Author: Roman Tymotsko

CANNES, France – The film “As It Was,” directed by Ukrainian Anastasia Solone-vych and Damian Kocur of Poland, premiered at the 76th Festival de Cannes Short Film Competition on May 26. It was selected from among 4,288 films entered into the short film category. “As It Was” tells the story of a Ukrainian refugee’s return...

VENICE, Italy – For the first time in nearly a decade, Ukraine returned to the Venice Biennale of Architecture where it sought to remind the show’s international audience that a massive war continues to rage in Europe. On May 18, Ukraine officially opened its own pavilion, titled “Before the Future,” that will address various issues...

LVIV – Under normal circumstances, Ukraine, the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest winner, would be hosting the annual music competition that is known around the world as a kaleidoscopic expression of kitsch and culture. But these are not normal times in Ukraine, a country ravaged by war and bombarded regularly by Russian missiles and drones. Because...

LVIV – As Russia’s war on Ukraine continues into its second year, the process of applying and seeking admission to Ukraine’s colleges and universities, which kicks off in less than a month, has forced students to submit applications and take entrance exams under new rules that have been implemented in response to the ongoing war....

LVIV – On April 21, a fountain on Halytska Square in the city center was opened and dedicated to Dmytro “Da Vinci” Kotsiubaylo and all Ukrainians who have fought and died in the country during the current war. Reconstruction of the historic square and its fountain began before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine...

LVIV – After serving as a hub for millions of Ukrainian refugees who fled their homes during the initial phase of Russia’s full-scale war, Lviv has now taken on the critical role of providing rehabilitation services to the country’s wounded soldiers. On April 11, after just four months of reconstruction, the first section of the...

LVIV – As Ukraine continues to ask allies for modern, Western fighter planes, the first Soviet-era MiG-29 jets provided by Slovakia began arriving in the war-torn country, though there were indications that Russian technicians sabotaged the newly-arrived weapons. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď said Russian technicians may have intentionally compromised the Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets...

LVIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with the leaders of Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia, attended a ceremony on March 31 to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha from Russian forces. The event was held to honor the memory of the victims of Russia’s invasion and recognize the resilience...

LVIV – Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), travelled to the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on March 29 to assess the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power reactor and to ensure the facility is not used as a pawn in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. “ZNPP will not be...

LVIV – With the Black Sea Grain Initiative set to expire on March 18, the United Nations and Turkey are working to help Russia and Ukraine extend the agreement for another 120 days. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres visited Kyiv on March 8 to discuss the grain deal terms with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia...

LVIV – Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said it has formed a new Offensive Guard assault force that will be tasked with liberating the temporarily occupied territories of the country. The ministry also announced that it had received 23,000 applications to join the force in the first month of its recruitment campaign. Lt. Gen. Ihor...

KYIV – Undaunted by Moscow’s continuing missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, Ukrainians marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion that initially sought to capture Kyiv in three days and the rest of the country in a matter of weeks by honoring all of the soldiers and citizens who have died defending the...