Power Lines: From Ukraine to the World

The countries surrounding Russia have long been on the frontline of the country’s aggressively expansionist policies. From Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia to Georgia in the Caucasus – these countries form a Eurasian region which is simultaneously at odds with Russia, but beholden to the Kremlin’s every move. But the war in Ukraine is rewriting old alliances and rivalries here, bringing further instabil...

In this week’s bonus episode, we’re giving you an extended version of last week’s interview with Kyiv Independent reporter Alexander Query. Alexander is originally from France, but has been based in Ukraine covering business and now war related issues for the Kyiv Independent, as well as being a TV correspondent at UATV. Nastya spoke with Alex about the recent suspected explosions on the Nord Stre...

With its glut of resources and natural gas, cheap Russian energy has long been a lifeline for nations across the globe looking to give their citizens access to affordable fuel. But with the war in Ukraine breaking down relationships between Russia and the West, what will happen when the taps are turned off? And with simultaneous issues arising with disruptions to Ukraine’s agricultural centres, th...

In this special bonus episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Radosław Sikorski, the Polish politician whose work across a wide range of Eastern European politics has made him one of the most consequential politicians over the past few decades. After beginning his career as a journalist, Radosław went on to serve as a minister in various positions in the Polish parliament throughout the 2000...

Ukraine is the most significant part of Europe’s eastern borderland: all black earth and agriculture, the last bastion before the steppe and the vastness of Russia. The country’s geography has defined its significance as a strategic centre as it becomes more entwined with the liberal values of the European Union. In this episode, we speak to Alexander Clarkson, lecturer for German and European Stu...

Ukrainian history is defined by struggles for power. It has been the battleground of empires, defined by foreign domination, especially in the 20th century, when Nazi and Stalinist forces sought to dominate and strangle the country for its resources. The parallels with today are stark. Jakub and Nastya hear from the Ukrainian historian and writer, Olesya Khromeychuk, to discuss what Ukraine’s frac...

What does it mean to be a citizen of a country whose enemies claim has no right to exist? How does it feel to live in a battleground, where fighting for your country is part of the national psyche? What does it mean to be Ukrainian in 2022? The Kyiv Independent team speaks to people from across Ukraine and the diaspora about how the war has affected their outlook, country and national identity. Si...

Power Lines: From Ukraine to the World is a brand-new podcast that masterfully maps out the reverberations of the war in Ukraine on the global stage by the team at The Kyiv Independent - Ukraine’s biggest independent English-language media outlet, which serves as the independent voice of the country, and Message Heard. Over 12 comprehensive episodes starting from Sept. 22, Kyiv Independent hosts,...