Uki Life Abroad

With thousands of churches spread across Ukraine, their unique style of golden domes is instantly recognisable. But where did this originate? Find out in this weeks episode along with two important recent news events. 

With a long, complex and controversial history, Ukrainians have long fought for the preservation of their national identity. This week we take a look at Ukraine and the impacts that over 1000 years of geo politics has had on it and its' people. 

With democracy still maturing in Ukraine, how is the country looking to reform its parliamentary structure. In this episode, we look at Zelenkyy's proposal to shrink the membership of the Verkhovna Rada as well as the recent sanctions on pro-Russian propaganda. 

With Ukrainian video gaming on the rise in 2019, how did the industry traverse 2020 and what does the future hold? This week we share our own gaming experiences and spotlight the works of various developers in Ukraine. 

This week we discuss the newly expanded language laws and their effectiveness within society. We also look at some interesting changes to Netflix.

Welcome to 2021

Join us for a review of the best of Uki Life Abroad content over our 2020 inaugural year and some behind the scenes bloopers.

In this weeks main event, we tackle the fight for Ukraine to gain IMF funding. President Zelenksyy's administration has pursued additional funding through his term with limited success; we discuss what could happen next. Also what do Harry Potter and Ukrainian Christmas tree's have in common?

Where do we go to find information about Ukraine? This week we highlight the efforts of Ukrainian research in the diaspora with a look at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies and their work in the creation of the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Stay tuned after for a discussion of Servant of the People's recent loss in Zelenskyy's home town.   

What are Ukraine's two biggest exports? This week we dive into the influence of the national dance group Virsky as well as Ukraine's ever developing soccer league. Both have helped to spread the Ukrainian brand around the globe. 

Ukraine has fallen into a constitutional crisis following a controversial decision from the countries constitutional court. This week we look at President Zelenkyy's high stakes response to this ruling, as well as the shenanigan's happening inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Ukraine has recently joined the Artemis Accords, a US lead effort to return to the moon. We delve into Ukraine's space history and it's ambitions in the field of space exploration. 
Coming back down to Earth, we explore the new streaming platform 'Takflix', which aims to deliver Ukrainian language cinema to your living room.  

This week, we speak with Australian-Canadian Victor Mishalow - a world renowned Bandurist and Merited Artist of Ukraine. Join Us as we explore his truly diaspora story, growing up in Sydney, discovering a love for the Bandura, moving to Ukraine to study in Soviet times and settling in Toronto.

In this week's episode we discuss the Petrykivka painting style, its' historical origins and how the artform lives on today.

We take a look at Ukraine's goal to reclaim its national dish from its Soviet past; additionally, we compare the results of our poll against Zelenskyy's national poll. 

Kyiv Post turned 25 this month, so we discuss its important role on the voice of Ukraine in the world; and we explore fast food, Crimean style. 

Join us this week as we interview Stefan Bugryn, a highly-acclaimed Australian-Ukrainian Filmmaker from Melbourne. We discuss the motivation behind his award winning 'War Mothers' film series, some of the production challenges, the experience of working in Ukraine and meeting Ukrainians affected by the ongoing War. 

Which outcome will benefit Ukraine, a Trump re-election or a Biden victory. This week we discuss what each candidate plans for Ukraine. 

In part two of our series we explore how the Ukrainian church spread through Canada and how Ukrainians settled the Canadian Prairies. 

Are you as confused by recycling and as scared of climate change as we are? Ukraine is taking steps to increase their recycling rates, taking an education based approach. Also, COVID 19 wreaks havoc on Ukraine’s poverty rates, and we look at challenges facing Ukrainian orphans across the country.

This week we explore the blatant assassination attempt on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the ramifications of this on European politics. We also look at the disastrous water situation in Crimea with Russia trying to sue Ukraine over alleged responsibility for the crisis.

This week we interview Julian Knysh, an Australian-Ukrainian Filmmaker and curator of this year's Pickles, Bombs & Borsch short film programme at the 2020 Sydney Underground Film Festival. We discuss the Ukrainian short films being screened and the current creative renaissance occurring in Ukrainian cinema generally.

For more information:
Pickles, Bombs & Borsch @ the Sydney Underground Film Festival 2020
https://watch.eventive.org/suff2020/play/5f30e8de84d30b0099d35614

In this weeks episode we spotlight some little-known facts about Donbas, as well as a strange way the Separatists commemorate their 'heroes'.

When you think of Ukraine and Ireland, are potatoes and soccer the first things that come to mind? These two countries on opposite ends of Europe are more similar than you might think. Find out more on this topic, how Wikipedia is making a difference in Ukraine, and the delicacy of salo (pig fat), in this week's episode of Uki Life Abroad.

Join us as we delve into the recent protests in Belarus as well as what is happening in eastern Russia.

In the first episode of our mini-series 'Faith in the Diaspora', we explore the challenges of practicing our faith during the pandemic.

Chrystia Freeland is currently the highest ranked Canadian-Ukrainian in Canada's political establishment. We discuss the various roles that Justin Trudeau has assigned to her, and what this means for global Ukrainian politics, as well as the positive influence of Ukrainians within Canada. Also, Russia's newly opened armed forces cathedral drew controversy with its proposed mosaic depictions of Putin and Stalin.

In 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy went from being a comedian and political outsider to being in the spotlight as Ukraine's new President. Join us as we review his first year in office and cover last week's terrorist act in Lutsk.

A Russian lawyer, an American investment banker and the collapse of the Soviet union - this may sound like the start of a corny joke, but in this week's episode we'll be looking at how they come together to fight global corruption in the 21st century. Also, proposed amendments to Ukraine's language laws spark protests.

This week we look to America and interview the founders of Divchata, a group that's working towards equality and social justice for Ukrainian women all over the world.  Also, a group of nuns share their Ukrainian embroidery traditions to make face masks for those who need them most.

   For more information on Project Divchata:
   https://www.facebook.com/projectdivchata/

    News Stories:

In our first episode we discuss not only the challenges of community life over the last few months under COVID-19 lockdown, but also the resilience and ingenuity that has helped our churches and organisations remain connected.

  Visit us at www.ukilifeabroad.com