iShkraba

Ukrainian Diaries

Society EN ↓ 28 episodes

A local’s diary on navigating life, resilience, and human behavior in Kyiv, Ukraine. Weekly insights into the city at war and in transformation, and the search for meaning from the ground up.

Author

iShkraba

Episodes

Rocco and Virtual Karma: a Border Control Thriller | Ukrainian Diaries #7 23.04.2026 7:20

Crossing into Ukraine by land is a test of patience but for a girl named Daria on a bus from Italy, it became a Netflix-level drama. And so it was for Ukrainians and me today. Enjoy the episode or read a 1-minute reflection here . This episode was originally published on January 6, 2026. Image: Gandalf/Sir Ian Murray McKellen by New Line Cinema

Shattering Bureaucratic Masochism | Ukrainian Diaries #6 23.04.2026 6:50

The Ukrainian digital ecosystem has shattered the bureaucratic masochism. I booked a doctor through a mobile app, Helsi (just the way a Ukrainian would pronounce “healthy”) at midnight and sat for an online consultation the next morning. No traffic, no queues, just resolution. Enjoy the episode or read a 1-minute reflection here . This episode was originally published on January 2, 2026. Photo fr...

Beyond the Calendar: What Makes a Ukrainian Christmas? | Ukrainian Diaries #5 23.04.2026 4:45

Christmas in Ukraine has officially migrated to December 25th. The shift to the Gregorian calendar feels logical and European, yet the internal clock of my childhood still ticks toward January 7th. My early memories are anchored in the quiet, post-New Year lull of my grandparents’ table. It takes more than a decree to reorder the architecture of nostalgia. Enjoy the episode or read a 1-minute refl...