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Artwork by Mariia Prymachenko This episode of Ukrainian Field Notes comes to you from Lviv, where I have been attending the Lviv Media Forum, whose theme this year is Reality Under Attack: Flight, Freeze, or Fight? Alongside the talks, there were also video installations, including You Shouldn’t Have to See This (2024) by Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei [UFN XXIX], who filmed sleeping children…

Artwork by Mariia Prymachenko This month we speak to alanmortus in Kyiv about how the war changes the perspective on what is important. Horizon Resonances tells us about how the city of Odesa has shaped him, Pororoka talks about her life being split in two and Plaaaato laments having to leave Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, Letovchenko reminisces about growing up in the Luhansk region, Коца address the…

artwork by Mariia Prymachenko One of the joys of doing this series is discovering new artists. After more than four years, I’m still finding fresh, original voices emerging from Ukraine. Hailing from Ivano-Frankivsk is 20-year-old støïbrok, an improviser and researcher of sound who only started releasing music in February but has already managed to put out nine titles in two months—full albums,…

Artwork by Mariia Prymachenko It’s now been four years since the full-scale invasion with little to feel optimistic about. This month we talk to kyïvite about radio broadcasts and archival recordings while Polygrim describes his production processes as playing with Lego on steroids and Konstantin Kost displays his penchant for VHS aesthetics in Odesa, whereas Doctor Bugg admits to a strong…

artwork by Mariia Prymachenko The last UFN episode for 2025 is also our 50th, this would be cause for celebration, but truth be told, we’d rather we didn’t have to keep reporting from Ukraine. As Lawrence Freedman argues, a strong narrative has taken hold in “Western” discourse portraying Russia’s victory in Ukraine as inevitable because of its numerical advantages and willingness to absorb heavy…

Blue Bull by Mariia Prymachenko Whenever I start a new episode of Ukrainian Field Notes, I have no idea where it will take me. This month I ended with 21 interviews (15 male and 9 female –  some of the interviews are with bands). Among these, there are 4 active servicemen and 1 veteran. It all makes for 35,000+ words. It might sound trite, but I am always grateful to those who share their…

artwork by Mariia Prymachenko With attacks on Ukraine intensifying, we travel to the frontline with Мс Мягкий Металл (Mc Soft Metal) and Raavel. For much needed relief, we turn our attention to Kim Kardashien to indulge in some doggy style music in the midst of Kyiv and we get dark with Hungry Boys. Meanwhile Cre helps us to find a pulse within the chaos, we enjoy daytime parties with Ksena In…