Thursday, February 12. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 24: Supporters of Ukraine rally in Times Square to mark the three-year anniversary of the invasion by Russia on February 24, 2025 in New York City.(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,450.

Culture Front.

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, cities across the United States are preparing to mark the moment with a wide range of commemorative events between February 21 and 24th. In Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York, anti-war rallies will bring protesters into the streets. At the same time, international cultural and human rights institutions will host panel discussions, concerts, and workshops dedicated to Ukrainian heritage and culture.

The Ukrainian Institute of America will transform its historic building, located on Museum Mile by Central Park, into an immersive experiencethat lets visitors feel various Ukrainian cities and regions through music, art, film, and science. The Ukrainian Museum in the East Village will open its doors fora day-long free community eventin partnership with Ukrainian-American artist Maya Hayuk, UNWLA, Razom, Yara Arts Group, and NYC Bandura School, featuring workshops, film screenings, poetry readings, musical performances, and more.

The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York, in partnership with the Scandinavian House, hosts a special Cultural Diplomacy evening, to screen the documentary “Flowers Beyond the Dark”directed by Ukraine-based Iryna Pravylo and produced by California-based Yulia Zimmermann.

In New York, the anniversary arrives at a time when Ukrainian culture is becoming more present in the city’s vibrant multicultural scene.

One of the cultural events marking this moment in the New York contemporary art world is Lens of the Witnessesa solo exhibition by Ukrainian artist Lesia Khomenko, presented by the Shevchenko Scientific Society, New York. On view from February 6 through August 31, 2026, at 63 4th Avenue, the exhibition represents Khomenko’s fourth solo show in the United States and her third in New York.

A multidisciplinary artist, Khomenko was born in Kyiv and now resides in New York after the Russian full-scale invasion. Her work has been widely exhibited internationally, from the Ukrainian Museum in New York to the Venice Biennale, the European Parliament, and major museums across Europe and the United States.

The works presented in Lens of the Witnesses are drawn from raw footage of the Russian-Ukrainian war, making use of drone recordings, soldiers’ body cameras, firearm optics, and civilians’ phone videos. As the most heavily documented war in history, the conflict has generated vast amounts of “big data,” capturing daily life, violence, and survival from both human and machine perspectives. Khomenko translates this overwhelming documentation into large-scale, semi-abstract paintings that occupy a tense space between representation and ambiguity.

Alongside major exhibitions, New York’s Ukrainian and allied communities continue to find creative ways to support those affected by the war. In the weeks leading up to the anniversary, grassroots fundraisers have blended cultural celebration with direct aid.

One such event, Borscht & Beats, brought together over a 100 attendees in Greenpoint for an evening of food, music, and collective action. Organized by Alexa Lombardo and Nikita Smirnov, the community-led fundraiser raised over $5,000 for Universal Aid for Children of Ukraine, with the total set to be matched by a corporate partner. The night featured traditional Ukrainian dishes prepared by local chefs Stephan Ilnycky and Kat Liakos, live performances by Valeriia Vovk and Fima Chupakhin, a DJ set by Smirnov under his moniker KITA, and cocktails by Matka Vodka. Many of the ingredients were generously donated by Young Kim of Jubilee Marketplace, reinforcing the multinational public support of Ukraine’s effort to fight the war.

This approach—raising funds through celebration of Ukrainian culture—is deeply rooted in the city’s creative community. Ukrainian actress Svitlana Kosolapovaalongside actor Petro Ninovskyi (playing Sasha in Ponies, the new Peacock thriller series), has been hosting a series of poetry and music events. Ukrainian-American pianist and composer Fima Chupakhin and American guitarist Michele Romeo accompany poems and songs by contemporary Ukrainian authors. Proceeds from the grassroots fundraisers help acquire SUVs for Ukrainian marines and other means to sustain both defenders and survivors, while introducing New York audiences to the Ukrainian contemporary culture.

Ukrainian initiative Fashion 4 Ukraine hosts its 4th season, celebrating Ukrainian designs and creativity on the sidelines of New York Fashion Week.