Roman Pilipey is a Ukrainian photojournalist based in Kiyv. The first main event he witnessed as a photographer was the Euromaidan revolution in Kyiv, 2013-2014, when Ukraine showed its clear and unmistakable determination to be a part of Europe. It is no coincidence that the invasion and annexation of Crimea by Russian military happened only a few months later.  From 2014, Roman was covering the, then still isolated, war in eastern Ukraine, and, in the same year, became the staff photographer for European Pressphoto Agency (EPA). For the next few years, Roman's focus was mainly on Eastern Ukraine and its aftermath, while also working in other parts of the country.  In 2017, Roman relocated to Beijing for EPA where he worked on stories and covered major news events in China, becoming in 2022 the EPA bureau chief for the China region. Throughout his years in China, he has been traveling to almost every corner of the country. For his work in China he was awarded Photographer of the Year, POY Asia 2022.   When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Roman had just finished covering the Beijing Olympic Games. He immediately left China and went to his native country to cover the war. Since then he relocated back to Ukraine, where he works on stories of the ongoing war. In early 2023, after eight years in EPA, Roman left the agency. Since then he is actively collaborating with Getty Images, and works as chief photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP).  In 2023, with his picture from Bucha, which we will discuss in more detail a little later on, he was awarded Pictures of the Year International (POY) Finalist in "War in Ukraine: News" category, and in 2024 Roman was named Photojournalist of the Year, National at the 2024 National Press Photographers Association [https://nppa.org/] (NPPA) in the category Best of Photojournalism. An award he much deserves and I was very happy to see him receive. Having him in the van with us today, we will look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the eyes of one its most accomplished chroniclers by discussing a selection of Roman's images from the last two years. And I am, therefore, incredibly grateful to have him with us today. Welcome to the Yellow Van, Roman! --- SHOW NOTES Image Gallery https://bit.ly/yellowvanstories Roman on the Web https://www.facebook.com/roman.pilipey https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-pilipey-3a1a2367/ https://x.com/RomanPilipey Ukraine Aid https://www.hospitallers.life/ https://prytulafoundation.org/en https://savelife.in.ua/en/ --- MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the Show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] --- The Yellow Van on YouTube:   https://youtu.be/voAIEy4j4Lc

Today is a double premiere! For the first time I made an actual home visit and I conducted the entire interview in German! My apologies to all English native speakers, the next one will be for you again as well. Meine Reisegefährtin dieses Mal ist Iryna Schneider. Sie betreibt eine eigene Marketingagentur seitdem sie aus der Ukraine nach #München umgesiedelt ist. Über sich selbst sagt sie: "Tagsüber bin ich Marketingmanagerin und abends Künstlerin." Wir unterhalten uns über ihre Kunst entlang der Grenze von Großstadt und Natur, den Wert des Ehrenamtes in unseren turbulenten Zeiten, und wie die Kunst, vor allem Kindern die den Krieg kennenlernen mussten, bei der Trauma-Bewältigung helfen kann. Und, wie immer, vieles mehr. Neben ihrer ehrenamtlichen Tätigkeit betreibt Iryna eigene Initiativen und Hilfsprojekt|e zur Unterstützung der Ukraine. Die Links dazu findet Ihr unten in den Show Notes. Willkommen im Yellow Van, Iryna! SHOW NOTES Schickeria [https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Schickeria] Kateryna Bilokur [https://reisen-kiew.com/kateryna-bilokur/] Banksy [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy] Tafel Deutschland [https://www.tafel.de/] Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V. [https://www.malteser.de/] Pablo Picasso [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso] ILIYA CHICHKAN On Mutual Art [https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Ilya-Chichkan/073633495B64AE80/Biography] Adamovskiy Foundation [https://adamovskiy.foundation/en/works/chychkan-illya/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/CnUH-rltdhv/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==] IRYNA'S INITIATIVES https://www.instagram.com/irynas_artwork https://www.instagram.com/donate_for_children_ukraine MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Mykola Kondrashev is an award-winning cinematographer and photographer based in Kiyv who also holds a master's degree in psychology. With his experience on a wide array of projects including commercial music videos, feature films, and television series, Mykola has honed his skills to create captivating and powerful visuals. Mykola's impressive portfolio of projects spans the globe and he has worked with huge names like Coca-Cola, Radisson and Nescafé. Mykola's dedication to his craft is evident in all of his work, and we are excited to welcome him on board the Yellow Van to learn more about his journey as a cinematographer, how his daily routine has changed during the war and how the deep divide of war can split right through the middle of a family. And, as always, a lot more. Welcome to the Yellow Van, Mykola! Shortly after the recording of our episode, Mykola received mail from the army to be registered with them. As I am recording this, Mykola, like countless other Ukrainians is waiting for his marching order. It could come any moment of any day. Alex Kraev from Odessa, who you might remember from one of the previous episodes, has already been at the front for almost two months now. In one of his latest Facebook-Posts, he wrote: "I am not dead, I am learning." War becomes something else entirely when you know the people who are thrown into it. SHOW NOTES Nyvky - a suburb of Kyiv [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyvky] V2 Rockets [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-2_rocket] Bucha [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucha,_Kyiv_Oblast] Irpin [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irpin] Cossacks [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossacks] Khokhol [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/khokhol] Oseledets [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseledets] Khmelnytsky Uprising [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmelnytsky_Uprising] Takflix, Ukrainian film streaming service [https://takflix.com/en] Wladiwostok [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wladiwostok] Sergei Loznitsa, Ukrainian director [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Loznitsa] My Joy, film directed by Sergei Loznitsa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Joy] Link to the episode with Alex Kraev [https://www.yellowvanstories.com/alex-kraev-punked/] Mykola Online Mykola's Personal website [https://kondrashev.com.ua/] Mykola's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kondrashev.mykola] Mykola's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mykola.kondrashev/] Donations Civilian: Psychological Association of Ukraine [https://www.npa-ua.org/donate?lang=en] Military: Eyes On Ukraine, Support for Drones [https://eyesonukraine.eu/] Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de/] Production.

Gayane Arushanian is a multidisciplinary artist from Kyiv. She is the founder of the School of Experimental Art in Kyiv and the G-ART STUDIO in Zaporizhzhia. Gayané is not only an outstanding artist, but she also has a Master's in Urban Construction and Design and Economic Cybernetics from the Zaporizhzhia State Engineering Academy. Her mathematical knowledge and her artistic eye and love for colour enable her to create shapes, forms and colour patterns oscillating between harmony and chaos. She says: I have always believed that art was and is the source, the way, and the opportunity to be honest with myself and the world around me. Equilibrium is about finding the balance of the image of the world, the world within. Colour, shapes and composition are the only criteria of harmony for me. There is an ideal state of the world around - Chaos! And all of this is in the indefinite darkness that you and I reveal every day. Gayané was born in Armenia and had to flee her home when the first war between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out. The Russian invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022 made a lot of those memories resurface. Today, we want to take a look at Gayané's very personal story of becoming an artist, the Ukrainian art world in a more general way and the challenges it faces because of the war. And a lot more, of course. It is a great pleasure and privilege to have her in the Yellow Van today! SHOW NOTES Cybernetics [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics] ARC Gallery, Chicago [https://www.arcgallery.org/] City of Kherson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kherson] City of Uman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uman] First Nagorno-Karabakh War [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nagorno-Karabakh_War] Khmelnytsky Uprising [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmelnytsky_Uprising] Fibonacci Sequence [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_sequence] Berlin Ensemble [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_Ensemble] Gaia, Greek goddess [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia] Gayane's Inspiration Yuryi Khymych [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriy_Khimich] (painter) Arkhyp Kuindzhi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkhip_Kuindzhi] (painter) Vasyl Symonenko [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Symonenko] (poet) Myroslav Skoryk [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myroslav_Skoryk] (composer) Sergei Parajanov [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Parajanov] (film director) Gayane Online Gayane's Online Art Classes: www.airbnb.ru/experiences/1008843 [http://www.airbnb.ru/experiences/1008843?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=43765a1b-e94f-432e-a0ec-0cf00551a311] Gayane on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gaya_arushanian [http://www.instagram.com/gaya_arushanian/] Gayane's Website: www.gayanearushanian.com [http://www.gayanearushanian.com/] Gayane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayane-arushanian-702409ab New York Group Exhibition "Design On A Dime" [https://www.classy.org/event/design-on-a-dime-2023/e462193?c_src=social&c_src2=social] MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de/] Production.

Anastasiia Sanzharovska is a producer, director, and video editor from Ukraine. She originally studied system analysis and maths but turned to her real passion film soon after finishing her studies. She has been working as a producer, director, 1st AD,  and video editor ever since. In February 2022, Anastasiia was in Egypt for a 3-week holiday but got stuck there due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She has been living there ever since. We'll talk about her early beginnings in filmmaking, why she chose film over maths, the Ukrainian TV scene, and her life in Egypt. And, as always, a lot more. Welcome to the Yellow Van, Anastasiia! Thanks for travelling with us. SHOW NOTES Links to a selection of Anastassia's works What Is Wrong With Me (Short Film) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnht2ciexWs] - Direction ZFeelZ Shame (Music Video) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znOKy1Zox5E] - 1st Assistant Director Тизер ДВДС 2 (Short Movie) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GojHEtv7v0g] - 1st Assistant Director Anastasiia's Social Media Channels Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AnastasiiaSanzharovska?mibextid=ZbWKwL] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anastasia_snzh/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasiia-sanzharovska-601196104] Sinai Media Club in Sharm El-Sheikh [https://www.facebook.com/sinaimediaclub] Initiatives To Support Prytula Foundation [https://prytulafoundation.org/en/] - Support for the Ukrainian Army Come Back Alive [https://savelife.in.ua/en/] - Support for the Ukrainian Army National Bank of Ukraine [https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-rahunok-dlya-gumanitarnoyi-dopomogi-ukrayintsyam-postrajdalim-vid-rosiyskoyi-agresiyi] - Dedicated Account for the Humanitarian Assistance of Ukrainian Citizens MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de/] Production.

Today with us in the Yellow Van is Andriy Dubchak, a correspondent and photographer for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty as well as the founder of the interactive media platform Donbas Frontliner. He specializes in telling the stories of soldiers and civilians caught up in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He received a 2022 Free Media Award from the Fritt Ord and ZEIT foundations for his "courageous professional reporting from battle zones." Andriy also received a Lovie award for coverage of the Maidan protests in 2014 and a Gold Medal in the LifePressPhoto competition in 2020, and more. Andriy has captured the main pivot points of the younger Ukrainian history and I am thrilled that he has found the time to join us on the Yellow van today. I had the chance to speak to him after he had just returned from Bachmut, where heavy fighting is taking place. FOLLOW DONBAS FRONTLINER Web [https://www.frontliner.com.ua/]Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/donbas.frontliner/]Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FrontlinerUA]Twitter [https://twitter.com/frontliner_ua]YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh_kbW4p8By8rg3d9x30zDA]Telegram [https://t.me/donbasfrontliner] SUPPORT DONBAS FRONTLINER Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/donbasfrontliner] MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de/] Production.

With us in the Yellow Van this week are Dafna Rachok and Ivan Shmatko. Dafna Rachok is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University Bloomington. Her research seeks to understand how vulnerable groups in Ukraine respond to existing HIV prevention and treatment programs and how their attitudes to the state shape their desire or reluctance to seek those programs. Ivan Shmatko is a PhD student in sociology at the University of Alberta (Canada). Ivan has been a part of the volunteer movement in Ukraine since February 24. He has done research on policing in Ukraine and the imaginaries that shape how police officers see their work and interact with others. His doctoral research project focuses on the experiences of newly mobilized soldiers in Ukraine. Being on leave from their universities in February 2022, they decided to stay in Ukraine [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=ukraine&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] when Russia [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=russia&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] assaulted their home. Rather than escape to safety across the Atlantic [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=atlantic&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] Ocean, they looked for ways and means to support their homeland [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=homeland&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] and their fellow Ukrainians.  Join us as we talk about their #volunteering work, the importance of humour [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=humour&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] in times of darkness and why Ukrainians collectively dislike  Elon Musk [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=elonmusk&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400]. And, as always, a lot more. Thank you, Dafna and Ivan, for joining the Yellow Van. Your bravery and empathy are an inspiration. SHOW NOTES Sociological group "RATING" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rating_(sociological_group)#:~:text=Rating%20(Ukrainian%3A%20%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3)%2C,approved%20by%20the%20ESOMAR%20and] International Red Cross and Red Crescent [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement] World Food Programme [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Food_Programme] Leonid Kuchma [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Kuchma] Article by Dafna Rachok: On Trust, Transparency, and Learning from the Experience of the Extraordinary [https://huri.harvard.edu/trust-transparency-and-learning-experience-extraordinary] Article by Ivan Shmatko: A Voracious Beast - Emotional Energy in the Tsunami of Suffering [https://huri.harvard.edu/voracious-beast-emotional-energy-tsunami-suffering] DONATIONS Come Back Alive [https://savelife.in.ua/en/] Hospitaliers [https://www.hospitallers.life/] FOLLOW DAFNA AND IVAN Dafna's Twitter [https://twitter.com/DafnaRachok] Dafna's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafnarachok/] Ivan's Twitter [https://twitter.com/shmatkoivan] Ivan's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.krakun] MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Nick Torzhevsky is a film director and producer from Kyiv with over 10 years of experience directing and producing broadcast TV series, commercials, and feature films. Nick's latest project, Ukraine Rebirth, is putting a focus on the rebuilding of Ukraine after the war - something that struck me as extraordinary as the war is still raging on without an end in sight. On the website of Ukraine Rebirth, the project is introduced as follows: "Our main message within the series, as seen from the title, is to show rebirth. Everyone has fallen, and it takes heart and strength to get up and keep going. Ukraine is very strong, and now this is noticed by the whole world. Ukrainians are brave, fierce, united and valiant, but also kind, passionate, full of love and hope. In the face of the enemy, we don't just prepare for the last stand, we prepare to win and then to rebuild our country, to rise from the ashes, better and stronger than before.We want to capture this spirit which helps Ukrainians keep going and to share it with the world, so that this hope and passion will blossom in the hearts of every viewer around the globe." How exactly the idea for the project was born and how Nick is feeding his seemingly inexhaustible optimism is something we will be discussing in today's show. And, as always, a lot more. SHOW NOTES Find Nick Here Ukraine Rebirth [https://ukrainerebirth.com] Instagram [https://instagram.com/n.torzhevsky] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nick.torzhevsky/] Ukraine Rebirth Collaborators LGBTQI+ Story Stanislav Morozov (director) [https://www.facebook.com/stanislav.morozov.796] Stanislav Medvedev (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/stas.medvedev.37] Olexiy Gladushevskyi (creative producer) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014720767273] Evgeniy Usanov (director of photography) [https://www.facebook.com/evgeniy.usanov] Kyiv Story Nataliya Torzhevska (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012951876046] Stanislav Savchenko (director of photography) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004601086095] Cherson Story Julia Tribrat (director) [https://www.facebook.com/reallyjuliet] Lana Iermakova (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081946741835] Support the Kickstarter Campaign here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ukrainerebirthlgbtq/ukraine-rebirth-lgbtq MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind The Bump [http://www.mindthebump.de/] Production Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Alex Kraev is a musical multi-talent who gave his soul to punk rock. He plays the drums, bass, and guitar in multiple bands and is an absolute musical powerhouse. His influences are many, but his goal is one and the same: to challenge stereotypes and self-imposed laziness of body and mind. His music is loud and gets under your skin. Challenging riffs, vocal cascades, energetic rhythms and climactic melodies tear you out of your comfort zone, sharpen your senses and abduct your body before they spit you out on the cold, ashen, concrete ground of human construction - only to find yourself naked, lusting for more. No more comfort, only raw emotion. Thank you very much! Punk, in its conception, has always been about protest and societal unrest, a mirror to the polished, self-righteous facade of civil society and, therefore, at the root of democracy - at least, according to me. Sid Vicious, the godfather of punk, said this once: "Undermine their pompous authority, reject their moral standards, make anarchy and disorder your trademarks. Cause as much chaos and disruption as possible but don't let them take you ALIVE." How this translates to the war in Ukraine and the simultaneous democratic process, I will discuss with Alex today! I am so happy to have you on board! SHOW NOTES Sid Vicious [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Vicious] Sex Pistols [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Pistols] Odessa Grain Shipments [https://www.politico.eu/article/odesa-port-ukraine-first-ship-carrying-grain-food-crisis-russia-war/] Kalush Orkestra [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalush_(rap_group)] The Offspring [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Offspring] Black Fly [https://www.facebook.com/blackflyofficial/] NoFX [https://www.nofxofficialwebsite.com/] Bad Religion [https://badreligion.com/] Greenday [https://greenday.com/] Simple Plan [https://officialsimpleplan.com/] Yellowcard [http://yellowcardrock.com/] Radio Havanna [https://www.radiohavanna.de/] Black Flag [https://www.blackflagband.com/] Bezlad [https://www.facebook.com/bezladoi] ALEX' FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/LeXXKraev ALEX' MUSIC & BANDS ВІДСІЧ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/11snryEzY3apIX8Axx9uZ1?si=4Cbkqqs7QyyGKFkY3iYV7g] FLAME [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mrDHK5DN8juEGSjsKCqgz?si=XHREHDlNQFq-rkkXYA9iag] RAGTAG [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CbSQPfhWQIZmlpSysVkXO?si=mWWBMI5rQT-6vZYyU2KAKQ] CONCRETE CONTROL [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1BEFfDquf0mT2aeXTYXS0e?si=FFG7F6ylSoi4C7tq0Y2w6Q] REDEMPTION [https://open.spotify.com/album/7AdiZek73SChGaLm9l35kn?si=IjRUin-kQI23lqLz2RLXRg] Дело Дрянь [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Qg2FUvMtNlbUxEOtMF6C7?si=M-ES50O4SrWu7dMBf013zw] ALEX NEXT SHOW More Music Club [https://facebook.com/events/s/the-cow-ragtag-wild-weed-super/367349802141404/] DONATIONS Alex' Volunteer Org [http://spilnameta.com/en/] Their Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/spilna.meta.ua] MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind The Bump [http://www.mindthebump.de/] Production Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Oleksiy Martsenyuk is the Executive Director of the Center for Defence Strategies in Kiyv, an organisation that helps to monitor defence reforms and develop key government policies that will affect the country's security and defence sector. This certainly needs a little more explanation from you, Oleksiy! And we will get into that in the course of the podcast. Also, he served as a Civilian Deputy Minister in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence for just under a year. Originally, Oleksiy has a business background though. And because of this, Oleksiy's and my relationship actually goes way back. When I studied photography in Gent, Belgium, at the end of my first year all students had to choose a topic and project outside the curriculum, entirely self-sufficient and motivated by our own interests. This is now almost 18 years ago. As a foreigner myself, I chose the topic of migration and opted to take black and white portraits of people far away from home in Belgium. I put it all in book form, presenting them on a double page with their portrait in black and white on one page and the most cherished and valuable photo they brought with them in colour on the other.  Oleksiy was introduced to me by my dear friend Apoorva, studying with him at the time. A big shoutout and a big hug to you, Apu, who I don't see or hear nearly often enough! I remember the portrait of Oleksiy still so well after all these years. Standing in his rather modest and empty student cave, but with a big, bright Ukrainian flag on his wall. Leaning in, curiously observing me with a gentle smile while I was trying to create something lasting with the little that I knew at the time. But, in a way, I have; by having him with me today - 18 years after that photo was taken. I am so happy and grateful to have you with us today, Oleksiy, after all this time! SHOW NOTES New York Times, The Bodies Lay Dead in the Street [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/world/europe/bucha-ukraine-bodies.html] BBC News, Bucha Killings [https://www.bbc.com/news/60981238] VOX News, Ukraine Kidnappings [https://www.vox.com/23012456/ukraine-russia-war-disappearances-kidnappings] Deutsche Welle, Russia Uses Kidnappings to Intimidate Ukrainians [https://www.dw.com/en/russia-uses-kidnappings-to-intimidate-locals-in-occupied-ukraine/a-61309858] Golda Meir [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golda_Meir] Weimar Republic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republic] Friedrich Ebert [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ebert] Philipp Scheidemann [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Scheidemann] The Ebert-Groener Pact [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebert%E2%80%93Groener_pact#:~:text=The%20Ebert%E2%80%93Groener%20pact%2C%20sometimes,%2C%20on%20November%2010%2C%201918.] Sinking of the Moskwa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_Moskva] Bayraktar Drone [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baykar_Bayraktar_TB2] HIMARS [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M142_HIMARS] Nord Stream 2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord_Stream_2] Rheinmetall builds military training center [https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/russian-army-orders-training-centre-from-rheinmetall-as-military-modernises/] The Orphanage, Serhiy Zhadan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serhiy_Zhadan] Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani), Twitter Thread [https://twitter.com/kamilkazani?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] MUSIC Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan] Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bu [https://www.mindthebump.de]