Explaining Ukraine
UkraineWorld
A podcast by UkraineWorld.org, a multimedia project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Explaining Ukraine, its politics, society and its culture. Support us: patreon.com/ukraineworld
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 4, 2023 • 22min
The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a positional warfare stage, - Weekly, 30 Oct - 3 Nov, 2023
Ukraine is making gradual advances on the left bank of Kherson Oblast, while Russia's attempts to attack from five different directions have all failed.
Amid Russia’s increase in military production, large supplies of weapons from North Korea to Russia, and lack of game-changing weapons in Ukraine, the war is entering the 'positional prolonged' phase - a concerning development for Ukraine. Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces outlined the challenges for the current stage of the war and possible solutions.
This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld
We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Nov 2, 2023 • 43min
Writing about our dead - with Olesya Khromeychuk
Olesya Khromeychuk is a Ukrainian historian and head of the Ukrainian Institute in London. She is also the author of the heartbreaking book "The Death of a Soldier Told by His Sister", in which she tells the story of her brother Volodymyr, who was killed by the Russians on the frontline in 2017.
In this episode, UkraineWorld’s chief editor Volodymyr Yermolenko speaks with Olesya Khromeychuk about her experience of writing this book and working with the pain of the loss of her own brother at war. We also talk about how Ukrainian culture is presented abroad and about the most important “entry points” into Ukrainian literature and history.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 30, 2023 • 39min
China skipped Ukraine's peace formula summit - Weekly, 24-30 October
Russian attacks are thwarted by Ukrainian defense forces, particularly near Maryinka and Novomykhailivka, while occupiers redeploy reserves from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia
Aside from frontline developments, the previous week marked unwavering international support for Ukraine. Germany will contribute 54.3 million euros to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund, while the United Kingdom is set to contribute additional air defense systems. Meanwhile, a virtual museum has been created to collect digital copies of artworks looted by Russians in Ukraine.
This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons.
You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 30, 2023 • 34min
This Dutch writer became a volunteer to help Ukraine - with Jaap Scholten
What brings foreigners to Ukraine? What motivates them to come and help a country at war? What do they find in this country that they don’t find at home?
This episode's guest is Jaap Scholten, a Dutch writer and journalist, who came to Ukraine to volunteer. He regularly visits Ukraine with his friends to bring cars to soldiers, as well as medical equipment and other aid. He is also the author of the book "Three Bags of Ladies Clothes and a Sniper" about his trips to Ukraine, and is the founder of the charity Protect Ukraine (https://www.protectukraine.nl/)
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and journalist, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 25, 2023 • 39min
On empathy - with Catalina Gomez, a Colombian journalist in Ukraine
What do we get if we turn away from the abstract “geopolitical” or “military” analysis of this war and talk about the human side of it? What do we see if we look at this war primarily as a story of human suffering and courage?
This episode's guest is Catalina Gomez, a Colombian journalist working in Ukraine for France 24. In this episode, we talk about the empathy and compassion that spans oceans and vast distances. We also talk about Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who was killed by a Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk which Catalina managed to survive.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld. We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 23, 2023 • 32min
More international support for Ukraine and tense lines on the battlefield, - Weekly, 14-23 Oct
While Russian occupiers attempt to breach Ukrainian defense lines and encircle Avdiyivka, Ukraine cuts them off south of Bakhmut, forcing them to retreat to the Bakhmut-Horlivka highway.
In addition to frontline developments, the previous week was marked with encouraging news regarding international support for Ukraine. The US has agreed to supply Ukraine with ATACMS missiles on an ongoing basis. Meanwhile, the Bring Kids Back UA platform was created to raise awareness about Russia's genocidal deportation of Ukrainian children.
This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld
We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 13, 2023 • 23min
Zelenskyy brought encouraging news home from Brussels amid Russia’s new offensive - Weekly, 7-13 Oct
Russia has launched a massive offensive in the Avdiivka area (the Eastern direction). Ukraine holds its position. Despite the volatile situation on the frontlines, the previous week was marked with encouraging news regarding international support for Ukraine. President Zelenskyy brought home new aid packages and assurances of continued support from Brussels and Bucharest.
This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk and Dariia Synhaievska, analysts and journalists at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld
We provide exclusive content for our patrons. You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 6, 2023 • 39min
52 people killed in Russia's missile attack on civilians in Ukraine - Weekly, 30 Sep-6 Oct
Russia has carried out a series of heinous and bloody terror attacks on Ukrainian civilians in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Hroza. The aggressor murdered a large part of Hroza's population who gathered to pay tribute to a fallen soldier, their countryman.
As Ukraine advances, Russians resort to more brutal tactics on the frontlines. Meanwhile, Ukraine is attempting to gain more international support by acting on a global scale.
This is our weekly roundup of key events and trends in and around Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermolenko, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, is joined by Anastasiia Herasymchuk, analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld, to discuss key events and trends in and around Ukraine over the past week.
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support us at patreon.com/ukraineworld
We provide exclusive content for our patrons.
You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.

Oct 5, 2023 • 43min
What is happening at the front? - with Mykola Bielieskov, a Ukrainian military analyst
What is happening at the front in the Russo-Ukrainian war? Can Ukraine break Russian defense lines in the South? What are the key frontline spots, and why are they important? How are drones changing the art of war? What arms does Ukraine need, and how could they change the situation on the frontline?
The guest on this episode of the Explaining Ukraine podcast is Mykola Bielieskov, a Ukrainian military analyst, research fellow at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, and chief analyst at Come Back Alive, one of Ukraine’s largest volunteer foundations.
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld.org
UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the most reputable Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support UkraineWorld at patreon.com/ukraineworld. Patrons get exclusive content.
Support our volunteer trips to the frontline areas at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com

Oct 2, 2023 • 43min
What’s wrong with Ukrainian-Polish relations? - with Wojciech Przybylski
Ukraine and Poland are now going through one of the worst periods of their recent mutual relations. Historical memory clashes have reared their heads again, and controversy about Ukrainian grain exports to and through Poland shows signs of a serious trade dispute. What happened to the seemingly rock-solid relations from a year ago, when Russia started its cruel invasion against Ukraine, and Poland stepped up as one of the leading countries in helping Ukrainian refugees and supporting Ukrainian resistance against the Russian invasion?
Our guest on this episode of the Explaining Ukraine podcast is Wojciech Przybylski, a Polish political analyst and author. Przybylski is Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight and President of the Res Publica Foundation.
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld.org
UkraineWorld is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the most reputable Ukrainian media NGOs.
Support UkraineWorld at patreon.com/ukraineworld. Patrons get exclusive content.
Support our volunteer trips to the frontline areas at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com


