Welcome to this edition of What about Ukraine?, a newsletter that helps you keep updated about what has been said recently about Ukraine in Ukraine, and in the international media.

After a documentary about Mariupol’s siege by Russia received the first ever Oscar awarded to a Ukrainian movie, the Europe-Ukraine Desk translated an article allowing you to catch a glimpse of what is happening in the occupied city of Mariupol. The story is told from the point of view of one of its citizens, who had to flee during the 2022 siege, before the city fell to Russia. Interviewed by journalists from Ukraïner, Halyna Balabanova tells of her life as a Ukrainian in exile in her own country, looking at her hometown from the outside. 

Also in this edition, Spain’s El Mundo examines the use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine, and a detailed debunk counters Russian narratives shared on Spanish television. Russian elections, and authorities holding them in occupied territories of Ukraine, have become a divisive topic, drawing condemnation from the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, while Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini considers them "proof of democracy and the Russian people’s free choice."

A new border crossing will open on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, giving a new route for Ukrainian exports in the middle of the Polish border farmer crisis, and Frankfurt (Oder) Europa-Universität Viadrina Ukraine Center, which aims to explore the impact of the Russian war on Ukraine's self-perception, language and memory politics, including monuments, received state funding to enhance and sustain Ukrainian studies in Germany.

Finally we explain the buzz around Russian and Belarussian athletes taking part (or not) in the Paris 2024 Olympics, which start in July. 

Have a good read. 

Sarah-Lou Lepers
Editor of this week's edition

On 16 March many Ukrainian media reminded their readers of a dreadful anniversary - two years since the Russian army dropped bombs on the Mariupol drama theatre, which served as a shelter for several hundreds of civilians. 600 are considered to have been killed by the strike.

This happened during the siege of the city by the Azov sea, whose first weeks were shown in ‘20 days in Mariupol’, which won the Best Documentary Feature Film this year - the first Oscar for Ukraine in the award’s history. 

In the story, translated by n-ost this week, journalist Khrystyna Kulakovska together with colleagues from Ukraїner tell a story about activist and volunteer Halyna Balabanova, who fled her native Mariupol on the day of drama theatre airstrike. Halyna’s vision of life in her hometown today is based on her constant contact with friends who stayed in the city.

"From her sources, Halyna sees that over the past two years since what the Russians called ‘the city’s liberation’, they failed to provide basic living conditions for the citizens who opted to stay. While Russian propaganda is tirelessly creating the illusion of normalcy for those living in the city, this mirage vanishes as soon as the Russian cameras stop rolling. ‘To me, this is a simulacrum of Mariupol,’ Halyna says. ‘They are creating a simulation of the city, its citizens, and its activities at every level’."

The piece was originally published by Ukraїner, a media project that collects different stories from around Ukraine - from winery launches or traditional celebrations to stories from the recently deoccupied regions.

Translated by Tetiana Evloeva.

Bulgaria

Sofia does not recognise Russia’s elections on Ukrainian soil

"Holding the Russian presidential elections in the illegally occupied areas of Ukraine is yet another serious violation of international law. Bulgaria does not recognise the results of the elections held in the occupied Ukrainian territories," reads a statement from the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, commenting harshly on the recent Russian presidential elections, which saw the reconfirmation of Vladimir Putin for a fifth term. In addition to the lack of a free and fair electoral process, Sofia condemned the occupation authorities for forcing Ukrainian citizens to vote. "Bulgaria continues to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the statement concludes. (Darik Radio)

The Ukrainian judicial authorities are investigating possible corruption involving the delivery of war material to Kyiv, in a scheme including Bulgarian subjects, according to investigative journalist Hristo Grozev. The investigation is focused on complex arms export schemes in the first months after the start of the Russian invasion. According to Grozev, political figures - among which Bulgarians - received bribes to facilitate the export process. "At that time, having access to Bulgarian weapons was so important for Ukraine that many preferred to turn a blind eye, even in the face of obvious irregularities," says Grozev. (Svobodna Evropa)

Deutsche Welle Bulgaria published an interview with the Ukrainian director of Bulgarian origin, Tatyana Staneva, who is currently involved in the production of a series of documentaries on the war entitled ‘Letters from Ukraine’. "The letters are addressed to Bulgaria: I don't want it to repeat the same mistakes as Ukraine [...] I also want to tell a story about the many Ukrainian Bulgarians who fight and die [to defend their country]," says Staneva. When she was publishing correspondence on the war from Kyiv, the director recalls the frustration at not being believed by the Bulgarian public. "Now I understand better how [Russian] propaganda works, such as the troll factories, and how ethnic minorities are manipulated," she adds. (DW)

Italy

After pro-Putin declarations, the Italian government runs for cover

Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini considered Vladimir Putin’s re-election as "proof of democracy and the Russian people’s free choice, thus legitimising the contested Russian elections" (Repubblica). The government disagreed, with both PM Giorgia Meloni and deputy PM, and minister of foreign affairs, Antonio Tajani, confirming the position already held: they condemned the sham elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. They confirmed that Italy is not considering any direct military intervention, contrary to what French president Emmanuel Macron had suggested (Domani). Tajani underlined that Italy is on the side of Ukraine, but "not at war with Russia". A direct intervention from NATO, he said, would have dangerous consequences. (Corriere)

'Why do Europe and the US not use seized Russian assets to help Ukraine?', asks an article in Wired Italy. According to the European Commission, almost 300 billion euros of Russian assets remain under the control of the G7 countries. The majority, 217 billion euros, are in Europe, mainly in Belgium. A seizure of such an extent is not foreseen under international law and there are doubts about the legality of the confiscation. The author highlights that asset redistribution, without asking for Russian consent, could set a bad geopolitical precedent, risking retaliation. (Wired)

Italy’s expenditure on defence amounts to 29 billion euros in the budget for 2024, a rise from 1.3 to 1.4 percent of GDP. "Divisions in Europe have to be put aside, the only enemy to beat is Putin," said Roberto Cingolani, CEO of defence company Leonardo. Along the same lines, the president of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European defence industry has to be developed with the same strategy used against Covid or for gas: coordinated financing, planning and procurement. In the EU, military expenditure will reach 250 billion euros in 2024, 40 percent more than ten years ago, exceeding the average of two percent of GDP agreed with NATO. (L’Espresso)

Spain

Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Ukraine detailed 

Russia has been using chemical weapons on several fronts in Ukraine, according to an El Mundo investigation. The cases of injuries from chlorine gas and mustard gas have multiplied in 2024. These types of ammunition, widely used in World War I or recently in Syria, produce burns and can blind those who inhale the gas. The report includes images of the projectiles, testimonies of survivors and wounded soldiers, and medical experts who treated the cases on the frontline. (El Mundo)

Former vice-president of Spain and now TV host Pablo Iglesias, has again shared Kremlin-sympathetic conspiracy theories in his TV programme. He accused former British PM Boris Johnson of preventing a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow during the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, which is a theory often spread by Russian propaganda. An article by El Confidential debunks this allegation, by sharing a reconstruction of the sequence of events: the entry of Putin's troops through northern Ukraine, the first negotiations in Belarus, the withdrawal from Kyiv oblast, and the significant diplomatic engagements in Turkey during March 2022. (El Confidencial)

"Ukraine wants to withdraw as many people as possible from the frontline and use machines in their place," says Ukraine’s minister of strategic Industries (and ammunition), Alexandr Kamyshin, in an interview to El País. Kamyshin explains how 2024 should be the year of AI and the use of drone swarms - large groups of multiple drones flying together as a unified and coordinated structure. He explains that this technological leap is key to this war, and says Spain, as a partner, could produce 155mm ammunition on a large scale, and mentions with whom Ukraine is close to finalising new defence deals. (El País)

Hungary

Ukrainian refugee strategy: "Budapest government does minimum to keep people alive"

The problems, struggles and successes of women who serve as soldiers in the Ukrainian army is part of a report by EUD-fellow Dóra Flóra Csatári. She speaks to female soldiers in Kyiv, and with women’s rights advocates defending the interests of women soldiers, who are quite critical of the conditions in the army. "We serve together with our brothers in arms, so we deserve equal rights," says Maria Berlinska, Ukrainian military volunteer and women's rights advocate. "Don't discriminate against us, we will not accept a post-Soviet approach that would send us back to the kitchen and to the kids." (Hvg)

A new border crossing point will open at Velyka Palad-Nagyhodos on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, following an agreement confirmed by a telephone meeting between Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, and Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó (Világgazdaság). There are currently five road crossings between the two countries. As Polish farmers and truckers have ensnared traffic at the Polish border in ongoing protests over the import of Ukrainian agricultural products and the EU's Green Deal, Ukraine has sought to increase the flow of exports through other routes. (Kyiv Independent)

There seems to be no centrally-organised system for the long-term care and integration of people arriving from Ukraine, and no government strategy, according to 444.hu. The news site's research concludes that the government sees the whole issue more as a logistical operation, aimed at either getting people out of the country as quickly as possible or getting those who stay to work as soon as possible. The problem is that some of those fleeing the war are unable to work. "Strictly speaking, of course, there is the obligatory minimum from the state: there is support for accommodation, education and subsistence," reads the article. A senior staff member of an international refugee organisation, who asked to remain anonymous, adds: "The government does the minimum to keep people alive, but does nothing to help them." (444.hu)

Germany 

Is Olaf Scholz a fear monger?

Following the Bundestag's decision to reject the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which chancellor Olaf Scholz backed (tagesschau), a recent commentary in FAZ offers an analysis on Scholz's use of scare tactics in Germany. The commentary underscores how Scholz acknowledges the fears of the German population regarding the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, especially in regard to Putin's nuclear threats against his opponents. Therefore, according to the author, Scholz's role is to perpetuate a "spiral of fear" among the population and keep political decisiveness stagnant: "First, people feel fear, then Scholz shows he understands this fear, and this means everyone is even more afraid," and the result is the withholding of the supply of the Taurus missiles. (FAZ) 

The ten-year anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea on 18 March is in focus in a Tagesschau article, highlighting the ongoing repercussions of the war on Ukrainian civilians. An interview with Faride Abdurachmanowa, whose husband was violently abducted by Russian forces under false accusations, showcases the severe human rights violations and heartbreak of the affected families. "I try to stay strong for the children, but I hope every day that my husband will be released. Even though that would border on a miracle," says Faride. (tagesschau)

The Ukraine Center at Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), founded in July 2023, has received substantial funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the next four years to enhance and sustain Ukrainian studies in Germany. The centre aims to explore various aspects of Ukrainian culture, society and politics, with a focus on current events, addressing questions such as: "How does the Russian war of aggression affect Ukraine's self-perception, as well as language, and memory politics such as monuments?" The university expresses its intention to extend the programme beyond the initial four years and demonstrates a commitment to collaborate with Ukraine. (Tagesspiegel)

France

Paris Olympics challenged by Russia’s war in Ukraine

In February 2023, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry shared a propaganda video, asking to ban Russian and Belarussian athletes from the Paris 2024 Olympics, under the tagline #boycottrussiansport. One year after its publication, the Arte TV show ‘Behind the images’ dedicated an edition to this clip to decode it. A researcher explains that "this Ukrainian video aims to create a negative image of Russia and Belarus, suggesting that France would be complicit in the war happening now in Ukraine," as the Olympics have become a sounding board for human rights for decades. (Arte) 

Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian journalists on 16 March that accepting Russian and Belarussian athletes under a neutral banner was "a message of peace, of international unity [...] but which in no way detracts from the fact that we want Ukraine to regain its full sovereignty and territorial integrity." Later that weekend Vladimir Putin said, in his election victory speech, that he would "consider" the traditional Olympics ceasefire resolution France presented at the UN last November. (Le Monde)

The International Olympic Committee (based in Switzerland) has not invited Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, but decided in December to accept their athletes individually, under a neutral banner, as long as they show no active support for the Russian war against Ukraine (Le Monde). Only a few dozen athletes from Russia and Belarus should match the criteria, say experts, and there are rumours that the Russian state might ask its athletes to boycott the event (Le Monde). Will these athletes be welcome at the opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Paris? The Paralympics committee has already decided to ban them from their opening ceremony, but the IOC is yet to follow. (Libération)

The Europe-Ukraine Desk curated this newsletter. This week's edition has been composed by our team all over Europe: Marika Ikonomu, Kornelia Kiss, Katarina Kukla, Sarah Lou Lepers, Oksana Mamchenkova, Francesco Martino, Antonina Rybka and Fermin Torrano.
Michael Bird was our proofreader. 

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