Society & Culture

In Italy’s Milan, a local venue refused to hold a charity concert by the Zhadan and Sobaky band, having learned that the funds raised at the show were supposed to be sent to support Ukrainian defenders. The band leader, writer, musician, public figure, and volunteer Serhii Zhadan wrote of this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. The artist posted a snapshot of his correspondence with who appears to be a venue manager. The organizers reversed the initial agreement to host the show because, in their opinion, the band is "raising money for the war," which is illegal in Italy, so the organizers…

The so-called "referendum" set to be held in Kherson region by the invasion forces is important for Russia as an argument for future generations, therefore they are inclined to falsify the votes if it is deemed possible. Serhiy Danilov, deputy chief of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, told about this in an interview with Ukrinform. "For them, the referendum is important not only as a justification for the annexation, but also as an argument for future generations. I agree with those who claim that, if possible, they’ll manipulate the outcome,” says Danilov. Read also: EU should be ready to…

In his address on the Independence Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have understood who our real friends are, and who just keeps away from us. Ironically, on Independence Day, this assumption was once again confirmed in the Hungarian city of Sombatgei, where a basketball match between the national teams of Lithuania and Hungary took place. On August 24, 2022, one of the group stage matches of the FIBA ​​World Basketball Championship between Lithuania and Hungary took place in the "Arena Savaria" sports complex in the Hungarian city of Sombatgei.…

A rally in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), remaining in Russian captivity, has been held in Zhytomyr Region’s Malyn, which is a home city of Dmytro Kozatskyi, the press officer of the Azov Regiment. The relevant statement was made by Malyn City Council on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “More than 100 local residents from Malyn and the community took part in a rally held in support of [Ukrainian] prisoners of war in the central part of the city. Today, an exhibition of photographs taken by our fellow townsman, Dmytro Kozatskyi (‘Orest’) has been presented there. Together with…

The Government of Japan and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) sent more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian goods to Ukraine. “In particular, within the framework of the project, assistance was received by the State Emergency Service and the humanitarian hub "Zhytomyr" which sends aid to the most war-affected regions of Ukraine. Special equipment for rescuers, medicines, and communication equipment are among the goods transferred,” the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Facebook. The Service noted that the Government of Japan had adopted a decision to provide assistance at the request of the Embassy of Ukraine in…

President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that Ukraine has no interest in the daughter of the “Russian world” mastermind, Darya Dugina, so her alleged murder "is not our responsibility." The president touched upon the topic during a press conference on Tuesday, August 23, Ukrinform reports. "It is definitely not our responsibility, she is not a citizen of our country, we are not interested in her, and she is not on the territory of Ukraine," Zelensky said, answering a question regarding Russia’s accusations of Ukraine's involvement in the assassination of Darya Dugina. Read also: Ukraine has nothing to do with car bomb…

Ukraine and Poland have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of cyber security. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation reported this on Telegram. "The Ministry of Digital Transformation, together with the State Service of Special Communications, and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of cyber security. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland has been repeatedly attacked by Russian hackers. Now we will be able to unite our efforts to fight back the enemy in cyberspace," the report reads. The…

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that he does not support the proposal to ban Russians from entering EU countries. According to Bloomberg, Josep Borrell said this at a press conference in Spain. “To forbid the entrance to all the Russians is not a good idea. We have to be more selective,” he said. Borrell said the EU shouldn’t open its doors to oligarchs but that “there are many Russians that want to flee the country because they don’t want to live in this situation.” As Ukrinform reported, the EU is set to…

In the context of the 20th anniversary of entrusting the world to the Divine Mercy by John Paul II, Pope Francis has wished the Ukrainian people God’s grace and mercy. The relevant statement was made by Vatican News, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. On Sunday, the pontiff greeted the people who came to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City and, having noticed the Ukrainian flags, recalled the pilgrims who had gathered in the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków’s Łagiewniki. “A special thought goes to the many pilgrims who today gathered in the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków,…

In the temporarily captured City of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, workers brought in from Russia on promises of high wages have not been paid. That’s according to a report by the Mariupol City Council, seen by Ukrinform. "The occupiers bring workers from Russia to work in the occupied territories. They are promised high salaries, but in fact they get duped. Local residents are not hired for these jobs," the report says. The City Council noted that bricklayers, decorators, and electrical installers were brought to Mariupol from St. Petersburg. They were told they would be paid twice as much…