Dare to Ukraine | Kharkiv: Living and surviving near the Russian border
In the fifth episode of “Dare to Ukraine,” we explore Kharkiv, a city that embodies resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. As Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv is renowned for its diverse architecture and vibrant arts scene. Despite enduring severe damage and remaining under the constant horror of Russia’s war, Kharkiv’s spirit remains unbroken, with its community determined to keep the city alive through art, innovation, and unity. Join our host, Masha Lavrova, as she explores the multifaceted character of Kharkiv — from the haunting history of Slovo House to the dynamic energy of the Yermilov Center and Nafta Theater. Discover local culinary gems and hear powerful stories of resilience that define this extraordinary city. 00:00 - Introduction to Kharkiv 01:44 - Derzhprom building and the impact of war on the city 02:46 - Cafe Makers: Coffee, community, and resilience 10:30 - Kharkiv metro: Life that moved underground 16:23 - Wartime theater scene in Kharkiv 23:00 - Exploring street art 25:54 - Slovo House: One of the darkest chapters in Ukrainian cultural history 28:46 - Sense of Safety: Contemporary art during war 36:23 - Dare to Ukraine challenge 37:10 - Spontaneous Ukrainian cuisine 45:10 - Conclusion and next steps Ep. 1: Lviv, the ultimate first stop to experience Ukraine ( • Dare to Ukraine | Lviv, the ultimate first... ) Ep. 2: Escaping war in the Carpathian Mountains ( • Dare to Ukraine | Escaping war in the Carp... ) Ep. 3: Odesa: Summer by the sea during war ( • Dare to Ukraine | Odesa: Summer by the sea... ) Ep. 4 Kyiv, the heart of country at war ( • Dare to Ukraine | Kyiv, the heart of count... ) Team: Executive producer & story editor: Toma Istomina Director: Tetiana Koronkova Host & scriptwriter: Masha Lavrova Line producer: Valeriia Snopkova Camera persons: Olena Zashko, Max Pavlun. Video editor: Vladyslav Samusenko. Motion designer: Dana Loboda …………………………………………. This episode is supported by Promova, a Ukrainian-founded language learning platform. With 15 million downloads, Promova addresses common language-learning challenges through engaging, bite-sized lessons that fit into busy lives. Offering real-life vocabulary, short videos, books, and AI-powered speaking practice, it’s tailored to each user’s goals and learning style. Start your language journey with Promova and save up to 50% with a Premium subscription: https://bit.ly/3YUpVhi …………………………………………. Places & people in this episode: Mariia Kabanets — Instagram: @masha.kabanets Dmytro Kabanets — Instagram: @dimakabanets Artem Vusyk — Instagram: @scissor_vus Gamlet Zinkivskyi — Instagram: @gamletzinkivskyi Mykyta Virchenko — Instagram: @virchenko.mykyta Makers — Instagram: @makerscoffeeshop Yermilov Center — https://yermilovcentre.org/ Trypichcha — Instagram: @3pich.ua Nafta Theater — Instagram: @teatr.nafta …………………………………………. “Dare to Ukraine” is open for commercial partnership/sponsorship! Contact us today at [email protected] to talk to the sales team and learn about commercial partnership opportunities. The Kyiv Independent E-store: https://store.kyivindependent.com 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of “Dare to Ukraine.” Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know what you’d love to explore in Ukraine! Also, become a member of our community to help us make more videos like this: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi... …………………………………………. Additional footage: Getty Images Wikimedia Commons Youtube channel: Blog 360 Ukraїner
