Centuries of Culture and Tradition with a Modern Vision
Putin claims Ukraine isn't even a country, but "entirely and completely created by Russia." The people of Ukraine, and centuries of historical record, say otherwise. Kyiv as a city is hundreds of years older than Moscow. The history is complicated by geography - territory occupied by invading armies from all sides has seen borders come and go. Still, the spirit of a strong people with a separate identity powers through. Explore the many facets of Ukrainian culture and come away with a better understanding of just what makes this European country unique.
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Ukrainian Cuisine
Ukraine's loam and black soils produces exceptional vegetables and grains that feature heavily in traditional cuisine. Borsch is recognized for its cultural importance by UNESCO and is perhaps the ultimate comfort food. If you visit a Ukrainian home, you are likely to be offered Borsch before anything else. Yes, it shares basic ingredients, but there are many different family recipes.
Holubtsy is another tasty favorite - cabbage rolls stuffed with ground meat, rice, sometimes onions in a tomato sauce that can include diced carrot or olives.
Varenyky are delectable little dough crescents filled with berries, meats, potato, mushroom, or other fillings.
The long winters led people to experiment with various pickling, salting, and drying techniques for vegetables, fish, and meats.
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Ukrainian Music
You're missing out if you aren't familiar with Ukraine's rich musical heritage. The language has a great flow when put to melody that can be appreciated without knowing the meanings of words. That said, English lyrics can often be found in video captions.
The BANDURA dates back centuries and can have over 60 strings. It has an ethereal sound when played, sounding like multiple instruments.
Traditional and folk songs are still important and Ukraine's modern music scene is world-class. From EDM to rock that well, rocks, there's a lot to listen to.
Check out our UKRAINIAN MUSIC PAGE for songs highlighting Ukraine's spirit during war.
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Ukraine's History
The history of Ukraine as a people dates back over 1200 years and has seen empires, hordes, and tyrants try to claim the land, the people, the culture, and the heritage. It's no wonder Ukraine wants nothing to do with Russian control - under the Soviets, Ukraine suffered greatly. Stalin's artificial famine, the HOLODOMOR, is just one example of Soviet/Russian attempts to wipe out Ukraine as a people and erase any trace of an identity separate from Russia.
The current struggle against a massive Russian invasion isn't the first time Ukrainians have stood up and fought against raving mad leaders demanding surrender. From fighting against the Bolsheviks at the end of WWI to fighting against Russians in the Donbas since 2014, Ukraine has had to fight the monster to the east.
The region was home to Neanderthals as far back as 45,000 BC and evidence of early humans was found in Crimea dating back over 30,000 years.
Southern Ukraine was home to the Scythians in antiquity and the Dark Ages and Middle Ages saw various ruling factions.
Today, as in years past, Ukraine yearns to be free as an independent state, free to live in peace.
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Looking to the Future
As horrible as Russia's savage full-scale invasion has been, there's every reason to believe Ukraine will emerge stronger, more united, and finally able to toss the heavy yoke of Soviet/Russian corruption. Currently, Ukraine is embroiled in the most consequential geo-political event of our time. How she emerges will help shape the futures of democratic countries around the world.
Ukraine is becoming a hotbed of innovation and that has only increased in response to the war. Tech companies with cutting-edge products and processes are utilized for everything from Hollywood productions to applications like Kyiv founded Grammarly. While Ukraine's GDP lost 30 percent of value in 2022, the tech sector actually grew by five percent. Ukrainian tech companies are innovating new ways to fight Russia, most notably in drone systems.
If proper investments are made and the support for rebuilding of Ukraine remains an international effort, the future is bright.
