When Oleksandr returned from military service, he found the transition to civilian life difficult. Severely injured in combat, he struggled to find work that matched his physical needs. The sense of purpose he had found in serving his country seemed lost. Yet today, Oleksandr is a sought-after IT specialist. Through a reskilling programme supported by international partners, he gained new skills and secured a job that suited his new reality.

The Russo–Ukrainian war has changed not only the lives of millions of Ukrainians but also the conditions in which culture, journalism, and research are produced

For many Poles, the defining historical wound in their relationship with Ukraine is the Volyn tragedy. For many Ukrainians, the period that precedes it — the interwar years, when much of western Ukraine was part of the Second Polish Republic — is an equally important part of the story, but one that remains poorly understood in Poland.

How the “Russian House” remained a symbol of Russia’s presence for forty-two years, despite sanctions, suspected ties to intelligence services, and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

How can we cross this desert without turning on one another or losing ourselves in a changing world? An exclusive essay for NV.