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The War Against Ukraine and Its Effect on Society: A Student-Led Investigation

Presented by students in the Ukrainian- Canadian (Blended) Program at Novopecherska School, Kyiv

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Presentation:

Novopecherska School, Kyiv to

Western Technical Commercial School, Toronto

Join Zoom Meeting

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/99326603853?pwd=c1dqc1IzWXNZQWhFVGV4MkZ0dVY3QT09

Meeting ID: 993 2660 3853

Passcode: 477543

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History of the War

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Maidan- Revolution of Dignity 2014 in Ukraine

Events leading to the Revolution of Dignity

What is Maidan?

Made by Hevko Sofia

What is Maidan?

Maidan - Revolution of Dignity 2014 in Ukraine - was a series of massive protests that changed our government, changed Ukraines history, and had a huge influence on uniting our nation. As a result, Maidan 2014 became a decisive moment in the history of Ukraine, which significantly affected the political situation in the region.

Events leading to the Revolution of Dignity:

Viktor Yanukovych was the president of Ukraine from February 25, 2010 to February 22, 2014. During his reign, people were very dissatisfied with the government's political and economical situation in the country. Yanukovych's government was accused of serious violations of democratic principles, such as restrictions on freedom of speech and collections, human rights violations, and high-level corruption which led to massive citizenship discontent. However, it was Yanukovych's refusal to sign the "Agreement on the Association of Ukraine with the EU" which forced people to come to the city squares and organize protests. During the past years Ukrainians wanted to join the European Union as the EU is associated with the rule of law, respect for the individual, transparent rules for the functioning of the political system which was the main goal for the majority of residents of Ukraine. Ukrainians expected to peacefully build democracy in their country by joining the family of European nations, which meant Yanukovych's refusal to join the EU was unacceptable for the Ukrainian nation.

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Maidan- Revolution of Dignity 2014 in Ukraine

student protest

ex-President decides to disperse peaceful demonstrators. "Berkut" squad brutally disperses them

Active protests violent clashes between protesters and governmental security forces. First causes of civilian deaths.

Defenseless activists were shot by the "Berkut", around 100 civilians died defending our dignity

Made by Hevko Sofia

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Occupation of Crimea and Donbas in 2014

In March 2014, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Russian troops captured strategic sites across Crimea and installed the pro-Russian government, followed by a fake referendum and declaration of independence.

April 2014 the war in Donbas began. Russian troops invaded Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Pro-Russian separatists declared independence of Donbas from Ukraine.. The occupation resulted in significant casualties, displacement of civilians, and extensive damage to infrastructure in the region.

Made by Hevko Sofia

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War crimes and genocide

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-What is the biggest change in Izyum you have witnessed during the occupation?

-Did I understand it right that people were afraid of them?

-Why so?

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-What do you mean by saying “to the basement”?

What could be the reason to be sent there?

So you couldn’t speak Ukrainian, could you?

What was the scariest experience you had to go through?

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Did you believe Izyum was about to be de-occupied?

The last question, how do you see the future of Ukraine?

What did you feel when you found out the news?

What was the process of liberation like for you?

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A War crime is a serious violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and other serious violations of the laws or customs of war defined in Article 8 of the Rome Statute. They are one of the international crimes (crimes under general international law), which also include the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression according to office of the prosecutor general

War crimes

When speaking of war crimes and genocide it is very important to understand their definitions. A War crime is a serious violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and other serious violations of the laws or customs of war defined in Article 8 of the Rome Statute. They are one of the international crimes (crimes under general international law), which also include the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression according to OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL.Some of the rules we need to keep in mind are: Military forces cannot attack civilians nor infrastructure that is vital to their survival. Some weapons are banned according to the Geneva convention because of the suffering they cause - such as anti-personnel landmines, and chemical or biological weapons. Harm and torture are forbidden as well. Genocide is defined as violent attacks with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. One of the principles of war are: The sick and wounded must be cared for - including injured soldiers, who have rights as prisoners of war. Serious offences such as murder, rape or mass persecution of a group are known as "crimes against humanity" or in some circumstances "genocide".

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Civilian casualties

14,666 civilians died

8,709 killed

23,375 victims of war among Ukrainians

84,055 war crimes registered

478 children died

120,000 civilian buildings were destroyed

The reason for the specific examples I’ve provided were mentioned because Russian soldiers that have entered Ukrainian territories successfully ignored most, if not all, of these rules. Here is some data about civilian casualties:

14,666 civilians

8,709 killed

23,375 victims of war among Ukrainians

84,055 war crimes registered

478 children died

120,000

civilian buildings were destroyed

It is important to mention that this official data does not account for the casualties Ukraine has faced in such cities as Mariupol or Bachmut, nor all the people in mass graves found in Izum (more than 440 bodies found) and Bucha. Until occupied regions are freed and investigated, we will not know the total number of innocent Ukrainian casualties. 99% of deaths have evidence of violent death. Some people were shot, and some died from artillery fire or airstrikes. At least 30 bodies have signs of torture.�Broken arms.�Tied hands.�A rope around the neck.�Amputated genitalia.�Killed families.�Killed children.

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Personal stories of victims of war

Russian troops have destroyed more than 120,000 civilian infrastructure , fired approximately 4,5 thousands missiles, committed more than 464 war crimes against cultural heritage sites tell at least 478 innocent children were killed during the initial month of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Here are some personal stories or comments from real people

A woman with her son Vanya called a taxi, packed up and left the house when a Russian tank fired at them. They were buried right in the yard of the apartment complex. There was no other way out. - Irpen

“We were driving around the city, and corpses were lying around. Women, men, children. We tried to distract our children in the car so they wouldn’t look there. It’s horrible.” Mariupol

Russians beat me for about an hour. They broke my jaws. Beat my head 10 times. They tried to cut off my finger, then broke it.”said Ihor, a civilian who survived Russian imprisonment

People thought they could stay in Rostov for a couple of months and maybe return to Mariupol. Instead Russians took them to Samara. They did not know what to do there, and accommodation was provided for only two weeks.”said Iryna, a refugee from Mariupol

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History of war crimes in cities that suffered the most

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RUSSIANS AIM IS TO DESTROY UKRAINIAN CULTURE – OUR PAST,OUR MEMORIES, AND OUR FUTURE. HELP US BE HEARD.

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The Effects of War on Ukrainian Students

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The Effects of War on Ukrainian education

Nechyporenko Tymofii

We all know that the Russian-Ukrainian war strongly impacts everyone and everything related to Ukraine. Mostly, our economy and demography. But sooner or later the war will end, and we will need to give a lot of effort to solve the major consequences that arise. We need to understand that there are high chances that our generation will take a huge part in an attempt to rebuild Ukraine and restore the economy. This is why education is so important.

So how was the educational system affected?

First, the loss of pupils and educators. Just in the first 4 months of the war seven hundred thousand students and thirty thousand teachers left the country. There haven't been statistical reports on the number of students who have left Ukraine more recently, but the number is certainly much greater now.

Second problem is the functionality of schools. A lot of schools were damaged or completely destroyed, especially the ones that are located in eastern regions. The ones that are still working also have gone through many obstacles in order to operate safely… Every air raid and blackout force schools to stop functioning. It makes the education even harder, because studying without light and internet or in the tight underground shelter is much less comfortable, and therefore is not as efficient. Also, it takes a bit of time to move from the classroom to the shelter and back, which interrupts the educational process.

The war has caused many problems for everyone involved in the education sphere, but there are still some positives due to the global response of the Russian invasion on Ukraine. For example, a lot of Ukrainian students received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend certain schools and colleges. A lot of schools lowered their requirements and changed their policies for Ukrainian students. This helped Ukrainians to get into schools without any additional applications and usually for a much cheaper price. It probably wouldn’t be possible without the war. This means that a lot of people of younger generations will probably achieve a better education that they could have gotten. The question is if students are going to come back after studying? According to Ukrainian specialists, around 90% of our refugees will come back to Ukraine, which means that the future might be brighter than we thought it would be.

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Studying in bomb shelters

Studying in shelter during the Ukraine-Russia war has been a difficult and frightening experience for many students. It has created significant challenges in continuing education. Fortunately, many schools have built bomb shelters and simply wait for the alarm to end to continue their learning, but in some cases students have had to attend classes in makeshift shelters or underground bunks to avoid the constant shelling and bombing.

Made by: Deinega Anastasia

I will talk about studying in an air-raid shelter during war. every time the alarm sounds, all Ukrainian schools go down to the bomb shelter. Of course, in almost a year, many people got used to it, but the stress did not decrease. Studying in shelter during the Ukraine-Russia war has been a difficult and frightening experience for many students. it has created significant challenges in continuing r education. fortunately, many schools go down into bomb shelters and simply wait for the alarm to end but in some cases, students have had to attend classes in makeshift shelters or underground bunks to avoid the constant shelling and bombing. For example:in those cities:Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and even Kiev.I remember how we studied on 10.10 in shelter before the beginning of the academic year, the main condition for all schools in Ukraine was to have a bomb shelter. as of July 5 only 11% of Ukrainian schools had a bomb shelter. as of September 1, 2022 already in 68% of schools have bomb shelters. Studying in bomb shelters causes great stress for both students and teachers.during the studying in the bomb shelter Teachers notice in students anxiety and worry, lack of motivation to study, apathy and indifference, as well as confusion and inattention. Teachers and children faced the biggest stress when there was a frequent power outage during air sirens. The constant fear of attack, coupled with the lack of basic amenities like electricity and running water, can make it almost impossible for students to keep up with their studies. Despite these challenges, many students education. END While studying in a shelter during the Ukraine-Russia war is an incredibly difficult experience, it is also a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit. Despite the challenges, these students have shown an unwavering commitment to their education and to building a better future for themselves and their communities.

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Type of test	External independent testing (EIT)	National multi-subject testing (HMT)
Subjects	3-4	3
Questions (each subject)	45-75	20-32
Time (each subject)	130-210 min	60
Score system	0-200	0-200
Number of different subjects	11	7

What is EIT? How it changed during the war?

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Type of test	External independent testing 2021	National multi-subject testing 2022
Minimum number of correct answers to pass the test	100-200	10%
Type of test	Offline	Online
Participants registered	300 000	243 000
Amount people that passed 1 exam for maximum	574	6 556
Amount people that passed 1 exam for maximum (%)	0.2%	2.7%

How will a lower level of education due to the war affect Ukraine’s future?

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5 minute break

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The Economic and Demographic Effects of War in Ukraine

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Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on demography

20 millions of Ukrainians left the country

12 millions of Ukrainians came back to the country

8 millions of Ukrainians are still abroad

5 millions of which have registered for temporary protection in Europe
10% of the refugees are men of working age

Nechyporenko Tymofii

Now I’m going to tell you about the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the demographics of Ukraine. It’s one of the main problems right now, and it will certainly be a major problem even after the end of the war. By the reports of border guards of Ukraine and neighboring countries, it is estimated that around 20 million Ukrainians left the country after the 24th of February, 2022. That’s almost a half of our population.

But despite that, not everyone out of those 20 millions have moved out temporarily. Already, during the first year of the war roughly 12 million Ukrainians actually came back to their country. The rest are still abroad, which creates big losses for Ukraine, because the number of 8 million people is bigger than the population of Norway, Estonia, Iceland and Cyprus combined.

This immigration causes a couple of problems for the Ukrainian economy. Let’s talk about them. First and the most obvious impact is taxes. People who moved out are not paying taxes to the Ukrainian government, which limits the budget. Luckily, Ukraine is receiving support from our partners, but after the end of the war, economical support is not guaranteed. Adds fuel to the fire the fact that 10% of the refugees are men of working age, so the impact is actually quite strong. Besides that, even Ukrainians that weren’t working were valuable in the economic system, because somehow purchases of toys for kids, clothes for teenagers, groceries for whole families were keeping the economy alive, even if they were bought with money provided by someone else.

Refugees are causing some trouble not only , because countries simply aren't ready to provide food and a place of living for so many people. There have been 1,5 million refugees recorded in Poland, 1 million in Germany, and half a million in Czechia. 5 million of Ukrainians are registered for temporary protection, so we can assume that these countries found ways to somehow deal with everyone.

In conclusion, the Russian-Ukrainian war causes a lot of troubles for Ukraine and less, but still enough troubles for neighboring and partnering countries. We hope that the war will end as soon as possible, and those 8 million people will come back to restore our economy.

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Ukrainian economy. Most, impacted industries.

The war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on its economy. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine claims that country's GDP fell by an estimated 30%.

Many industries experienced massive destruction by air missiles. The Kyiv School of Economics states that the most affected was the residential sector($53.6 billion), Infrastructure($36.2 billion) and industry assets($11.3 billion).

https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/minekonomiky-poperedno-otsiniuie-padinnia-vvp-v-2022-rotsi-na-rivni-304

The war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on its economy. The Ukrainian government(Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine) claims that in 2022 the country's GDP fell by an estimated 30%.

(https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/minekonomiky-poperedno-otsiniuie-padinnia-vvp-v-2022-rotsi-na-rivni-304)

The decline hit many industries. The most affected were capital intensive sectors that orient on significant purchases, or the tertiary sector industries, such as: housing, infrastructure, industrial sector, business services, education, healthcare.

Besides the consumer decline, industries also experienced massive destruction by air missiles. The Kyiv School of Economics states that the most affected was the residential sector($54.4 billion), Infrastructure($36.2 billion) and education($9.1 billion) sectors.

The government has responded by implementing economic stabilization measures, such as providing financial assistance to businesses, and by seeking support from the international community. However, these measures have been insufficient to compensate the damage caused by the war.

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Cost of war for Ukraine

In 2022, Ukraine allocated $44.0 billion towards military expenses. This rise increased the military burden (ratio of military spending to GDP) to 34% of GDP for 2022 from the previous.

The Kyiv School of Economics estimates that the value of damage has reached $137.8 billion (at replacement cost).

https://kse.ua/russia-will-pay/

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International trade relationships for Ukraine and other countries

The war drastically affected exports to Ukraine. Disrupted access to their markets is an issue for perishable goods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Fortunately, some products that exporters cannot ship to Ukraine could be redistributed to other markets.

Redistribution also causes increased competition and price reductions. Ukrainian wheat, that Ukraine exports to lots of european countries disrupts the market and makes local farmers struggle.

https://usm.media/zerno-2022-blokada-portiv-zernovij-koridor-ta-polumya-vijni/

Value of wheat exports from Ukraine in 2022, by country

How has the war affected international trade relationships for Ukraine and other countries involved in the conflict?

The war drastically affected exports to Ukraine. Disrupted access to their markets is an urgent issue for perishable goods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Some products that exporters cannot ship to Ukraine could be redistributed to other (European) markets.

Still, the problem of oversupply is not solved. Redistribution also causes increased competition and price reductions. Ukrainian wheat, that Ukraine exports to lots of european countries disrupts the market and makes local farmers struggle.

Canada also was impacted by the war. By November and December of 2022, Canadian imports from Russia had fallen 98 per cent compared to 2021. Besides import, export also experienced a significant decline. The value of exports from Canada to Russia between March and December fell 91 per cent, dropping to $52 million in 2022 from $584 million in 2021.�Moreover, Canada set a 35 per cent tariff on Russian and Belarusian products in March, which it expects will yield $115 million in revenue.

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How has the current inflation rate been impacted by the war?

The war caused a huge rise in the inflation rates in Ukraine. The annual inflation rate for 2022 was 26.6%, which is a very big percentage compared to what's considered healthy inflation, and the previous year's percentage.

https://tradingeconomics.com/ukraine/inflation-cpi

4. What is the current inflation rate in Ukraine, and how has it been impacted by the war?

The war caused a huge rise in the inflation rates in Ukraine. The annual inflation rate for 2022 was 26.6%, which is a very big percentage compared to what's considered healthy inflation, and the previous year's percentage.

(https://tradingeconomics.com/ukraine/inflation-cpi)

The annual inflation rate in Ukraine stood at 17.9 percent in April 2023, easing further from 21.3 percent in March and reaching a one-year low. The main factor that caused such a trend was printing money by the National Bank of Ukraine. In 2022, Ukraine’s government bank printed 400 billion hryvnia, equivalent to approximately 10.5 billion us dollars.

The war also caused inflation rates to go higher in countries all around the world. As you can see on the chart, the most impacted countries were Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

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Job sector of Ukraine – Employment rates.

According to the International Labor Organization, about 4.8 million Ukrainians lost their jobs in May alone. In August, the level of unemployment in Ukraine reached 35%. In addition, the purchasing power of Ukrainians' salaries is rapidly falling due to vast inflation rates.

Job losses among refugees

30%

23%

47%

5.23 million

1.2 of them lost their jobs

2.75 million of working age

https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_844625/lang--en/index.html

5. How has the war impacted the employment rate in Ukraine? What types of jobs have been lost or gained as a result?

About 4.8 million jobs lost in Ukraine due to Russian aggression. Over 5.23 million refugees fled to neighboring countries, with 2.75 million of working age and 1.2 million having lost or left their jobs.

Demand for workers increasing in Ukraine, particularly for installers, loaders, assemblers, packers, salespeople, cashiers, pharmacists, farmers, and IT professionals. IT professionals experienced fewer job losses due to remote work opportunities.

In the future, builders will remain in demand in Ukraine. Specialists needed in agriculture, food production, wholesale and retail trade, logistics, chemical and electrical equipment production, and furniture.

At the same time, formal work preservation does not yet mean the same level of pre-war salary.

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Mental & physical issues during war

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Main reasons of stress after the beginning of the war in Ukraine

Ukrainians feel constant stress because of the war, are afraid of losing their jobs and homes. But firmly believe in victory and support the state's actions at the front, says a new sociological study by Gradus Research

Made by: Anastasia Deinega

Happymondey.ua
Ldn.org.ua
Zahisnik.zp.ua
Shotam.ua

i will talk about mental issues during the war The ongoing war in Ukraine causes stress, affects the respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular systems of the human body and the musculoskeletal system.After war started most Ukrainians received a large amount of stress. (talking about 2 diagrams ).Ukrainians solve from stress in different ways , 39% of respondents sit on the Internet, 31% communicate with family or friends, and 29% watch television, movies or series. 20% immerse themselves in work, 16% drink alcohol, 15% read books, 13% go outside, 14% eat sweets, and 10% do sports Only 2% of respondents turn to specialists for psychological help.despite the fact that after the start of the war, many sites for free psychological help appeared.Here you can see some websites. Many Ukrainians faced problems like:migration of children and women abroad (43% of Ukrainian children are forced to study abroad), divorces In 2022 17,893 people decided to end their marriage.interesting fact that in 2021 were 29 587 divorces but Officials and psychologists note that the statistics will catch up. Many have postponed this decision until victory, an increase in divorces is expected, in particular, when a woman returns from abroad.Main reasons of divorces reluctance to live in a family that is not at all like the one she/he dreamed of.People who separate from this position have a opinion: we don't know where tomorrow will "fly", and we don't know how much time we have, to live.Woman who move abroad starting see completely different conditions for life, own and children's development, different standards of quality of life and because of this, conflicts with men in Ukraine appeared .People start understand that they feel better without each other. the biggest changes right now feeling families that have small children, teenage children and those whose children are preparing for independent life but in other way this year almost 52 thousand couples got married. Such determination associated with the stress of the war and the desire no

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Current situation that happens cause stress

52 000 couples got married

43 % of Ukrainian children are forced to study abroad

17,893 decided to end their marriage

Made by: Anastasia Deinega

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Military Losses in war in Ukraine

Military losses in war	Ukraine, thousand people	Russia, thousand people
Killed	16 - 18	35 - 43
Injuries	108 - 113	155 - 191
Total losses	124 - 131	190 - 234

Ratio Killed to Total Losses	7.4	4.9

Source: https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-65169296

UA Soldier’s treatment and rehabilitation

Compensation to soldier	One-off, $	Monthly, $
Treatment in hospital	-	2 500
Rehabilitation in hospital	-	2 500

Source: https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/viplati-viyskovim-za-poranennya-chi-invalidnist-yak-otrimati-groshovu-kompensaciyu-2284819.html

UA Soldier’s inability compensation

Compensation to soldier	One-off, $	Pension, $
Disability 3d group	16 775	1 500
Disability 2d group (usually can not work)	20 130	2 000
Disability 1d group (usually can not move)	26 840	2 500

Source: https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/viplati-viyskovim-za-poranennya-chi-invalidnist-yak-otrimati-groshovu-kompensaciyu-2284819.html

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bet.

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Ukrainian Identity

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“Nations don't become extinct from a heart attack,

their language is taken away from them first”

4 centuries of linguicide and repressions against Ukrainian language

The USSR was a communist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It consisted of several member republics, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc., each of which was subject to restrictions on freedom and elections.

The mass famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, was a man-made famine in Ukraine, caused by government policies. It killed millions of people from starvation and related diseases. Holodomor is considered a tragedy and genocide targeting Ukrainians.

The death of a language , either from natural or political causes

Valuev circular–Secret order of the Minister of the Russian Empire to the territorial censorship committees, which are ordered to stop publishing books written in Ukrainian.
EMS ukaz–he order of the Russian emperor that forbade: to print books in Ukrainian, to teach it in schools, to arrange concerts with Ukrainian songs or theatrical performances, etc.

USSR–

Made by:

Prysiazhniuk Ilona

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"For all nations, language is a means of communication, for us it is a factor of alienation”

De-russification–the process is aimed at restoring the autochthonous peoples' signs of national identity: language, culture, historical memory, which were lost during Russification.

Revolution of Dignity–a series of protests and demonstrations that took place in Ukraine in 2013-2014. It was a nationwide movement driven by the Ukrainian people's desire for political and social change, it also sparked ongoing conflicts in eastern Ukraine and Crimea,

a full-scale invasion

Ukraine's independence–Ukraine's independence was officially proclaimed on August 24 1991, and this meant that from now on Ukraine supposed to be free from external control or influence.

93%

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Traditional food

This is a hearty soup made with beets, cabbage, potatoes, and other vegetables. It’s often served with sour cream, dill, traditional bread and can be made with meat or vegetarian.

Dumplings filled with a variety of fillings, such as potato and cheese, sauerkraut, or berries. They are boiled and typically served with sour cream and butter.

Борщ[borsch]

Вареники[vareniki]

Borsch

This is a hearty soup made with beets, cabbage, potatoes, and other vegetables. It’s often served with sour cream, dill, traditional bread and can be made with meat or vegetarian.First written mentions of borsch dating from the 16th century. Nowadays, it’s the most popular dish in Ukraine and the style of cooking is very unique for every family. This means that in the same region, the way that the neighbors make borsch can vary.

In addition, the dish is protected by the UNESCO organization.

Today, borsch also plays a key role for the defenders of our country. Throughout the war, volunteers from all the country cook and supply meals for the army, and borsch is not an exception.

Vareniki

Dumplings filled with a variety of fillings, such as potato and cheese, sauerkraut, or berries. They are boiled and typically served with sour cream and butter.

Ukrainians adopted vareniki a long time ago, from that time they became one of the most loved dishes all around Ukraine.

Scientists believe that the first people to ever make vareniki were living 200 years before B.C.

Since the production process is harder compared to lots of other foods, this dish is not commonly used in the army.

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Traditional food

Кутя[Kutya]

Банош[Banosh]

Куліш[kulish]

This is a sweet porridge made with wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, and nuts. It is often served during Christmas and other special occasions.

This is a dish made with cornmeal and sour cream, often served with cheese and bacon. It is popular in the Carpathian Mountains region of Ukraine.

This is a savory porridge made with various grains such as barley, millet, or rice. It is often served with meat or mushrooms.

Kutya

This is a sweet porridge made with wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, and nuts. It is

often served during Christmas and other special occasions.

The dish came to us from Ancient Greece, and has been a part of Ukrainian cuisine for centuries. It is usually served as a tribute to ancestors. Ukrainians usually eat it on Orthodox Christmas.

Banosh

This is a dish made with cornmeal and sour cream, often served with cheese and bacon. It is popular in the Carpathian Mountains region of Ukraine.

This dish came to us from the mysterious Carpatian(mountains) region. Traditionally, it is cooked on open fire and only by men.

Kulish

Historical background of this dish leads us to cossacks, which cooked kulish every day during military campaigns. After the liquidation of Zaporizhzhya Cossacks, the Cossacks settled in the vast territory of Ukraine. The recipes of Cossack cuisine were passed down from generation to generation, and today there are many options for cooking kulish.

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Ivana Kupala. Bonfire jumping

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Celebration traditions

Singing Christmas carols

Painting and beating pysanka

Baking pancakes for a whole week everyday

Painting and beating eggs

Starting the Easter celebration with an egg (pysanka) is a custom that has been in Ukraine since ancient times, as it symbolised the germ of a new life. People paint the shell of an egg in bright colours by using wax paints, with each colour signifying a different meaning (red is the joy of life; yellow is sunlight; blue is for health). After receiving their colourful adornments, they are then considered sacred, together with the Kulich (Easter cake) in the church. Later at home, everyone eats national holiday dishes – holodets (frozen pork broth), homemade sausages and more. Children usually play the game called beats; they knock each other’s egg. Whoever’s egg breaks is the loser.

Such a custom symbolizes the struggle between good and evil. For a long time, the strongest egg was considered a talisman in the family. The ego was saved and broken last. Once upon a time, it was indecent to kiss in public to wish a friend a happy holiday.

Singing Christmas carols

Christmas Eve’s Kolyadkas (carols) Kolyadnyky (carolers) go to the yards and houses of neighbours, sing carols, and wish prosperity and health to all family members. In the past, particular attention was paid to costumes: fur coats inside out, masks of animals, and bags for collecting gifts. But today, the costumes are not that important. Among Ukrainians, the belief is that the more Kolyadnyky that come to your dwelling, the better and fruitful the year will be. In turn, owners must give money to carolers or at least treat them with sweets.

Having fun on Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa is a holiday when people say goodbye to winter and greet spring, bake pancakes and organise festivals. This custom appeared during the times of Kievan Rus, as the pancake was considered a symbol for the sun. Every day during pancake week, there is a particular ritual. For example, on Monday, everyone prepares for the holiday; during the weekdays, it is time to enjoy pancakes (sour cream and red caviar fillings are especially popular). Meanwhile, Sunday is called Forgiveness Day – a day when people ask for forgiveness from relatives and friends.

Plunging into an ice hole

Every year on January 19th, on the day of the Christianisation of Kievan Rus, Ukrainian Christians jump into an ice hole. At night, people break through the ice and create a hole in the form of a cross and later dive into the water three times. They believe that the water has healing properties, and by plunging into the icy river, all the sins and illnesses will be cured. This event occurs every single year, and locals queue to dive in.

Greeting people with bread and salt

Ukrainian people are very family oriented. For this reason, most customs are related to family holidays or events. One of them came from the Kievan Rus period when people greeted their most honourable guests with bread and salt. It turns out that if the hosts offered this combination of goods, they wished wealth (bread is a symbol of wealth) and banished evil spirits (salt is a symbol of the purity of the soul). Nowadays, Ukrainians have made this custom simpler; however, bread and salt are always put on the table when guests arrive.

Striking the family with willow twigs

On Willow Sunday, which in Ukraine is called the Verbna Nedilya, people commemorate the date of Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem. In Western countries, this day is called Palm Sunday, but because there is no palm in Ukraine, locals replaced it with a willow branch. As such, there is an ancient custom that suggests striking your family members with a pile of willows, as the consecrated willow has a purifying power and heals all diseases and evil spirits.

Pricing a bride at a wedding

The tradition of buying a bride is as old as the Ukrainian wedding itself. In the past, such a rite had significant implications. Nowadays, though, this tradition is just an innocent game. Together with friends and an entourage, he participates in competitions and gets comic assignments in order to show that he is worthy of the bride.

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Ukrainian traditional clothing

Ukrainian clothing used to represent your social status, traditions of the specific region where you were born and even your family line.

Modern Vyshyvanka

Vyshyvanka
Sharovary
Skirt

Made by Hevko Sofia

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Q&A