Society & Culture

The vast majority of Ukrainians (79%) would still stay in Ukraine even if they were granted US or EU citizenship. According to Ukrinform, this is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in September 2024. As noted, in October 2020, KIIS conducted an all-Ukrainian telephone survey, which, among other things, asked the question: “If you were granted US or EU citizenship unconditionally, would you move to these countries for permanent residence?” At that time, 28% of all adult Ukrainians were ready to move abroad. In September 2022, six months after the…

Leaked internal documents from a Kremlin-controlled propaganda center reveal how a well-coordinated Russian campaign supported far-right parties in the European Parliament elections — and planted disinformation across social media platforms to undermine Ukraine. That’s according to an investigation run jointly by nearly a dozen European media outlets, who used the data dump originally obtained by Delfi, Suddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, Ukrinform reports citing VSquare. Sources in European intelligence told journalists that the data obtained via the leak is authentic, according to their assessment, Radio Svoboda wrote. The investigation puts a focus on the head of Russia’s secret propaganda project,…

Last Friday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a decree on increasing the personnel cap in the army by 170,000, to 1.32 million. This may imply that the authorities could resume mobilization as early as this December. That’s according to the chief of the Citizen. Army. Law human rights organization Sergei Krivenko, who spoke with the BBC Russian Service, Ukrinform reports. He based his assessment on the previous similar precedent. In August 2022, taking war casualties into account, the Russian army could have up to 850,000 soldiers and officers in its ranks. Then a month after Putin issued a decree on…

Since the outset of the occupation of Crimea, 10 political prisoners have been released as part of prisoner exchanges. This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC), Ukrinform reports. In particular, during the entire occupation of Crimea, the following prisoners were swapped: - Hennadiy Afanasyev, who was sentenced to 7 years in a top security colony. He was detained on May 10, 2014, and returned to Ukraine on June 14, 2016 as part of the exchange. In total, he was held in the pre-trial detention center for two years Read also: Activists calling on Bundestag to recognize deportation…

American historian Timothy Snyder took part in the testing of demining robots at a training ground just outside Kyiv. That’s according to the UNITED24 platform, Ukrinform reports. Deputy Prime Minister for Innovations, Development of Education, Science and Technologies Mykhailo Fedorov and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko also attended the session. The Zmiy ("Snake") ground demining system, the remotely controlled UGV Sirko-S1 platform, and the KNLR-E ​​multi-purpose tracked platform underwent a series of tests, according to the report. Read also: Zelensky meets with historian Snyder It was for these demining robots that Tymothy Snyder and Mark Hamill announced a fundraiser on…

Fake information is being spread in telegram channels that the Red Cross will allegedly give every family in Ukraine a food package on September 16. The Ukrainian Red Cross reported this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. “Fake information is being spread in telegram channels that on September 16, the Ukrainian Red Cross will allegedly give every family currently in Ukraine a food package in honor of the organization's 30th anniversary. The fraudsters refer to the president of the organization. Be careful - this is false information,” the message says. Read also: French FM condemns attack on convoy of International Committee of…

Vladimir Putin's visits to Tuva and then to Mongolia had, besides the formal purpose, a concealed agenda, which is consultaions with local shamans. Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar claimed this in an article for Der Spiegel, Ukrinform reports. The author refers to unnamed sources close to the Kremlin who say meetings shamans were the major reason Putin made both trips. This was already his third visit to Mongolia in the last decade, while Tuva is one of his frequent destinations. Mongolia and Tuva are seen as homeland to the world’s most powerful shamans. "Now rumors are spreading in Moscow that Putin…

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has honored 28 defenders of Ukraine with state awards. The corresponding decree, No.630/2024 of September 14, was published on the president’s website, Ukrinform reports. According to the document, the President awarded the defenders for their courage in defending Ukraine's state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for selflessly performing their military duty. The defenders were awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, “For Courage,” medals “For Military Service to Ukraine” and “To the Defender of the Fatherland”. Read also: Ukrainian President confers awards on 276 defenders, 267 posthumously As Ukrinform reported, President Zelensky announced he had signed…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to offer assistance to neighboring countries in eliminating the consequences of flooding due to heavy rainfall. The head of state said this in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports. "Unfortunately, there are also critical situations in our neighboring countries due to these extreme rains. On my instructions, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered assistance from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to the affected countries in our part of Europe," Zelensky said. Sybiha noted that assistance had been offered to Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. "Ukraine…

Internally displaced persons whose income exceeds UAH 9,444 per month may not be able to continue receiving payments. Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights Mykhailo Tsymbalyuk said this on the air of Kyiv24 TV channel, Ukrinform reports. According to the deputy, IDPs will not be deprived of their funds en masse. It is only about those whose total income exceeds UAH 9,444 per month. The new rule will apply to those people who will apply for the extension of payments. Also, payments will be suspended in cases where a person has…