Culture

On January 6, Ukrainians across the country marked Epiphany with a time-honored tradition—plunging into icy waters to renew their faith. Despite ongoing challenges from Russia’s war, the ritual of immersing in frigid rivers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, remains a powerful expression of Ukraine’s cultural resilience and spiritual renewal.

The fifth season of Netflix’s hit series Emily in Paris premiered on December 18, shifting the story from Paris to Rome—and bringing Ukrainian fashion into the global spotlight as designs by Ukrainian brands appear among the show’s most talked-about looks.

An increasing number of Ukrainian documentaries are embracing a “mosaic” style of storytelling, opting for a self-sufficient narrative that eschews voice-over narration. With an unflinching vision, Kateryna Gornostai’s Timestamp portrays Ukrainian children navigating classrooms amidst the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale war, offering an intimate, hyper-focused account of youth and teachers.

Families in the East of Ukraine lived through a war long before Russia’s 2022 invasion. In  5k from the Frontline , a digital platform and short film, British-Swedish photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind and Donetsk native Alisa Sopova captured the everyday lives of civilians in towns like Avdiivka and Toretsk before the Russian army wiped them off the map.

The war turned Vladyslav Krasnoshchok, a Kharkiv surgeon and underground artist, into one of Ukraine’s most provocative war photographers. His language is raw, and his images even more so—together they capture a truth that goes beyond what the eye sees.

If you can’t travel to Ukraine but have always been curious about its culture, France just launched its “Ukrainian Season.” For the next four months, Paris and other cities will bring Ukraine’s cultural heritage to life—a vibrant, living testament to the cultural power of Ukraine. Led by the French Institute, this four-month event challenges outdated Soviet-era narratives and reclaims Ukraine’s often misunderstood identity.

French musician Salomé Gasselin’s first journey to Kyiv offered a clear view of Europe’s cultural imprint in Ukraine. As the centuries-old sound of the viola da gamba filled the National Philharmonic, the concert was described as a “small miracle,” affirming Ukraine’s deep cultural ties to Europe in the language of music.