Vlada Toporkova

Amid the Russian invasion, Ukraine's 154th Mechanized Brigade stands ready. The 2S1 Gvozdika artillery unit delivers precision and power, remaining focused under pressure.

This December 5th marks the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum—an agreement meant to provide security assurances to Ukraine in exchange for its decision to give up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal.

From the much-anticipated release of Wicked to Marvel’s hit Agatha All Along , witches have dominated the spotlight this autumn. Ukraine, too, is embracing this wave—not in cinemas but on stage—with the theatrical phenomenon The Witch of Konotop . While the US has its Salem, Ukraine has its Konotop.

Once starved by Moscow-made artificial hunger, the Holodomor genocide, and now under attack by Russia’s aggression, Ukraine has defied the odds to provide global food security. The nation honors its tragic past on Holodomor Remembrance Day and continues to feed the world, knowing all too well the trauma of starvation.

“Land, my dear land!” begins the trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the long-awaited return of the beloved Ukrainian game franchise—after 15 years. On screen, the character Richter sings, gesturing toward the desolate world outside. The song and scenery strike a chord for many Ukrainians, who may quietly hum along to the familiar lyrics.

Isolated and nearly ally-less, North Korea has thrust itself onto the world stage, even deploying its troops to back Russia in its full-scale war against Ukraine. North Korean propagandists have joined Russia’s chorus, adding Ukraine to their narrative. But who are these propagandists, and just how far does their influence reach?