Ukraїner was founded in 2016 as a non-profit project about the significance of Ukrainian culture and identity, civil society, and its role in the development of democracy. We have grown from a project that studies Ukraine to full-scale media with 15 language versions and our own publishing house during this time.
Photo: Dmytro Bartosh
Despite the full-scale Russian invasion, we continue to work actively and tell about how Ukrainians resist daily and overcome disasters caused by occupation troops. Besides, we discuss the history, culture, and people that create Ukraine daily.
Within seven years of Ukraїner existence, we managed to not only tell about the beauty and uniqueness of Ukraine but also influence the internal and external agenda. During the full-scale invasion, we support our country’s efforts in the information war in different languages and formats.
Our most sensational and influential projects
Our project and book “Who we are” about national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine remain the most complete studies on the theme. The law on indigenous peoples of Ukraine was adopted in 2021, and our stories motivated us to understand this issue better.
Our series of explainers about the Holodomor is still used to explain the issue and help parliaments of different countries recognise this crime as genocide.
Before the full-scale Russian invasion, we visited almost all corners of Ukraine and created the entire map of stories, filmed a feature-length documentary, took tens of thousands of photos, and published several books. These expeditions let us explore Ukraine from the inside and tell the world about it.
After the full-scale invasion, our expeditions through peaceful Ukraine turned into trips to the liberated territories under the title “De-occupation”. We are among the first to come to the de-occupied territories to show the local population’s resistance and the devastating consequences of the Russian invaders’ actions through the stories of citizens.
We made videos about the Ukrainian origin of the famous Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” together with the Ukrainian Institute, which reached millions of audiences. The study based on it revealed archives and facts that weren’t published before.
Bruckmann Verlag published our first book of the Ukrainian Insider series in German. The second part was released in Great Britain by Batsford Publisher and topped the rating of books about Ukraine on Amazon even before it was printed. Together with National Geographic, we published the book in Japan and now actively work in other countries.
Thanks to our foreign language materials, Ukrainians and foreigners in different countries can collect donations to support Ukraine and educate others about Ukrainian history and culture. Our photos, videos, and books have been present at events worldwide—from the US to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Who does this? And how?
Now Ukraїner organisation works thanks to a team of about 20 people who daily carry out coordination and management responsibilities, forming the context and directions of further work.
The core team allows us to coordinate volunteer communities and acquire project funds from companies and international foundations.