Happy Kyiv Day!

 

Kyiv is 1544 years old, based on its traditionally accepted founding date of 482 CE. Kyiv, not Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both banks of the Dniepro River. As of January 2022, the population of Kyiv was 2,952,301, making it the seventh-most populous city in Europe.

The city's name is said to derive from the name of Kyi, one of its four legendary founders, the others being brothers Schek and Horyv and sister Lebed. One of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, it has passed through several stages of prominence and obscurity. It probably existed as a commercial centre as early as the 5th century. A Slavic settlement on the great trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople, it was a Khazar tributary until its capture by the Varangians (Vikings) in the mid-9th century. Under Varangian rule, the city became the capital of Kyivan Rus, the first East Slavic state. Christianization of Kyivan Rus occurred in 988 CE, when Prince Volodymyr the Great made Eastern Orthodox Christianity the state religion. During the Siege of Kyiv (1240) by the Mongols, Kyiv was left in ruins. The Mongol invasions fractured Kievan Rus.

In contrast, Moscow is only 879 years old. You can't steal our history, Russia, and you didn't wipe out our culture or language. Slava Ukraini. The name Ukraine (Україна) broadly translates to "our country" or "homeland" in modern Ukrainian. Get out, Russia. 

The Ems Ukaz

 Ukrainian World Congress - Свiтовий Конґрес Українців

150 years ago, in 1876, the Russian imperial authorities issued the so-called Ems Ukaz — a secret and deliberately repressive decree aimed at systematically suppressing the Ukrainian language, culture, and any expressions of national identity.

It was one of the harshest tools of imperial policy, designed to push the Ukrainian language out of education, science, and public life. The decree broadly banned the printing and import of Ukrainian books, as well as theatre performances, concerts, public readings, and the wider use of the Ukrainian language.

In practice, it targeted the entire cultural infrastructure — from school textbooks to artistic life — attempting to make Ukrainian invisible and unwelcome. Did it succeed? We can clearly see the answer today.

150 years later, the Ukrainian language is not only alive. Millions speak it around the world. It is taught in hundreds of Saturday schools abroad, and increasingly studied by non-Ukrainians as well. The Ems Ukaz became a historic reminder: the Ukrainian language and identity cannot be erased.

_________________

150 років тому цього дня, у 1876, російська імперська влада підписала так званий Емський указ — таємне й підступне розпорядження, спрямоване на системне придушення української мови, культури та будь-яких проявів національного життя.

Це був один із найжорсткіших інструментів імперської політики, спрямованої на те, щоб витіснити українське слово з освіти, науки й публічного простору. Указ масовано забороняв друк і ввезення українських книжок, театральні постановки, концерти, публічні читання та будь-яке широке використання української мови.

Фактично під удар потрапила вся культурна інфраструктура — від шкільних підручників до мистецьких подій. Українське слово намагалися зробити «невидимим» і «небажаним». Чи вдалося? Відповідь бачимо на власні очі.

Сьогодні, 150 років потому, українська мова не просто існує. Нею говорять мільйони у світі, її вивчають у сотнях суботніх шкіл за кордоном і дедалі частіше — іноземці. Емський указ став історичним нагадуванням: українську мову й ідентичність неможливо стерти.

Moscow's parade not so grand this year

 

Brew for Ukraine

Brew for Ukraine is a global brewing collaboration initiated by Pravda Brewery in Lviv, Ukraine, inviting brewers worldwide to produce their beer recipes to raise humanitarian funds. Launched after Pravda paused production to support the war effort, the project features beers such as "Putin Huylo" and "Red Eyes," with proceeds supporting humanitarian relief for refugees and victims of the conflict. 

Pravda Syla (“Sila”) is a Belgian Strong Ale from Ukraine, boasting an impressive 8% ABV. “Syla” means “strength”—a fitting name for this powerful beer. In the glass, it displays a golden to amber hue, is opaque, and crowned with an elegant, finely pored head. The aroma is subtle: light fruit notes, accompanied by a hint of alcohol, create a pungent yet intriguing impression. The taste is smooth, full-bodied, and sweet, with delicate fruit notes. The dry finish emphasises the alcohol but remains pleasant.

Pravda Brewery opened its recipe books and shared branding for multiple beers, including Red Eyes (American Red Ale) and Putin Huylo (Dry-Hopped Strong Ale).

Breweries worldwide, such as Loose Cannon Brewery and Oxbow Brewing Company, have participated by donating profits to vetted Ukrainian relief funds and humanitarian efforts.

Over 400 breweries have joined this initiative to support Ukrainian refugees and defenders, using the #BrewForUkraine movement to provide practical, financial aid.

The initiative started after Pravda Brewery's efforts to pivot from brewing to producing Molotov cocktails gained international attention. 

Beer Culture Centre

BREW FOR UKRAINE

Beer is more than just a beverage. It is a dynamic cultural force with the power to bring people together and the ability to influence change. 

In mid March, the Chicago Brewseum's Alison Orton had the unique opportunity to speak with Yurii Zastavnyi, owner of the Pravda Brewery and Beer Theatre in L'viv, Ukraine. The Pravda Brewery gained widespread internet fame for switching from brewing beer to producing Molotov cocktails as Russia invaded Ukraine. But they are doing so much more.  Over the last few weeks, Yurii and his colleagues have fed thousands of refugees and have helped orphaned children and disabled people trying to flee the invasion. Former Pravda head brewer, Cory McGuinness, has organised a GoFundMe page to support those efforts.

In this special 30-minute interview, Yurii describes the situation in L’viv and Ukrainian resistance to the Russians. He also explains why he and his colleagues decided to stop brewing beer and start producing Molotov cocktails.

#StandWithUkraine

For more information on participating or donating, visit their Facebook group or official affiliated pages. 

How the Iran war has helped Ukraine

As Iran struck out against US military bases in the Middle East and US-aligned Arab countries, the Arabs found themselves unprepared to deal with the new Shahed-led military strategies in war. President Zelensky, touting Ukraine's experience in fighting the same Shahed missiles being sold to Russia by Iran and used against Ukraine, approached the Middle Eastern countries offering them anti-missile defence drones, intelligence-gathering drones and naval deployment drones for the Straits of Hormuz in exchange for military support and long-term mutual strategic defence. 

Ukraine has developed a range of cheap, effective drones and low-cost interceptors, a strategy that has reshaped modern warfare. These systems, some costing as little as $1,000, are used for reconnaissance, attack, and defence against Russian threats like Iranian-designed Shahed drones. An autonomous unit has taken back a Russian-occupied territory, the first time ever that no humans were involved in a manoeuvre. The subsea drones have effectively taken out Russia's Black Sea fleet. Zelensky offered to clear the Strait of Hormuz from mines and to defend it against assault ships. 

He then made pacts with European countries to build defence production facilities in Europe and the UK, thereby strengthening the ties between Ukraine and the EU as well as the Middle East. 

Putin may have gained in the short-term, but Ukraine has ensured that its safety and sovereignty will be supported by numerous allies, and its defence systems will be produced in NATO countries, thus securing their firepower. And Hungary has a new leader who has already strengthened ties with Ukraine and voted to release the €90 billion loan from the embargoed Russian reserves to Ukraine. 

Well done, Mr Zelensky, not bad for a Jewish comedian President. They say it takes a genius to be a good comedian. When others were playing their cards, you were playing chess. The FT came to the same conclusions. 

Дарія Олена Коженьовська Блеквелл

Easter in Ukraine

 

Today in Bucha.

Today, Ukraine celebrates Orthodox Easter under the Julian calendar with faith and defiance, baking paska and decorating pysanky during wartime. Ukraine's Jewish President leads the celebrations with an Easter truce while the Roman Catholic Pope Leo leads prayers for peace in Ukraine.  

So much has happened in Ukraine's situation on the world stage. The US administration has turned its back on Ukraine and in "peace talks" urged Ukraine to give up that "sliver of land" for an end to war. They will never understand that it's not just a sliver of land, but a large chunk of population who are Ukrainians not russians. The russians have stolen hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children who are being "re-educated" to fight for russia in camps on land held by russia's oil giants. This is but the beginning of Putin's plan. 

But things aren't exactly going to plan for the US or for Russia. 

A month ago, the US and Israel attacked Iran without provocation, presumably to distract from Trump's Epstein woes. But Iran shot down very expensive fighter jets and other planes. They fought back using their Shahed missiles, which they had been supplying to russia for its war in Ukraine. The US was fighting the Shaheds with very expensive Patriot missiles. And Iran was also shooting missiles into neighbouring Arab and Israeli targets. They then closed the Strait of Hormuz. The price of fossil fuels skyrocketed. The US was suddenly the world's pariah, and Americans were not happy campers in an election year when Congress could be flipped. 

Zelensky made a strategically brilliant move. He offered cheap drones and experts to assist the US in fighting off the Shaheds. The US declined. Then he travelled to the Middle East and made agreements with five Arab countries to supply surface drones, subsea drones and other tech in exchange for protection from the Arab leaders. Suddenly, Ukraine was in the leader's seat. They had been fighting Shahed drones for years and had gotten pretty good at it. They developed a whole new approach to warfare, and they were the only experts in these new war tactics. They will probably get a good bit of money for their defence effort in the deals. 

On top of that, they are now exporting their technology to European soil, building drone factories for surveillance, drone defence, and undersea offence. They destroyed the russian fleet, and they can help open the Starits of Hormuz. My, how the tone has changed. Zelenky may not have had the cards, but he's great at playing chess. 

Meanwhile, the US delegation negotiating with Iran in Pakistan has announced that Iran has not accepted their peace plan. So the war in the Middle East continues. 

Today also, Hungarians are voting for their next leader. Huge protests against Viktor Orban, Putin's puppet, have taken place in Budapest over the last few days. The turnout by mid-day has broken all the records. 

Христоc Воскресе! Slava Ukraini. 

Happy St Patrick's Day!

 

Today, St Patrick's Day 2026, Ukraine received great news from the EU. 

Trifolium dubium or Irish shamrock

Yulia Svyrydenko

@Svyrydenko_Y

4h

Today, the Ukrainian delegation in Brussels received the European Union’s accession benchmarks for the final three negotiating clusters. This means Ukraine now has the full set of requirements to meet for EU membership.

Ukraine is moving confidently along its path to European integration. The swift completion of the official screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU law demonstrates the country’s institutional capacity and readiness to move to the next stage.

The next steps are successful closure of the clusters and signing of the Accession Treaty, the final step toward Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union.

Today, Ukraine received the details for Cluster 3 “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth,” Cluster 4 “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity,” and Cluster 5 “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion Policy.”

In December, the Ukrainian side received the benchmarks for three other clusters: Cluster 1 “Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process,” Cluster 2 “Internal Market,” and Cluster 6 “External Relations.”

The Ukrainian government will continue to fulfill the accession requirements, implement the necessary reforms and measures, and report to the EU on progress. Moving forward together!