There are some amazing creators and artists in Ukraine. Here are a few of our favourites.

Please note no payment was taken from any party for promoting the content within this article. The creators we’ve recommended have not paid for their position in this article. They are there because, in our opinion, they are worth supporting.

Although the face of armed conflict has changed through time, often despite these changes we can see many similarities in conflicts that have occurred over the years.

Typically, there are many victims when humanity turns to conflict. And as we look back through this history we see that along with infrastructure and people, Culture is often also being destroyed, reappropriated or lost to the battlefield.

Often, these can be physical things, like books, statues, artifacts or historical documents & literature. In other instances, it can be things that are harder to track, like language, traditions or even historical population records. Once these are lost, it’s often hard to retrieve which is why museums, libraries and other government buildings hold such importance, contextually speaking.

Though Culture often evokes visions of theatre, poetry, ballet and the arts, the truth is that little pieces of cultural significance are everywhere we look. It’s the regional dialects that bring variances to a particular language. It’s the clothes and holidays that are celebrated like our ancestors historically have. It’s also often in the food we prepare or in the traditions and values, we are given from family and then pass on to our children as well. Culture, we can say, is the essence of what makes us who we are as people, as well as what is important to us.

The Russian War of Aggression

As most know, in 2014 the Russian Federation attacked the Ukrainian state. In 2022 this aggression was accelerated, turning into an illegal, full-scale invasion that rages on to this day. Despite being called a “Special Military Operation” by the perpetrator, this is a war, plain and simple. The Ukrainian people are fighting not only for their survival but for the survival of their culture and future.

While it’s pretty commonly known that this aggression has occurred, one less known thing has been the specific targeting of Ukrainian culture throughout the conflict. These attacks are designed to erode the Ukrainian identity that was forged in the aftermath of the Soviet Union and are designed to cause division, as well as a loss of identity.

Despite these attacks, nearly 2 years on, Kyiv stands. And more importantly, we’ve seen significant efforts to protect Ukraine and Ukrainians from the effects of these attacks. Some of these are large, government-led operations, like the digitisation of parts of the economy as well as the digital preservation of items that hold cultural significance. And some of these are grassroots efforts, led by citizens on the ground who are passionate about preserving their sense of identity.

To bring some attention to the importance of some of these issues, we’re starting a new regular piece called “Made In Ukraine” where we look at some of this culture and some of the efforts that are helping to perverse this sense of identity. With everything from content creators to language and arts through to media and journalism, if you’ve followed the conflict you’ll find something that covers your interests. If you do, we simply ask you to repost and share within your circle so we can get more eyes on some of these talented people.

Media:

Margo Gonter: Substack Journalist

Uncensored journalism is the key to holding attention, providing awareness of important issues and providing historical references for people to report on during and after the conflict. Many talented journalists are reporting on these issues, but one of our favourites is Margo.

Providing an all-angle view on everything from the conflict to humanitarian issues, following her substack will give you insight into the conflict through the eyes of a Ukrainian.

And if war frustrates you then you’ll find all the right words to express that in her X / Twitter space “Swearing In Ukrainian”.

Follow Margo’s Twitter

Follow Margo’s Substack

Ukrainian Language School

We referenced the importance of language and culture in the opening of the article, so it’s only natural we’d include some authors and language specialists as well. If you’d like to expand your vocabulary beyond Margo’s swearing then we think the Ukrainian Language School is a great place to start.

Run by Author and PhD Professor Anna Yurchenko, the Ukrainian Language Centre provides a vast array of books, resources and learning materials for those wanting to learn or refine their Ukrainian language.

And while learning can often be a difficult process that can lack excitement you’ll find things different here at the UA language school. With some learning materials based around food and cooking, you’ll find plenty of things to catch your interest as you learn. That’s way more fun than Duolingo!

Find the Ukrainian Language Center on X / Twitter

View Anna's Author page on Amazon.

Check out UAL short courses on Udemy

StillAliveUA Streaming & Gaming

The last in our media category is a talented Ukrainian streamer who regularly streams live across YouTube and other platforms.

Oleksi is pretty underrated in our opinion with a following that isn’t indicative of his channel's entertainment value which is why he’s been included in this article. Streaming a wide variety of different games, like Hogwarts Legacy and God of War, if you’re looking for some downtime after taking your Ukrainian Language Center course, then this channel is a great place to start. We included a direct link to a recent stream that’s pretty entertaining so you can check it out below.

Find Oleksi’s YouTube Channel

Follow Oleksi On X / Twitter

Art & Artifacts

MemorySteel UA

Based in Kyiv, MemorySteel Ukraine provides a range of assorted artifacts and items including some based on actual reclaimed items from the battlefield.

Forged from Russian armoured belt steel, MemorySteel recovered pieces of these articles that had been destroyed in battle. Then, they use laser cutting and restoration methods to make unique, yet hefty artifacts that are built to stand the test of time.

Our piece was weighty, and made from the belt armour of a Russian T-72 tank and provided a quality finish that was delivered securely across the globe.

Sporting the catchphrase “Made in Russia, Recycled in Ukraine” if you value unique pieces that are well made, then you’re bound to find something to interest you in the MemorySteel store.

Check out The MemorySteel Shop

Follow MemorySteel on X / Twitter

Wicker Goods

In a world full of mass-produced factory goods that never seem to last as long as they should, it’s great to get your hands on something natural that looks like it's built to stand the test of time and is handmade as well. With that said, shining a light on Planet Vine seemed like a good place to start.

Specialising in the creation of handmade wicker goods out of Ukraine, Planet Vine makes an array of baskets and other goods that look tasteful, well done and made to last far longer than a cheap factory-made equivalent.

However, they don’t just make baskets. There’s also a range of wicker furniture and household goods and even a pet house for your four-legged friends. If you’re a fan of natural, handmade products then there's probably something in their store to catch your eye.

Find the Planet Vine Etsy Store

Visit the Planet Vine Web Store

Final Thoughts

Probably the hardest part of compiling this article was deciding which creators to include, as there are many talented people out there playing to their strengths. It’s why this piece will be a multi-part series. While we won’t be able to cover all creators we’re hoping we can compile a go-to list across a broad range of categories. If you can think of someone we’ve missed then a hot tip would be appreciated! Leave a message in the comments or contact us directly on X.

If you’d like to donate directly to Ukraine via the official channels you can do so by visiting the government-sponsored portal United24 found at this link.

Слава Україні

Героям слава

Medium has recently made some algorithm changes to improve the discoverability of articles like this one. These changes are designed to ensure that high-quality content reaches a wider
audience, and your engagement plays a crucial role in making that happen.

If you found this article insightful, informative, or entertaining, we kindly encourage you to show your support. Clapping for this article not only lets the author know that their work is appreciated but also helps boost its visibility to others who might benefit from it.

🌟 Enjoyed this article? Support our work and join the community! 🌟

💙 Support me on Ko-fi: Investigator515

📢 Join our OSINT Telegram channel for exclusive updates or

📢 Follow our crypto Telegram for the latest giveaways

🐦 Follow us on Twitter and

🟦 We’re now on Bluesky!

🔗 Articles we think you’ll like:

1. Signals From Space: The International Space Station
2. Ukraine OSINT: Strava Strikes Again

✉️ Want more content like this? Sign up for email updates