Culture

“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.

Built in the 1920s, Derzhprom survived Soviet rule and Nazi occupation. Now, Russia aims to destroy it.

Ukraine is behind some of the world’s most iconic innovations. From the Avtorobot driving Hollywood’s action scenes to Sikorsky’s helicopter, Koroliov’s space breakthroughs, and even the creation of Grammarly, Ukraine’s inventive spirit continues to shape industries globally.

From the Mariupol Drama Theatre, where children sought shelter, to frescoed homes and Cathedrals—no part of Ukraine’s history is safe from Russia’s aggression. Whether by missile or occupation, Ukraine’s centuries-old culture, like its people, is being relentlessly destroyed.

How descendants of an underground, non-conformist photography movement—founded in Kharkiv in the 1970s—continue to capture war in Ukraine today.

Three years into the war, fashion has decided to make a major comeback in Kyiv. The Ukrainian Fashion Week, a four-day trade show, has returned after two years of absence. The growing industry, full of established and promising designers, wants to showcase the vision of Ukrainian brands through a bit of “cultural diplomacy.”