soundcloud, amazon etc): https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 — The war that started in 2014: a history of Russian war crimes. 03:00 — First steps of the occupiers: a blueprint for terror. 07:11 — Why Russia fails to understand Ukrainians: a crucial mistake. 11:54 — The myth of “honest” Russian courts and police 14:19 — How Russia kidnaps Ukrainian children 16:07 — How Russia changes Ukrainian demography and militarizes Ukrainian children 19:23 — Preparing teenagers for the Russian army 21:26 — Is there a place for justice in a Russian world? 23:48 — Why returning people and achieving justice is critical 26:06 — A new war crime: kidnapping civilians 28:40 — Why documenting war crimes is crucial 29:50 — How Russia destroys any law in the occupied territories 31:20 — Using captives as hostages and resources 33:28 — Russian torture chambers exist even in small villages 34:30 — Chaos strategy: Moscow tries to create “grey zones” near NATO borders 36:10 — Why Russia is fighting a war against Ukrainian civilians. 39:23 — Why Putin fears democracy 41:14 — Breaking Ukrainians through religious persecution 42:43 — Three levels of justice: punishment, victims’ rights and historical truth 44:36 — Why crimes must be recorded now 47:02 — Lessons from other countries: never wait until the war ends 49:16 — Solutions: universal jurisdiction and a special tribunal

How can we understand what’s happening inside the Ukrainian army? How do soldiers feel? What challenges do they face? What parts of military life do they believe aren’t working? Traditional sociology doesn’t always provide the answers. But another discipline — anthropology, also called ethnography — offers a different approach. This method involves deep immersion into the everyday lives of soldiers. A more recent innovation, called mobile ethnography, takes this further — allowing researchers to stay connected with soldiers even when they’re not physically present. We wanted to learn more about what such a deep dive can reveal about the Ukrainian army. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Oleksiy Moskalenko, an analyst at the Initiatives Centre of Come Back Alive (Povernys zhyvym) — one of Ukraine’s most prominent charitable foundations, supporting the military and veterans since 2014. *** Come Back Alive foundation: https://savelife.in.ua/en/ The Foundation’s Initiatives Centre: https://cbacenter.ngo/en From Civilian to Soldier: A Study: https://cbacenter.ngo/en/page/how-civilians-become-soldiers-come-back-alive-initiatives-center-studies-basic-military-training-in-ukraine *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. *** SUPPORT US: You can support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your contributions are essential, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 - Intro. Support UkraineWorld on patreon.com/ukraineworld 01:51 - What is "Mobile Ethnography"? How a Civilian Foundation Studies the Ukrainian Army's Reality 15:14 - What Do Soldiers Really Struggle With? 17:55 - Risk Management for Civilians: How Understanding Army Life Can Prepare You? 20:49 - What "Sovietness" Really Means: Deconstructing the Biggest Complaint in the Ukrainian Army 35:12 - Ukraine's Existential Question: Can You Value Life and Still Win a War? 38:04 - From Civilian to Soldier: How Ukraine's Army is Changing from the Inside Out 43:03 - The "After-War" Problem: Why Ukraine Needs Help NOW

Ukraine wants to be heard around the world. But we must also learn to listen to the wider world in return. The Ukrainian Institute — the country’s leading institution for cultural diplomacy — is doing remarkable work to make Ukraine’s voice heard not only in Europe and North America, but also across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In this episode, I speak with two key figures at the Ukrainian Institute who work on engagement with the wider world. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of building these vital connections. Our guests are Alim Aliev, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, and Anabell Ramires, Head of the Department for Asia, Africa, and Latin America. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. This is the final episode in our special series with the Ukrainian Institute, exploring Ukraine’s growing ties with the countries of the wider world — including Asia, Africa, and Latin America. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media project about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. Choose your podcast platform: li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine You can SUPPORT our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. Your support is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our VOLUNTEER trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com *** CONTENTS: 00:00 – Alim Aliev, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, and Anabell Ramires, Head of Department for Asia, Africa, and Latin America of the Ukrainian Institute 02:00 – How Ukraine communicates with the wider world, particularly with the countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia 03:04 – Building bridges: the Ukrainian Institute’s new direction 04:42 – Сommonalities between Ukraine and the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America 10:31 – Lack of knowledge: How it influences relations between Ukraine and countries of AALA 12:14 – Topics that unite: ecocide, children, multicultural identity, and others 17:18 – When personal identity becomes a diplomatic tool 24:11 – Crimean Tatars are muslims, and indigenous people in Ukraine 28:54 – Difficulties in comparing European colonialism with Russian colonialism 36:40 – The rise of Ukraine Studies across the world 42:00 – Distance, and the shadow of Russian narratives 46:39 – What Ukrainians can tell people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America? 50:06 – Support UkraineWorld on Patreon: patreon.com/ukrainewold