Did the War End?

In the final episode of “Did the War End?” the hosts reflect on Russia’s war against Ukraine six months in, discussing recent strikes on military sights in Russia-occupied Crimea and the hope that represents to end the occupation, as well as the biggest lessons they took away from living through war.

After a five-month blockade of Ukrainian ports, the first ships carrying Ukrainian grain have finally started sailing to the rest of the world. Russia has historically used food as a weapon — and this time around, it's no different. On today's episode, we are joined by two experts to discuss the oncoming food crisis being caused by Russia. This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.

Russia’s war has made Ukraine one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. In this episode, we are joined by an expert to take a closer look at what would it take to demine Ukraine.

Often referred to as the first “TikTok war,” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks the first time a war of this scale has played out as millions of people track every move and development in almost real-time. In this episode, we are joined by two experts to discuss disinformation, content moderation, and the role of social media in war. This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.

With Russia currently occupying over 20 percent of Ukraine, many Ukrainians are risking their lives to escape to Ukraine-controlled territory. In this episode, we are joined by the Kyiv Independent’s Head of Investigations Anna Myroniuk, who shares the story of one family’s escape from Kherson Oblast. This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway. 

Picture this: You’re scrolling through eBay, ten years from now, maybe looking for some artwork to put up in your new apartment. You come across a painting you like…but it looks familiar. Really familiar. You look a little closer and you realize — you’ve seen this painting before. In a museum, in Ukraine. And you think to yourself…wait – What’s it doing on eBay? In this episode, we hear from two experts about how Ukrainian art has become an important target for Russian occupiers during the war. Tune in to find out what's been stolen, where it’s going…and why. This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.

Since Russia illegally annexed and occupied Crimea in 2014, nearly all forms of dissent on the peninsula have been crushed. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has imposed a new layer of censorship as repressions have increased and ways of resisting have diminished. In this episode, we talk to two locals, including a Crimean Tatar activist, about how life has changed in Crimea since Feb. 24.

Disinformation has been a part of Russia's geopolitical strategy since the establishment of the Russian Imperial Police in 1881. How has Russia weaponized information, from the 1800s, Soviet times, and all the way to today? On today’s episode, we discuss the evolution of Russian information warfare alongside Nina Jankowicz, a world-renowned expert on disinformation. Tune in to hear the role disinformation is playing in the Russian-Ukrainian war and what the West and Ukraine can do to fight it. This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway. 

Throughout the war, Ukrainians all over the country have shown remarkable courage, be it to help a stranger or save their loved ones.   In this episode, we hear from one of those Ukrainians — Max — who drove from Kyiv to Mariupol, under constant Russian bombardment, to evacuate his family. Not once — but twice.   This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.

Azovstal, a steel plant in now Russian-occupied Mariupol, has become a symbol of Ukraine’s fierce resistance to the Russian invasion. Thousands of Ukrainian fighters defended the plant with little to no resources, refusing to surrender for nearly three months. In this episode, we hear from John Spencer, a leading expert in urban warfare studies, about what it took for Ukrainian soldiers to defend the plant, despite being drastically outnumbered. We also talk to two family members of Azovstal defenders who are now in Russian captivity about what life was like at the besieged plant.   This episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.

The early hours of Feb. 24, 2022 were not something any Ukrainian could have imagined. It was a very regular night. Then, millions of people across the country woke up to the sounds of explosions, as Russia began its full-scale attack on Ukraine, including its capital, Kyiv. In this episode, the hosts Anastasiia Lapatina, Catarina Buchatskiy, and Agatha Gorski discuss how they learned that their country was under attack, how they reacted, and what it feels like to look back at the start of Russia's war three months into it. They also interview Olga Rudenko, the chief editor of the Kyiv Independent, and Anna Myroniuk, the Kyiv Independent's head of investigations, about the decisions they had to make that night.   Articles mentioned in the episode: 'Breakdown of Putin’s false narratives to justify aggression against Ukraine' by Oleg Sukhov 'As Russia bombards Odesa, Soviet-friendly mayor rebrands as patriot' by Oleksiy Sorokin and Anna Myroniuk 'Mykolaiv holds on through Russian bombardment, lack of water' by Anna Myroniuk and Oleksiy Sorokin 'Illia Ponomarenko: Is Russia really about to invade Ukraine?' by Illia Ponomarenko   The episode was edited by Anthony Bartaway.   

In "Did the War End?" three young Ukrainians explore what it means to be a nation at war, bringing on experts and everyday Ukrainians to help them answer pressing questions. First Episode on June 1, 2022.