Explaining Ukraine

Volodymyr Yermolenko – Director of Analytics, Internews Ukraine; Maksym Panchenko – journalist and analyst, Internews Ukraine; Tetyana Ogarkova – Ukrainian scholar and journalist who is in charge of international outreach at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre; Kostiantyn Romashko – Head of Analytics Department, Internews Ukraine; Diana Ishchenko, Mykhailo Komarov – Case Copywriters, Internews Ukraine.

Explaining Ukraine (https://soundcloud.com/user-579586558) is an English-language podcast which has been explaining Ukraine’s politics, society, and culture on a monthly basis since 2017. After the Russian invasion on February, 24th, 2022, the need of international audiences for reliable information on Ukraine has become even more acute. In response to the world's interest in the events in Ukraine, the podcast has transformed into a daily “war diary,” offering first-hand information on the horrors of Russian aggression and occupation, heartbreaking human stories from Ukrainian towns ravaged by the war, Russia's nuclear terrorism, humanitarian disasters, and the historical context of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The podcast features dialogue between UkraineWorld chief editor Volodymyr Yermolenko and his wife Tetyana Ogarkova, who is in charge of international outreach at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center. As they remain in Ukraine during the war, the podcast’s hosts share what they have seen and experienced in homeland as it fights for its freedom and independence.  They visited Bucha and traveled to the villages near Kyiv which were occupied by Russian forces in March. They spoke with local residents, including those who remained during the Russian occupation, and shared their stories with listeners. Regular episodes also cover the latest news from the frontline, as well as thorough analyses of Russian propaganda. Some episodes feature guest speakers, including Ukrainian diplomats, security analysts, philosophers, historians, and other intellectuals.  The Explaining Ukraine podcast has received rave reviews from the international community of journalists, analysts, and others who are following the tragic events in Ukraine and empathize with Ukrainians. The podcast was included in: Top 6 English-language podcasts about Ukraine right now (by The Guardian, March, 19. 2022); 20 best radio shows and podcasts about Ukraine (by The Times, March, 15, 2022); Resources for Following and Understanding the Ukrainian War: Streaming Videos and Podcasts (by University of St.Thomas, April, 25, 2022).  “Explaining Ukraine” was also mentioned in The New York Times, Verge, CNN, and other famous international media outlets. The podcast has already more than 371,000 plays on SoundCloud. It is also available on Google podcasts, Apple podcasts, and YouTube. The majority of listeners are from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. In its bloody fight against Russia, Ukraine's information struggle has become critically important. By spreading the truth about the war in Ukraine to the world, we bring the world to our side and bring our common victory over the enemy closer.