Julia Kalashnyk
@juliakalashnyk.bsky.social
Ukrainian freelance journalist | Aspiring screenwriter | Bylines: http://linktr.ee/juliakalashnyk | My views are my own
Coming to you with a special edition of my newsletter, in podcast form this time. It’s about hope, the universal value we, humans, share. But what’s its anatomy in war? How do we move from an individual to a collective perception of it? Try to sort it out here
Let's talk about hope
Special edition with a podcast
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Coming to you with a special edition of my newsletter, in podcast form this time. It’s about hope, the universal value we, humans, share. But what’s its anatomy in war? How do we move from an individual to a collective perception of it? Try to sort it out here
Inside Kherson’s “human safari”. Russian forces hunt civilians with drones, and brag about it online. UN calls it crimes against humanity. Read my latest story, subscribe and help spread the word
Russia's "human safari"
Russian soldiers hunt civilians in Kherson with drones
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Inside Kherson’s “human safari”. Russian forces hunt civilians with drones, and brag about it online. UN calls it crimes against humanity. Read my latest story, subscribe and help spread the word
So, the ‘energy blackmail’ is here again. Ukraine went under a massive missile and drone attack tonight. As thought, Russia would target the energy system. Half of Kyiv is without water supply, my neighborhood too. I was thinking it would be worse, given all those blasts over my head overnight 1/2
October 10, 2025 at 6:52 AM
So, the ‘energy blackmail’ is here again. Ukraine went under a massive missile and drone attack tonight. As thought, Russia would target the energy system. Half of Kyiv is without water supply, my neighborhood too. I was thinking it would be worse, given all those blasts over my head overnight 1/2
“We hate you because you’re free,” O. from Mariupol heard from a Russian after escaping the occupied city. After 11 days in a basement under bombs, the woman with her two daughters fled the city. The story of her family who, like thousands of others, still keep the keys to homes that no longer exist
"Russians hate us because we're free"
The story of O. from Mariupol, a mother of two, who watched her city burn
juliakalashnyk.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
“We hate you because you’re free,” O. from Mariupol heard from a Russian after escaping the occupied city. After 11 days in a basement under bombs, the woman with her two daughters fled the city. The story of her family who, like thousands of others, still keep the keys to homes that no longer exist
Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to protest a controversial law limiting the independence of anti-corruption bodies, and Ukrainian president has already backpedaled on his decision. In this issue #9 Ukrainian protests explained #Ukraine
Ukrainian protests explained
Ukrainians protest for the first time since the war. Why?
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to protest a controversial law limiting the independence of anti-corruption bodies, and Ukrainian president has already backpedaled on his decision. In this issue #9 Ukrainian protests explained #Ukraine
This week newsletter is about the volunteers I met in Kharkiv back in early 2022 – those baking bread in the metro and those bringing food to the elderly in the hardest hit areas #Ukraine️
How volunteers helped Kharkiv early on
Bread, aid – feeding people under fire
open.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This week newsletter is about the volunteers I met in Kharkiv back in early 2022 – those baking bread in the metro and those bringing food to the elderly in the hardest hit areas #Ukraine️
Some basic safety steps just became part of daily life in Ukraine so far. We have to stay ready, especially at night. This issue #7 is about the grab-and-go bag, the two-wall rule, and a few other basic things we do to stay safe #Ukraine
What’s in a Ukrainian grab-and-go bag?
What many Ukrainians leave by the door at night
open.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Some basic safety steps just became part of daily life in Ukraine so far. We have to stay ready, especially at night. This issue #7 is about the grab-and-go bag, the two-wall rule, and a few other basic things we do to stay safe #Ukraine
Another horrible night in Kyiv, my area is covered with smoke. At least 2 killed. Russia threw drones and missiles on sleeping city. Second night in a row. Yesterday, a whopping number of drones all over Ukraine - 728 in total
July 10, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Another horrible night in Kyiv, my area is covered with smoke. At least 2 killed. Russia threw drones and missiles on sleeping city. Second night in a row. Yesterday, a whopping number of drones all over Ukraine - 728 in total
Issue #6 is out. It's a look back at the days of Kherson liberation in 2022. I've collected local voices - my friend who lived there; a volunteer who stayed. And from those who left, and finally heard their parents’ voices again
When Kherson was liberated: what locals saw and felt
A look back at the days surrounding the city's return to Ukrainian control
open.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Issue #6 is out. It's a look back at the days of Kherson liberation in 2022. I've collected local voices - my friend who lived there; a volunteer who stayed. And from those who left, and finally heard their parents’ voices again
Difficult night in Kyiv. In fact, drone attacks started earlier yesterday. Then Russia sent a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles overnight. It was so loud in my area. All this is happening while American aid - especially in terms of air defense - is on hold #Ukraine
July 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Difficult night in Kyiv. In fact, drone attacks started earlier yesterday. Then Russia sent a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles overnight. It was so loud in my area. All this is happening while American aid - especially in terms of air defense - is on hold #Ukraine
Issue #5 of my newsletter is about Ukrainian women. 3 years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, 70,000 serve in the Armed Forces. Others power volunteer networks or work as frontline medics. Read and share
From camouflage nets to combat medics: women of Ukraine
Tracking women’s involvement in Ukraine’s military and volunteer networks
juliakalashnyk.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Issue #5 of my newsletter is about Ukrainian women. 3 years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, 70,000 serve in the Armed Forces. Others power volunteer networks or work as frontline medics. Read and share
Issue #4 is out. In 2022 a young man biked nearly 220 km from occupied Mariupol to safety in Zaporizhzhia, crossing mined roads, endless checkpoints, interrogations. There’s no liberty under occupation, so thousands of Ukrainians keep fleeing their homes #Ukraine 1/3
How Ukrainians make it out of occupied regions
In 2022, K. biked 220 kilometers from occupied Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, through mines and checkpoints
juliakalashnyk.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Issue #4 is out. In 2022 a young man biked nearly 220 km from occupied Mariupol to safety in Zaporizhzhia, crossing mined roads, endless checkpoints, interrogations. There’s no liberty under occupation, so thousands of Ukrainians keep fleeing their homes #Ukraine 1/3
Russian strike killed 23 in Kyiv area last night. Not only the capital - other regions went under the fire, too. Yet, #Ukraine keeps going - because living a life is also an act of resistance. I wrote about this in issue #3 of my newsletter. Check it, subscribe and share
How Ukrainians live under constant daily attacks?
"We're getting used." Ukraine keeps going, between nightime attacks and daily routine. Keeping life normal – that’s also resistance.
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Russian strike killed 23 in Kyiv area last night. Not only the capital - other regions went under the fire, too. Yet, #Ukraine keeps going - because living a life is also an act of resistance. I wrote about this in issue #3 of my newsletter. Check it, subscribe and share
Issue #2 is out. Why calling Russian strikes “retaliation” is dangerous, how Kharkiv’s teachers keep schools going under fire, and what daily life in #Ukraine looks like now. Subscribe, or just click through subscribe form and read
People of Kharkiv. Part 2. Teachers and their kids
Tiny warlife balance.
open.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Issue #2 is out. Why calling Russian strikes “retaliation” is dangerous, how Kharkiv’s teachers keep schools going under fire, and what daily life in #Ukraine looks like now. Subscribe, or just click through subscribe form and read
The Kyiv Wire is out. The newsletter about life in #Ukraine Not all stories make it to publication. Some stay in voice notes, fragments. I’ve kept them – and now I’m sharing them. Issue #1 is about Kharkiv and its people: dancers, kids, a hairdresser, and a mouse in our apartment
Children in Kharkiv dance amid war
How the frontline city lives under relentless drone and bomb attacks
open.substack.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Kyiv Wire is out. The newsletter about life in #Ukraine Not all stories make it to publication. Some stay in voice notes, fragments. I’ve kept them – and now I’m sharing them. Issue #1 is about Kharkiv and its people: dancers, kids, a hairdresser, and a mouse in our apartment
Just came across #MigraVoice – a network of journalists and experts with migration backgrounds, working to bring more migrant/refugees perspectives into European media 1/
Migravoice
A cross-border community of experts with migration backgrounds participating in the creation of high-quality media content on European media.
migravoice.eu
May 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Just came across #MigraVoice – a network of journalists and experts with migration backgrounds, working to bring more migrant/refugees perspectives into European media 1/
Our investigation follows the journey of Ukrainian schoolchildren, from Kharkiv to Warsaw, to show how Russia’s invasion shattered education — from plummeting enrolments and lost teachers to the lives behind the numbers. Project supported by #ij4eu #europeanjournalismcenter
Około miliona dzieci w Ukrainie ma sporadyczny kontakt ze szkołą. To może mieć dotkliwe konsekwencje
Setki lub tysiące dzieci, które snują się po parkach i nie wiadomo co robią, to prosty przepis na problem społeczny. Zostawienie tego swojemu biegowi nie jest dobrym rozwiązaniem.
www.wysokieobcasy.pl
May 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Our investigation follows the journey of Ukrainian schoolchildren, from Kharkiv to Warsaw, to show how Russia’s invasion shattered education — from plummeting enrolments and lost teachers to the lives behind the numbers. Project supported by #ij4eu #europeanjournalismcenter
Massive missile attack on Kyiv this morning. Multiple explosions, a lot; some not far from my place. Most likely the air defence intercepting Russian ballistic rockets. As reported, streets, residential buildings, and civilian cars on fire. Just randomly throwing missiles at a sleepy city
December 20, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Massive missile attack on Kyiv this morning. Multiple explosions, a lot; some not far from my place. Most likely the air defence intercepting Russian ballistic rockets. As reported, streets, residential buildings, and civilian cars on fire. Just randomly throwing missiles at a sleepy city
Tuesday morning starts with explotions over my head. Reportedly, air defense at work, knocking down kamikaze drone Russia sent over Kyiv
December 17, 2024 at 8:07 AM
Tuesday morning starts with explotions over my head. Reportedly, air defense at work, knocking down kamikaze drone Russia sent over Kyiv
wWhere there’s a will, there’s a way - my personal take for upcoming 2025
December 16, 2024 at 8:26 AM
wWhere there’s a will, there’s a way - my personal take for upcoming 2025
The U.S. temporarily closes its embassy in Kyiv following information about a potential Russian airstrike expected today. Tonight, there were limited drone attacks over some regions in Ukraine
November 20, 2024 at 7:11 AM
The U.S. temporarily closes its embassy in Kyiv following information about a potential Russian airstrike expected today. Tonight, there were limited drone attacks over some regions in Ukraine
So here we are, migrating from Twitter (X). Follow me for more Ukrainian updates
November 15, 2024 at 5:01 PM
So here we are, migrating from Twitter (X). Follow me for more Ukrainian updates