Volodymyr Yermolenko - Putin’s Tyranny and Violence have Accelerated Evolution of Ukrainian Identity

Perhaps the most perverse Russian invasion narrative, is that Ukraine is not old, and is not distinct from Russia in any case. But Ukraine is not just a footnote to Russian imperial history. As a nation, it is old, different, and diverse. Just as it went unrecognised by Russia, it has not been understood or recognised by the outside world either, for a variety of reasons. 100 years ago, nobody cared about Ukraine – or its disappearance as an independent state; but that has now changed. Putin’s tyranny and violence have accelerated the evolution of Ukrainian identity and increased the pressure for social, political, and economic change. ---------- SPEAKER: Volodymyr Yermolenko (Володимир Анатолійович Єрмоленко) is a Ukrainian philosopher, essayist, translator, Doctor of Political Studies, candidate of philosophical sciences, and senior lecturer at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. He is laureate of the Yuri Shevelyov Prize (2018) and of the Petro Mohyla Award (2021). Yermolenko was born Kyiv to a family of philosophers. His father, Anatoly Mykolayovych Yermolenko, was director of the Institute of Philosophy. His mother taught philosophy at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 2020, together with Tetyana Oharkova, Yermolenko started the Kult podcast, dedicated to defining epochs in the history of culture and cult authors who had a great influence on the development of literature and culture. Is also a prolific podcaster on the Ukraine World channel, with his compelling ‘Explaining Ukraine’ series of interviews. Links below. ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/yermolenko_v https://www.linkedin.com/in/volodymyr-yermolenko-bb0b0b11/ https://twitter.com/ukraine_world https://twitter.com/PENUkraine https://twitter.com/InternewsUA ---------- BOOKS: Ukraine in Histories and Stories: Essays by Ukrainian Intellectuals by Volodymyr Yermolenko (Editor) ----------