Ukraine War Diaries

The simple joy of gathering for a birthday is something Oksana will never take for granted again as war continues to ravage her homeland, changing the very fabric of life. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Series Pro...

For the first time since fleeing Kyiv for Poland, Ilyas is reunited with his with his wife and children in Lviv. But a missile attack on the city serves as a reminder as to why they need to live apart. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP20 was recorded using WhatsApp voice notes From th...

Against the backdrop of the continuing bombardment of Mariupol, Oksana receives an invitation to return to her nail bar near Kyiv. This, and the realisation that dear friends may never again return to Ukraine leaves her feeling deeply troubled. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP19 was...

Seva gets ready to return to his home village near Dnipro for the first time since the war started. Here - at considerable risk - his ageing parents have been aiding the war effort. But recent events have led them all to reflect on the life of their Russian born grandmother. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective o...

Every year on 9 May, Russia celebrates World War 2 ‘victory day’ over Germany. Only now the date is triggering deep anxiety for Ilyas and many Ukrainians who fear Russia may try and mark the day with a major attack. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP17 was recorded using WhatsApp voice...

In Kyiv, Oksana is gripped by the plight of those still trapped in Mariupol's vast steelworks. Can international assistance not bring about their rescue? Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.   From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. EP16 was recorded using Wh...

With Russia failing to meet its military goals in the north of Ukraine, Ilyas pays a visit to his recently reopened barber shop in Kyiv - an experience that leaves him feeling the war might soon end. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP15 was recorded using WhatsApp voice notes Producer...

Seva continues to support the war effort in eastern Ukraine before finding himself tasked with an unusual delivery - to Chernobyl.   Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP 14 was recorded using WhatsApp voice notes.   From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

In the suburbs of Kyiv, Oksana continues to count the cost of the plundering in her neighbourhood. This leads to a challenging conversation with her grandmother in Russia, who finds it hard to believe the allegations of rape and murder levelled at Russian soldiers. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in...

Ilyas tries to help his young son makes sense of the war, and his continued exile in Poland. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP12 was made using WhatsApp voice notes. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Producer - Rob Mulhern Production support - Pau...

Using Wats App voice-note to record his experiences, Seva visits a recently liberated village near Kyiv where locals share a deeply troubling story. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP11 was made using WhatsApp voice notes. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – St...

How does war impact our closest relationships? Speaking from Kyiv, Oksana, reflects on how the the conflict has changed - and is continuing to change - her marriage. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Series producer...

Amid unconfirmed reports of a chemical weapons attack in Mariupol, Ilyas takes the train from Lviv to Kyiv. Here, he meets with his 84-year-old grandmother who is increasingly comparing the Nazi fascists who came to her village in 1942 with ‘Russists’ — a term now used in Ukraine to reference the extreme actions of Russian invaders. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the grou...

In the early days of the war, some residents fleeing Kyiv, were forced to leave their pets behind. One such resident was Oksana’s neighbour - the owner of a blue and yellow parrot called Rio. Not only is the parrot now living with Oksana, he’s - at times - helping to divert her attention away from the war. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an i...

From Kyiv, 40-year-old Seva is a CEO turned volunteer now helping to equip the Ukrainian army with essential aid. Included in his supply drops, to battalions located close to the frontline, are pictures, painted by children, pleading for the soldiers to win the war. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in...

Oksana struggles to make sense of alleged war crimes, committed in her once quiet neighbourhood, which have horrified the world. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. Recorded on 6 April 2022 From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Series producer - Rob Mulher...

Amid international condemnation of alleged war crimes and civilian killings by Russian forces, Ilyas finds an escape in the form of an old school friend. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Series producer - Rob Mulher...

Anti-Aircraft batteries continue to light up the skies around Kyiv, despite Russia’s suggested shift in focus away from the capital. Against this backdrop, Oksana and her husband try to enjoy their first movie-night since the conflict began. This experience leads to some curious conclusions. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-...

With the Russians signalling a scaling back of their operations around Kyiv, Ilyas is making plans to return to his family home in the capital. But his wife and children, now in Poland, sense danger and don’t want him to leave Lviv. Ukraine War Diaries uses audio recorded on the ground in Ukraine to give a first-person perspective of day-to-day life in a war zone. From the producers of Sky News’ m...

Alex is a musician with Ukrainian folk-rock band Selo i Ludy. Under siege in Kharkiv, in the east of the country, he and his fellow band members are taking refuge - and remarkably still recording music - in a studio now doubling as a bomb shelter. In the second instalment of our audio diary series, following day-to-day life in a warzone, Alex describes how he continues to play with his band as the...

It’s now a month since Russia invaded Ukraine. In Kyiv, Oksana keeps her weekly commitment of visiting her parents whose home lies just behind the front line. From the producers of Sky News StoryCast. Next episode, Monday 28th March.

24th March 2022, marks one month since Russia invaded Ukraine. In Kyiv, Oksana is fearful of saboteurs. In Lviv, Illyas dreams of being reunited with his wife and two children who have fled to Poland. These lives and more, have been changed forever by the Russia/Ukraine war. But what does the future hold? Follow the stories of Oksana, Illyas and others as they document their first-hand experiences...