Share The Truths. Updates from Ukraine, Kyiv (2025)

08/08/2023

Approximately 30% of Ukrainian land, spanning 173,530 km², demands demining. This area, tainted with mines, unexploded ordnance, and battle remnants, rivals the size of Florida or Uruguay, marking Ukraine as the world's most heavily mined country.

Demining measures in Ukraine are calculated to take approximately 757 years to complete, under the condition that 500 demining teams will continue operating simultaneously. The World Bank estimates it will cost $37.4 billion over the next ten years.

Since the war's onset, over 1,574 Ukrainian children have been injured or killed by Russian armed forces. Military actions claimed 497 young lives, while 1,077 more were injured, mainly due to shelling and airstrikes. The actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations with intense hostilities has been delayed, and many reports are still pending corroboration.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam by Russians triggered agricultural losses of $25 million. Crop fields, livestock, and fisheries also took hits. Indirect crop production losses may soar by $182 million annually due to water supply disruption. Other sectors anticipate annual losses of up to $49 million.

For further insights, explore our factsheet detailing Ukraine's 17-month resistance ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/08/08/17-months-of-ukraines-resistance-russia-ukraine-war-in-numbers/

31/07/2023

Day 523 📌 Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 170 civilians have been killed, and more than 400 residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed in Russian attacks on Kyiv.

Russian occupiers persist in abducting children from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. Utilizing Telegram channels aimed at Kherson Oblast's audience, the occupying administrations disseminated deceptive messages to mislead locals regarding the safety of children within Ukraine's territory.

The destruction of Kakhovka HPP resulted in significant damages totalling $624 million. At the same time, Ukrhydroenergo, the state-owned company, faces annual economic losses exceeding $100 million. To reconstruct a new hydroelectric power plant with a similar capacity, nearly $1 billion will be required.

As of 24 July, since the beginning of the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian army has liberated 230 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory.

For more information, please refer to our monthly update №5 by clicking on the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/07/28/war-in-ukraine-day-512-monthly-update-2023-5/

14/07/2023

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 3,328 educational institutions have suffered bombing and shelling, and 265 of them have been completely destroyed.

The consequences of emissions resulting from the hostilities are catastrophic, with total losses already reaching almost $4.2 billion. In particular, $1.8 billion was caused by forest fires, $1.6 billion by grass fires, and $752 million by burning oil and oil products.

Moreover, 186,000 sq. km of Ukrainian land, or almost 31% of its territory, are at risk of damage and pollution. Of this, more than 20,000 sq. km are more than 75% damaged. Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts have suffered the most damage.

Read more about the price of Ukrainian independence in our brand new factsheet on 16 months of Ukraine’s resistance in numbers ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/07/14/16-months-of-ukraines-resistance-russia-ukraine-war-in-numbers/

12/07/2023

In contrast to the decolonization efforts in Western countries, the decolonization of education in Ukraine focuses on embracing modern European values. This process entails eliminating post-colonial phenomena, such as pro-Soviet teaching, scientific dilettantism, limited engagement in international cooperation, and tolerance for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and corruption.

Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has further prompted these decolonization efforts. Despite Ukraine's status as a mature political nation that demonstrates unwavering determination in its fight for freedom, the lingering effects of Russian colonial influences impede its progress towards European modernization.

To delve deeper into Russia's impact on higher education in Ukraine, we invite you to read our latest article in the decolonization series by following the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/07/12/the-wrong-kind-of-colony-russian-influences-on-higher-education-in-ukraine-%f0%9f%87%ba%f0%9f%87%a6%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7/

27/06/2023

Language plays a crucial role in our lives as the primary means of communication and information exchange. It's a universal tool that allows us to share experiences and thoughts, fostering understanding between individuals. However, this universal nature of language also makes it susceptible to manipulation.

It can be distorted to shape reality, particularly for those who rely on reported events without personal experience. Russia has skillfully employed language as a weapon in its war against Ukraine, demonstrating the power of linguistic manipulation.

The concept of "fraternal peoples" is a prime example of how language can be used to justify aggression. While the intuitive understanding of "fraternity" implies close kinship, its usage in the context of war and genocide reveals its true intentions. However, even when individuals condemn Russia's aggression, they often fall into the trap of legitimizing this term by focusing on distorted usage rather than questioning the notion itself.

Russian imperialism operates through an illusion of inclusiveness, presenting itself as open to the world. It promotes the idea that anyone can become "Russian," blurring the lines of actual identity and dismissing political realities. Russia's strategic use of language not only denies agency to its targets but also seeks to discredit democracies.

Read more in our new article from the decolonization series by the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/06/27/glossary-of-the-russian-world/

17/06/2023

Day 479 📌 Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by Russian troops, numerous towns and villages in the Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts have been left flooded, affecting a total of 77 communities.

The estimated environmental damage caused by this terrorist act exceeds 1.4 billion euros. According to initial information from Ukrhydroenergo, the restoration of the hydroelectric power plant alone is expected to cost approximately 1 billion euros.

The decline in water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir poses a threat to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as it relied on water from the reservoir for cooling its reactors. Additionally, the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP will likely result in the conversion of southern Ukrainian fields into deserts in the following year.

According to the latest press release from the UN monitors, six children were killed, and 34 others were injured in May alone. Since 24 February 2022, a total of 525 children have been reported as killed, and 1,047 children have been injured across 289 cities, towns, and villages throughout Ukraine.

In the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, individuals with diabetes are unable to access insulin unless they possess a Russian "passport." Even Ukrainian citizens who require insulin for their children are being denied its provision.

For more information, please refer to our monthly update by clicking on the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/06/16/war-in-ukraine-day-475-monthly-update-2023-4/

15/06/2023

In the framework of our decolonization article series, we invite you to explore the complex dynamics between the Moscow Patriarchate and Ukraine 📢

For over three decades following the dissolution of the USSR, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) held a privileged position in Ukraine. With the largest number of followers and control over significant Orthodox shrines such as the Kyiv-Pechersk and Pochaiv Lavras, the UOC-MP had the means to exert influence over believers, authorities, and even social and political processes within the country.

However, the moral authority of the UOC-MP gradually waned due to its overtly pro-Russian activities. It ceased to be seen solely as a religious institution and came under suspicion of serving as a network of Russian agents. The Russian-Ukrainian war played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of this church as Ukraine, an independent state, grappled with the challenge of survival.

While the leadership of the UOC-MP publicly condemned Russia's actions following the full-scale invasion, numerous representatives of the church justified the aggression and even collaborated with the Russian forces. Consequently, it is not surprising that the Security Service of Ukraine took an interest in their activities.

To understand the reasoning behind the actions of the Ukrainian authorities and the legitimacy of their measures in the realm of religion, we invite you to read the full article in English and Ukrainian through the following link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/06/14/stumbling-lavra-moscow-patriarchate-vs-ukraine

26/05/2023

Day 457 📌 The direct and documented material losses resulting from the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine have reached a staggering $143.8 billion. The sectors most severely affected include residential buildings (37.3%) and infrastructure (25.2%).

The humanitarian crisis is escalating in the temporarily occupied areas of Luhansk Oblast, as the majority of available medicines are being diverted to cater to the needs of Russian combatants. The transfer of most hospitals in the oblast to military operation format has left civilians without access to essential medical services.

An action plan has been formulated to survey and demine a total of 470,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine. The largest concentration of contaminated land is found in the southern and eastern regions, with over 208,000 hectares requiring surveying in Kherson, nearly 160,000 hectares in Kharkiv, and more than 85,000 hectares in Mykolaiv.

Ukraine has made progress in press freedom, as indicated by the improved ranking in the Press Freedom Index from 106th to 79th place compared to last year. This positive shift is primarily attributed to the economic stabilization of most media outlets and a reduction in the influence of oligarchs on journalism.

Stay informed about the current situation in Ukraine with our monthly update. Read more by following the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/05/26/war-in-ukraine-day-455-monthly-update-2023-3/

08/05/2023

Previously, when publishing books by Western authors in Ukraine, the easiest and most profitable way for the rights holder was to negotiate with a large literary agency that could work with several countries simultaneously. The required scale was usually provided by Russian literary agencies because they had covered the biggest countries of the former Soviet Union.

After Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine passed a law partially restricting the import of Russian books into the country. However, literary agencies with Russian roots were unlikely to be affected. The struggle for a complete ban on book imports from the Russian Federation and Belarus has intensified in Ukraine since mid-2022.

Read more about the decolonizing Ukrainian publishing in our new article by the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/05/08/language-freedom-decolonizing-ukrainian-publishing

05/05/2023

Day 436 📌 As of April 18, more than 22,900 civilian casualties were recorded due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At least 1,419 children have been injured or killed by Russian armed activities.

The actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations with intense hostilities has been delayed, and many reports are still pending corroboration.

47.4 bln EUR is an approximate amount of the environmental damage caused by the Russian war in Ukraine. While demining efforts are ongoing, 174,000 sq. km of potentially dangerous areas remain, which is 30% of Ukraine’s total area.

Moreover, 25% of Ukrainian agricultural land is occupied, and an even larger share has been destroyed or polluted.

Read more in our monthly update by the link below ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/05/04/14-months-of-ukraines-resistance-russia-ukraine-war-in-numbers/

18/04/2023

Sports out of politics? Or not? 🤐 Does the country that starts unjust wars, rapes and tortures civilians and soldiers have a place in international competitions?

Whatever it is, sport in Russia is unthinkable without politics, often becoming a propaganda tool to achieve various goals. Read more in our new article ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/04/18/sports-out-of-politics/

13/04/2023

Day 412 📌 Since 10 October 2022, Russia has launched more than 1,500 missiles and drones, as well as shelling and grenades, targeting the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, out of which more than 100 missiles are estimated to have hit large energy facilities.

As a result of the war, the total estimated reconstruction and recovery needs of Ukraine exceed US$411 billion, which is 2.6 times more than the Ukrainian GDP in 2022.

Ukraine is among the Top-5 countries where human rights defenders are specifically endangered. The incidents happened in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Russian forces specifically targeted them.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Vadym Huttsayt, said that the Russian war had taken the lives of 262 athletes. In addition, the Russian invaders have also destroyed 363 sports facilities in Ukraine.

According to preliminary estimates, 470,854 hectares of agricultural land in nine oblasts of Ukraine need to be surveyed and, if necessary, demined.

More information about the Russian aggression read in our monthly update at the link below ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/04/12/war-in-ukraine-day-412-monthly-update-2023-2/

29/03/2023

For more than a year, Ukraine has been fighting to defend not only its democracy but its very survival as an independent country, while the Russian war of aggression has been spreading death and destruction.

As of March 20, 22,209 civilian casualties were recorded due to Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. The actual figures are considerably higher.

Since the start of the full-scale war, more than 1,400 children have been injured or killed by Russian armed activities. 16,221 Ukrainian children have been illegally taken to Russia.

Besides, more than 8 million individual Ukrainian refugees were recorded across Europe as of March 14.

Read more about the price of Ukrainian independence in our brand new factsheet on 13 months of Ukraine’s resistance in numbers: https://sharethetruths.org/2023/03/28/13-months-of-ukraines-resistance-russia-ukraine-war-in-numbers/

20/03/2023

Day 388 📌 After the forced break, we published our first monthly update in 2023 on the current status of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. From it, you will learn about the following:

✔ Discussions on the accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine
✔ Violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the Russian Federation in Ukraine
✔ Resistance movements in the occupied territories
✔ Ukrainian cities under the Russian attack
✔ Energy and food security
✔ Introduced sanctions against Russia
✔ Recent war-related polls and studies
✔ Watchlist from our authors

Read more at the link 👉 https://sharethetruths.org/2023/03/20/war-in-ukraine-day-388-monthly-update-2023-1/

Thank you for supporting Ukraine and being with us 💙 💛

17/03/2023

Back in March 2022, on the front page of major newspapers worldwide, you could see the photo of the Drama Theatre, destroyed by a Russian bomb, having the word 'Children' written in front of it. What was once the object of culture became the object of tragedy.

Oksana Dovgopolova, curator of culture memory platform Past / Future / Art, Doctor Habilis in Philosophy of History, professor of the Philosophy Department, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, explores in her article from our decolonization series how Russian culture hides underneath its works suffocating embraces and tragedy.

Read more by the link 👉 https://sharethetruths.org/2022/07/07/the-two-russias-a-variety-turn-at-the-mariupol-drama-theatre/

10/03/2023

February 24, 2023, marks one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This attack was the culmination of a war of aggression that had been going on for nine years.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, over 21,000 civilian casualties have been reported, including more than 8,000 deaths. The United Nations confirm these figures, but the actual toll is much higher.

At least 488 Ukrainian children have been killed due to the Russian war, and another 962 have been wounded since February 24, 2022. Over 350 are missing, and approximately 16,220 have been deported from Ukrainian cities to Russia.

According to the survey conducted by ‘Rating group,’ 60% of Ukrainian children have witnessed or participated in certain war-related events 💔

Since February 24, 2022, about 50% of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been damaged by shelling. In 2022, 98 energy workers died while performing their duties, and twice as many were injured.

Between February 24 and December 31, 2022, there were 707 Russian attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system, including 292 documented attacks that damaged or destroyed 218 hospitals and clinics. Many health facilities were attacked more than once.

Read more about the key facts and figures on the Russian war of aggression by the link ➡ https://sharethetruths.org/2023/03/09/12-months-of-ukraines-resistance-russia-ukraine-war-in-numbers/

08/03/2023

We stand in solidarity with the people of !

Since yesterday, we observe how the people of Georgia went once again to the streets to show their determined desire for a free democratic state and its further European integration.

Yesterday the Parliament of Georgia passed a so-called “foreign agents” bill in the first hearing while tens of thousands gathered outside the Parliament building to protest. Riot police were immediately deployed on the streets using water cannons and pepper spray to clear the sides of the parliament 💔

The “foreign agents” bill aims to replicate a similar law operating in Russia, which significantly limits civil society and undermines the democratic process in Georgia. The law is another example of how Russia’s imperial ambitions aim to influence political processes in the neighbourhood to strengthen its tight embrace.

From the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we felt immense support from the people of Georgia supporting Ukrainians. We are grateful for all the help in the information dissemination in the frame of our project, as well as to our Georgian translators 💙 💛

Photo: Associated Press

24/02/2023

Today marks one year since Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 365 days of fear and losses. 365 days of resistance and solidarity. In these dark days, it helps to know that we are not alone 🙏 We are very grateful to our volunteers, who contributed to our work during 2022.

Together with our networks, alliances and partnerships, we can amplify the voices of those fighting to build and secure justice, uphold human rights, and preserve democracy.

After a two-month break, we are resuming our work. This year we will focus on four key products to keep our communities updated about Ukraine:

1️⃣ Monthly factsheets with key facts and figures about Russia’s war in Ukraine
2️⃣ Thematic factsheets on key aspects of human security regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine
3️⃣ Monthly updates on key developments in Ukraine
4️⃣ Essays on Ukrainian colonial experiences

Today and every day, we thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine for defending our Freedom and Independence and protecting the democratic values of the whole world. Today and every day, we remember all fallen defenders and civilians who became victims of this brutal war.

Glory to Ukraine! Slava Ukraini! 💙💛

Share The Truths. Updates from Ukraine