Ulyana Kulikova

Marketing Specialist, Community Leader, and Advocate for Ukrainian Initiatives

Ulyana Kulikova

Founder of Inform Agency | Journalist & Content Strategist | Marketing expert with cross-market insight into Ukraine and Germany | Helping brands connect globally | Advocate for the Ukrainian community in Germany

Who am I now? /
War and emigration are triggering a hidden identity crisis among Ukrainian adults

For decades, developmental psychology treated adulthood as a finished state, as if identity crises belonged only to adolescence while adults had already “figured themselves out.” 

17 May, 06:33 PM 13

Who am I now? /
How emigration reshapes identity for Ukrainian children and teenagers

More than 6 million Ukrainian refugees are currently living outside the country, according to UNHCR data as of early 2026. Among them are over 1.5 million children and adolescents of preschool and school age. Most host countries are struggling to provide enough Ukrainian-speaking psychologists or culturally sensitive support programs.

29 March, 07:25 PM 357

Ukrainian diaspora /
How Ukrainian schools abroad help children preserve language and identity

Nearly four years of emigration have become a reality for millions of Ukrainian families. Many left with children of different ages in haste, without a clear understanding of how long this “temporary” situation would last. For some children, school life began abroad — the first day at school, first friends, first notebooks in another language. This experience inevitably shapes a new identity, and in many cases children begin to speak a foreign language more confidently than their native one.

30 January, 04:55 PM 558

Europe recalculates /
Germany’s new military service law triggers protests and unease among Ukrainian refugees

On Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, the Bundestag approved a legislative initiative to overhaul the Bundeswehr recruitment system—a new model of military service designed to significantly expand the size of Germany’s armed forces. The bill passed with 323 votes in favor, 272 against, and one abstention.

10 December 2025, 01:48 PM 917

New political climate /
From Merkel to Merz: Germany redefines its balance between openness and control

“Ask your daughters.” These words, spoken by Friedrich Merz during a press conference in Berlin on Oct. 20, 2025, have already become a new political manifesto for modern Germany.

27 October 2025, 07:51 PM 768

In wartime conditions /
New Ukraine law lets men 18–22 leave country, raising fears of demographic losses

On Aug. 28, 2025, the Ukrainian parliament published a law allowing men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country. The document came into force after several years of debate and anticipation, as young men of this age group had been under a complete travel ban since the beginning of the full-scale war. Its adoption is therefore described by many as one of the most awaited decisions in recent years.

16 September 2025, 03:50 PM 1094

How Russia wages a hidden PR war in Germany

Russia’s war against Ukraine is not only fought on the battlefield—it is waged quietly in the minds of Europeans. In Germany, Moscow’s agents, cultural fronts, and propaganda networks are working to erode public support for Ukraine, distort the truth, and destabilize society. This is a silent offensive in the Kremlin’s hybrid war, and its front line runs through German media, politics, schools, and everyday conversations.

6 August 2025, 04:12 PM 739

Ukrainian expats need more than language—networking matters

Professional networking isn’t just a familiar topic for me—it’s deeply personal. Before emigrating, I worked in Ukraine building strategic partnerships. Over the past three years abroad, I’ve continued that journey, attending just about every kind of event you can imagine—some invaluable, others less so. And here’s what I’ve learned: the ability to build and maintain professional connections isn’t optional. It’s essential for anyone trying to build a life—and a future—outside their home country.

21 May 2025, 05:56 PM 529

The cost of inaction /
Why Germany is failing to integrate Ukrainian refugees while Poland and the Czech Republic succeed

February 2022 marked a turning point for millions of Ukrainians forced to flee their homes. Seeking safety across Europe, they encountered uncertainty, language barriers, and the daunting task of starting over. Their integration quickly became not only a humanitarian concern but a significant economic challenge for host nations.

29 March 2025, 03:48 PM 1249

‘We can’t rely on the U.S.’ /
How ordinary Germans view the Trump-Zelenskyy clash and its impact on Europe

A high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28 in Washington ended in a diplomatic standoff, sending shockwaves through the international community. The diplomatic fallout from the meeting quickly reverberated across Europe, with Germany emerging as a key voice in the debate. 

3 March 2025, 07:59 PM 2483

Exploring Draghi’s roadmap for recovery /
Europe’s competitiveness crisis: is it too late to fix?

In the early 2000s, the European Union was a powerhouse, accounting for over 25% of global GDP despite making up just 7% of the world’s population. This economic strength allowed Europe to play a central role in global trade, drive innovation, and set industry standards.

29 January 2025, 09:28 PM 317

Key issues explored /
Germany's political earthquake: what it means for Ukraine and Ukrainians

Germany, known for its political stability, is now experiencing a seismic political shift. Since reunification in 1990, the country has enjoyed 33 years of steady progress. During this time, power alternated between two dominant political forces: the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel, and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), headed by Gerhard Schröder and the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

19 December 2024, 10:55 AM 521

War's lost generation? The future of Ukraine's children

Ninety percent of Ukrainian students who fled abroad during the war say they don’t plan to return to study in Ukraine. While this isn’t an official statistic, these numbers reflect a harsh reality: the war is reshaping not only the present but also how families envision their future.

2 December 2024, 08:56 PM 1259

Echoes of a vibrant past /
From Rubizhne to the world — memories of a lost homeland

I grew up in Rubizhne, a small town in Luhansk Oblast. Technically, it’s still on the map, but it has been under occupation almost since the start of the war. Now, the town is a vast ruin. What used to be a community with cozy streets, bustling courtyards, and vibrant neighborhoods has been obliterated — wiped out by Russia.

11 November 2024, 06:46 PM 1397

Migration reality /
How forced migration affects Ukrainians’ mental and social well-being

“Learn from others, but don’t forget your own”: these words from Taras Shevchenko’s 1845 work, To the Dead, the Living, and Those Yet Unborn, resonate deeply today as Ukrainians face the challenges of forced migration and adapting to new lives abroad. 

2 November 2024, 12:36 PM 1305