Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians have been living through the hell of war. Far from every missile or drone attack makes headlines outside of Ukraine. Even when Russian aggression against its neighboring country is reported on, the stories of people living through the horror of war are often missing. The podcast «Yak ty? Ukraine Live» provides people in Ukraine the opportunity to talk first hand about their personal experience of Russia’s war on their country. «Yak ty?» means «How are you?» in Ukrainian. The host, Luzia Tschirky, has been reporting from Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The former correspondent asks her guests from Ukraine how they have learned to carry on with their daily lives without losing hope amidst the ongoing war.
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EP.18: From Work-Life Balance to War-Life Balance with Yuliia Turba
In Ukraine, “work-life balance” has become “war-life balance.” In this episode of “Yak ty? Ukraine Live”, Kyiv-based public policy specialist Yuliia Turba reflects on how Russia’s full-scale invasion has reshaped everyday life especially for her generation. A Generation Rewritten by War Yuliia was living in Budapest when the invasion began. Far from home but emotionally torn, she soon made the decision to return to Ukraine, despite the risks. She speaks candidly about those first surreal days, the emotional disorientation of being safe abroad, and the deep sense of survivor’s guilt that followed. Since then, life in Kyiv has been anything but ordinary. Yuliia describes the daily rhythm of war: checking the news for missile attacks, working from shelters, making future plans while fully aware they may not materialize. For young Ukrainians, , she says, grief, hope and seriousness coexist in everyday moments. About Yuliia Turba Yuliia Turba holds a Master’s degree from Central European University. After returning to Ukraine, she worked for the United Nations in Kyiv. But over time, the institutional neutrality and bureaucracy felt misaligned with her sense of urgency. Wanting to do more, she recently left her UN position to become an advocacy manager at the Snake Island Institute, where she now works to amplify Ukraine’s defense sector abroad. Why Listen This episode is a powerful reminder that war is not only fought on the frontlines. Yuliia’s voice captures the emotional landscape of a generation coming of age under air-raids and choosing to stay, raise their voice, and act. 👉 Listen for a moving, personal perspective on what it means to live and fight for the future of Ukraine. Resources Connect with Yuliia Turba Instagram: @iamturba LinkedIn: Yuliia Turba Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: @LuziaTschirky LinkedIn: Luzia Tschirky Website: www.luziatschirky.ch Book: Live aus der Ukraine
EP. 17: Motherhood, War, and Resilience with Lisa Yasko
Ukrainian member of parliament, Lisa Yasko, shares her deeply personal story of survival and motherhood amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. A young parliamentarian, Lisa describes waking to the sounds of drones and missiles over Kyiv, enduring daily air raid sirens and sleepless nights for her family. She recounts how she fled westward from Kyiv in the first chaotic days of war, making split-second decisions while grappling with uncertainty. Lisa also opens up about her personal life, including her former relationship with the ex-President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and how the turmoil in her private life intersected with the war. She reveals that she kept her pregnancy secret to avoid becoming a target of Russian propaganda while Saakashvili was imprisoned in Georgia. Amid these trials, Lisa remained devoted to her country. She offers a rare glimpse into wartime governance. From casting critical votes in Ukraine’s parliament after nights of air raid alarms, to rallying exhausted colleagues in person because even during war the Rada never moved fully online. Lisa speaks candidly about the mental health toll this period has taken on everyone in Ukraine, including her. Despite the hardships, Lisa’s passionately advocates for global justice and is pushing for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes so that one day the perpetrators are held accountable. At times, Lisa admits, Ukrainians have felt abandoned by the international community. She expresses deep gratitude for the ordinary people across Europe who showed true humanity by opening their doors to give Ukrainian families shelter in their darkest hours. Resources Connect with Lisa Yasko Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_yasko Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.yasko1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-yasko Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Book: https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP. 16: How to be a soldier, a mother and a filmmaker with Alisa Kovalenko
Alisa Kovalenko is an award-winning Ukrainian documentary filmmaker and parent who joined a volunteer battalion in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion. She documented her combat experience on camera and later turned the frontline footage into the film "My Dear Théo", offering an intimate view of life in war through the eyes of a soldier separated from her child. In this episode, Alisa Kovalenko shared with the host Luzia Tschirky many insights: Choosing to Fight: The story behind her decision to enlist in the army after the invasion, fulfilling a personal promise. Parenthood in War: The conflicting feelings of guilt and the inner strength she balances as a parent serving on the frontlines. Editing, Grief, and Memory: How piecing the film together became a process of mourning fallen comrades and preserving their memory Love and Light as Resistance: How love and hope fuel Alisa’s resilience, especially her love for her young son and why holding onto light amid darkness is crucial to sustaining the resistance. Resources Connect with Alisa Kovalenko Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisa.kovalenko.24 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisafrom/ Trailer of her documentary «My Dear Théo»:https://vimeo.com/1061232681 Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Book: https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP. 15: How Love Breaks Colonial Narratives with Mariam Naiem
For several hundred years, Ukraine has endured Russian colonial domination, from Tsarist expansion to Soviet repression. Yet the colonial nature of this relationship, especially during the Soviet period, went largely unacknowledged for decades. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Mariam Naiem has dedicated her work to helping people understand the cultural and historical context of the war. She is a Ukrainian author of Afghan origin. As Mariam explains, understanding the present war requires seeing Ukraine not as a former Soviet republic attacked by its neighbor country Russia, but as a nation breaking free from a long history of imperial control. Mariam reflects on how language shaped her awareness of colonialism, how the West often misreads Ukraine through outdated lenses, and how global inattention deepens the trauma of war. She also opens up about her own identity as a Ukrainian of Afghan origin and the challenges of being seen or not seen as Ukrainian. For Mariam, the strength to keep going is rooted not in revenge, but in love: love for her brother, for her friends, and for the vision of a free and independent Ukraine. Resources Connect with Mariam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariaaamnaiem/ Twitter: https://x.com/mariamposts Website: https://mariam.space/about/ Mariam’s Book (French): https://www.amazon.fr/dp/2017265578?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_RJYHP16QY2CHNRBQ9EQH Preorder in German: https://www.avant-verlag.de/comics/eine-kurze-geschichte-eines-langen-konflikts/#cc-m-product-9257663120 Preorder in English: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/809143/a-brief-history-of-a-long-war-by-mariam-naiem-illustrated-by-yulia-vus-and-ivan-kypibida/ Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Book: https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP. 14: Capturing Ukrainian Stories to Build Justice with Sasha Dovzhyk
After living for nine years in London, Sasha Dovzhy, a researcher of Ukrainian literature, teacher, and project curator, decided to move back to Ukraine permanently at the end of 2023. On this episode, she shares her deeply felt motivation to return amid the full-scale invasion and discusses the launch of INDEX, an institution in Lviv dedicated to achieving justice by truthfully capturing Ukrainians’ stories. Through INDEX, Sasha hopes to establish a framework for how the war against Ukraine will be understood by future generations. She also opens up about coming to terms with her personal experiences of loss and describes how her sense of responsibility can feel both burdensome and a gift. Finally, Sasha offers three book recommendations for anyone seeking a deeper insight into Ukrainian culture. Resources Connect with Sasha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukrainiankilljoy/# Website: https://www.sashadovzhyk.com/ INDEX: https://www.index-ukraine.org/ Three books written by Ukrainian authors that Sasha Dovzhyk recommends: Lesya Ukrainka – Cassandra https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674291775 Olena Styashkina – Cecil the Lion Had to Die https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674291645 Victoria Amelina – Looking at Women, Looking at War: A War Justice Diary https://www.williamcollinsbooks.co.uk/products/looking-at-women-looking-at-war-victoria-amelina-9780008727529/ Connect with Luzia Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Have you already ordered Luzia's book about her experience reporting from Ukraine? https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP.13 Capturing Life & Death in Ukraine with Nikoletta Stoyanova
In this moving episode host Luzia Tschirky speaks with Nikoletta Stoyanova, a Ukrainian documentary photographer, fixer, and video journalist born in 2002.
EP. 12: Giving Children in Ukraine a Voice – How Olena Rozvadovska finds sanity during war
When Russia first invaded Ukraine more than a decade ago, children’s rights advocate Olena Rozvadovska made a life-changing decision: she left her job in Kyiv and moved to Eastern Ukraine to better understand the realities children were facing. What began as a stay for a few months turned into five years living in war-torn communities — witnessing trauma, resilience, and the raw consequences of war. In 2019, Olena co-founded Voices of Children. The organization provides psychological counseling, art therapy, and humanitarian aid to children and families affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the situation has grown increasingly dire. Olena describes the psychological toll on children as “devastating.” Many suffer recurring trauma: even after receiving counseling, renewed bombardments often trigger flashbacks and panic attacks. With millions in need of support, local resources are stretched far beyond capacity. And yet, Olena remains deeply committed. Resources 💛 You can support Voices of Children and help Ukrainian kids access the care they urgently need: 👉 voices.org.ua/en/donat Connect with Olena Linkedin Instagram Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram Linkedin
EP. 11: From Electronic Music to Battlefield: Timur Dzhafarov’s journey
Before the full-scale invasion, Timur Dzhafarov was known as John Object — an experimental electronic musician from Kyiv with a passion for discovering new sounds. Everything changed when Russia started the full-scale invasion and Timur joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serving in a combat-engaged brigade in Eastern Ukraine, Timur lost about 20 percent of his hearing. The electronic music he once loved now triggers anxiety and fear, as the unpredictable sounds remind him of the frontlines. Moreover, the grim outlook for Ukraine’s future offers little solace; Timur warns that any ceasefire will not last as Russia is interested in prolonging the war. Despite the overwhelming uncertainty, Timur’s unwavering focus remains on ensuring a safer future for his fellow Ukrainians. Resources Connect with Timur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnobject Music: https://johnobject.bandcamp.com Blog: https://alightineverydarkness.com Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Have you already ordered Luzia's book about her experience reporting from Ukraine? https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP. 10: Ukraine‘s future between Trump’s ambitions and Russia‘s war with Yuliia Diadiuk
Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, many Ukrainians felt abandoned by Donald Trump and his administration. Yuliia Diadiuk, a 25-year-old project officer for a Swiss development cooperation NGO, found Trump's accusations against Volodymyr Zelenskyy infuriating. Having spent a year as an exchange student at Highlands Ranch High School in the US state of Colorado during Trump’s first term, she deeply connected with America and its people. In this episode, Yuliia shares her experience of surviving daily Russian attacks in Kharkiv, the emotional toll of her husband serving on the front line, and how she navigates an uncertain future amid war and shifting global politics. Resources Connect with Yuliia Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliia-diadiuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuliia.diadiuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuliia.diadiuk/ Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Have you already ordered Luzia's book about her experience reporting from Ukraine? https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP. 9: How a former showman is helping war veterans
There are more than one million war veterans in Ukraine. Their numbers rise with every passing day of the war. Since late 2024, Serhii Velychanskyi, has been one of them. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Serhii was a showman, moderator and once played drums for the official Ukrainian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. War has turned Serhii’s live upside down. He joined the Territorial Defense Forces shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine and fought until he was discharged for medical reasons at the end of 2024. After his service in the Ukrainian army he founded an improvisational theater club for war veterans «Improv 4.5.0». By helping others to reintegrate into civilian life, Serhii is also helping himself find a way back. In this episode, he shares how improv became a place of healing. Resources Connect with Serhii Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serhii.velychanskyi Website of Improv 4.5.0: https://improv450.com.ua/ Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Have you already ordered Luzia's book about her experience reporting from Ukraine? https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP.8: How to find purpose as a Ukrainian artist with Anna Sarvira
In this podcast episode, host Luzia Tschirky talks to Anna Sarvira, a Ukrainian artist and curator based in Cologne.
EP.7: How to be a female warrior with Kristina Voronovska
In this podcast episode, host Luzia Tschirky talks to Kristina Voronovska, who voluntarily joined the Ukrainian army and is working as a nurse on the frontline.
EP.6: Documenting war crimes for 1’000 days as a journalist
In this episode, host Luzia Tschirky interviews Olga Guzhva, a Ukrainian frontline journalist who went from documenting war crimes to focus on cybersecurity.
EP.5: How to stay alive as a Ukrainian soldier with Alex Gorgan
In this episode, host Luzia Tschirky interviews Alex Gorgan, a soldier in the Ukrainian army.
EP.4: The death of the bravest journalist of Ukraine
Remembering Viktoriia Roshchyna with Sevgil Musaieva This is a very special episode of «Yak ty? Ukraine Live». So far this podcast was all about people living in Ukraine sharing their personal experience of Russia’s war against Ukraine. But this episode is dedicated to someone who can’t speak for herself anymore: To Viktoriia Roshchyna. Viktoriia Roshchyna was an Ukrainian journalist. She was detained twice by Russian occupying forces in Eastern Ukraine. First in spring 2022 and second in August 2023. Her death was announced to her family on the 10th of October 2024, two weeks prior to this podcast recording. She died on the 19th of September while she was in Russian captivity. Her death was announced to her father only after three weeks by the Russian ministry of defense. Russian authorities named no cause of death. The remains of Viktoriia Roshchyna are still in Russia, on the day of this podcast recording. And it is unclear when the body will be returned to Ukraine as part of an exchange between Ukraine and Russia. The official cause of death might be unknown for the near future. But it’s clear who’s ultimately responsible: people who kept her imprisoned. Viktoriia was held captive for one reason alone: Her work as a journalist. This podcast episode is dedicated to Viktoriia’s memory and all the work she has done in the past years for giving those people a voice, who would not have been heard otherwise. I had the opportunity to talk to the editor in chief of Ukrainska Pravda, Sevgil Musaieva. Ukrainska Pravda is the leading online newspaper of Ukraine. I am enormously grateful for her time and the opportunity to talk to her. Her schedule is very tight and she was attending a conference while we were talking. I really hope for your understanding that the audio quality of our talk could be better. Thank you for your understanding. Resources: Sevgil Musaieva on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevgil.musaieva Sevgil Musaieva on X: https://x.com/SMusaieva Sevgil Musaieva on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevvvgil/ Connect with Luzia through Instagram, LinkedIn or visit luziatschirky.ch. Have you already ordered Luzia's book about her experience reporting from Ukraine? Order Luzia’s book: https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine
EP.3: Missiles from my father’s homeland with Iryna Kyporenko
In this episode, host Luzia Tschirky interviews an old acquaintance of hers in Ukraine: Iryna Kyporenko. The film programme manager at the Ukrainian institute speaks to her from Odesa.
EP.2: How to organize a music festival amidst an ongoing war with Vlad Yaremchuk
In this episode, host Luzia Tschirky interviews Vlad Yaremchuk, the programming director of Atlas Festival, the biggest music festival in Ukraine.
EP.1: How to cover Russia's war against Ukraine for a decade with Kateryna Malofieieva
In this episode, host Luzia Tschirky interviews the Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Malofieieva about her experience covering Russia's war against Ukraine since its very beginning in 2014.
