A Summer of Rebuilding Culture in Ukraine's Frontline and Liberated Communities

Nearly 17 months of Russia’s full-scale invasion has profoundly impacted Ukrainian lives. While the current situation is difficult for the whole country, frontline and liberated communities especially are contending with high numbers of displaced persons, economic devastation, massive recovery needs, and ongoing attacks. Despite high demand, access to public and cultural events has decreased.

Even amidst grave security conditions, citizens need access to public and cultural life. They need opportunities to come together and form connections, reaffirm Ukrainian values and identity, counter malign Russian influence, and express mutual resilience, solidarity, and support. In response to locally-led cultural priorities, OTI's Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI) 4 supported a range of cultural events this summer in frontline and liberated communities.

Given its border with Russia, Sumy oblast has long been vulnerable to Russian cultural influences and disinformation. Russia’s brutal invasion served as a wake-up call for the citizens of Sumy. After bravely fighting for their liberation from occupation, an organic movement to assert Ukrainian identity, values, and independence moved through the oblast.

To harness this window of opportunity for civic mobilization, UCBI 4 supported local activists and influencers, who form the backbone of this movement, to hold public and cultural events. The program partnered with local NGO CUKR to conduct a series of summer cultural events that promoted active participation in Sumy’s recovery process.

First, Max Nagorniak, a music critic and the creator of the Bezodnia Music YouTube channel, gave a lecture on "The New Wave of Ukrainian Music: Not Sharovarshchyna [Fakelore], but Cool Stuff." More than 100 people attended the event.

UCBI also supported CUKR to host stand-up comedian Serhiy Chirkov’s show, which focused on the transformation of Ukrainian society due to the full-scale invasion. The genius of the show was that it was able to present heavy subject matter in a comedic fashion, creating a light yet thought-provoking environment.

In the most anticipated CUKR event in Sumy, Ukrainian neo-soul band ADAM gave a truly unforgettable performance. When an air raid siren went off in the middle of the show, the band and the more than 220 attendees were forced to seek immediate shelter. As soon as the air raid alert was lifted, the audience and ADAM returned to finish the performance, serving as a powerful example of Ukrainian resilience. Twenty-one-year- old attendee Anton Harmash said "I was pleasantly surprised that even after the break, when the national channels reported that the air raid had been lifted, many people returned to the concert and ADAM continued to perform... This event proved that music can really change the world, connect people, and make them stronger. In addition, it gave me new opportunities for concrete actions aimed at the development of my city. After this concert, I realized how important it was to support cultural events and creative projects in the city, because they not only entertain but also inspire and encourage positive changes."

Another attendee, 32-year-old Svitlana Yakymenko, noted how "For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was part of something bigger. I saw that there is such a powerful community in my city of people who are able to unite around cultural events and common interests...This event made me feel that the future can be bright and full of changes. I am sure that participation in cultural events and an active community can be the key to the development of my city.”

These shows, and their overwhelmingly positive reception, are the manifestations of a cultural movement playing out in real-time, where Ukrainian voices and narratives are collectively creating and consolidating their own values and identity. OTI's partners are proud to continue supporting and celebrating Ukraine’s unique cultural identity in the midst of war while helping communities maintain unity and morale.?

As part of this blog series, OTI will be sharing more highlights from our Ukraine program's efforts to support cultural events that unite Ukrainians during war.