Matryoshka of Lies

Ukrainska Pravda
  • 5.0 (33)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Ukraine's not the first one. Russia's colonial grip has choked nations for centuries. Gaslighting, invading, erasing. But this time, the world is watching. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, a Ukrainian author, and Ukrainska Pravda. Unpack the myths, expose the truth. The empire will fall.

Episodes

  1. 12/18/2025

    Ukrainian Spaces – a new podcast on Ukrainska Pravda

    We are pleased to present the trailer for the new season of the Ukrainian Spaces podcast, which is available on UP.  For our fifth season, Ukrainian Spaces returns to where it began: revisiting six Ukrainians from the 2022 inaugural season to see how hope, resistance, and resilience have shaped their lives. Across six episodes – fear, belonging, language, love, resistance, and the future – our guests reflect on the past, share intimate stories, and write letters to their former selves. A return and continuation, this season reminds us that Ukraine’s story is best told by Ukrainians themselves. In the second episode of the season, Ukrainian Spaces returns to a conversation that began in 2022 and follows it to its consequences. Listen to the podcast at the link: https://pod.link/1616395167

    2 min

  2. 10/18/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 6: Ending Empire feat. Casey Michel, Marci Shore and Oleksiy Radynski

    This episode of Matryoshka of Lies uncovers Russia’s brutal colonial history in Alaska, marked by massacres, enslavement, and resource extraction from Indigenous populations, as highlighted by journalist Casey Michel. Filmmaker Oleksiy Radynski urges Ukrainians to confront their complicity in Moscow’s colonial past, emphasizing that dismantling the Russian Federation is crucial to ending this legacy. Radynski also highlights global dependence on fossil fuels from Russia’s colonized territories, which fuels both empire and the climate crisis. Historian Marci Shore examines the role of Russian people in failing to resist expansionist aggression, while drawing hope from Ukraine’s student-led movement to confront the past and build a better future. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika and Vlada Toporkova, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Anastasiia Fedoskina, and co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    20 min

  3. 09/13/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 5: Russophobia feat. Diana T. Kudaibergen and Viktoriia Grivina

    This episode explores the concept of "Russophobia" and how it is used to silence criticism and maintain control. Painting the victims as Russophobic has always been part of the crime, as vividly illustrated by Professor Timothy Snyder’s 2023 testimony to the United Nations Security Council. Snyder, a leading historian on Eastern Europe, sheds light on the intersection of Russian genocidal rhetoric and claims of Russophobia. Featuring Diana T. Kudaibergen, a prominent Qazaq researcher of colonialism and a sociologist at the University of Cambridge, who tackles the commemoration of the genocide in Qazaqstan and underscores the need to elevate indigenous voices in these discussions, and Viktoriia Grivina, a Ukrainian writer and a cultural researcher from Kharkiv, who exposes Russia’s colonial rhetoric, with her home city being the victim of it. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika and Vlada Toporkova, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Anastasiia Fedoskina, and co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    22 min

  4. 08/09/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 4: Imperial Innocence feat. Botakoz Kassymbekova

    This episode explores the concept of "Imperial Innocence" with Dr. Botakoz Kassymbekova, a prominent Qazaq thinker. We delve into how Russia perpetuates the image of a victimized nation to justify its history of brutal invasions and ongoing colonialism. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Anastasiia Fedoskina, co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    20 min

  5. 07/05/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 3: Infiltration feat. Rory Finnin, Vitaly Chernetsky, Natalia Antelava and Romeo Kokriatski

    This episode of Matryoshka of Lies exposes the brutal reality of Russian colonialism in Crimea (Qirim) and Georgia (Sakartvelo) and explores how Western academia, influenced by Russian narratives, has failed to recognize it. We delve into the reasons behind this blind spot, including the power imbalances in academia and the weaponization of disinformation. Featuring: - Dr. Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge - Dr. Vitaly Chernetsky, President of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies - Natalia Antelava, Georgian journalist and founder of Coda Story - Romeo Kokriatski, Ukrainian journalist and Managing Editor at New Voice Ukraine Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Anastasiia Fedoskina, co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    21 min

  6. 06/14/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 2: Supremacy feat. Ewa Thompson and Oksana Zabuzhko

    In this episode, we delve into how Russia weaponized its culture to justify its empire, rewriting history and erasing indigenous voices along the way. Featuring insights from leading experts like Dr. Ewa Thompson, Ukrainian novelist Oksana Zabuzhko, and more, we challenge the conventional narrative surrounding Russian culture, revealing the colonial undercurrents that have fueled centuries of oppression and expansion. Explore the cognitive dissonance surrounding "great Russian culture" and the role it plays in perpetuating colonialism. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the true nature of Russian imperialism and its impact on the world. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound designed by Anastasiia Fedoskina, co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    18 min

  7. 05/31/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 1: Confusion feat. Oleksandr Polianichev, Azamat Junisbai, and Botakoz Kassymbekova

    This episode ventures into a chapter often missing from the mainstream narrative: Russia's influence in Africa and Qazaqstan. Joined by leading experts Dr. Botakoz Kassymbekova (University of Basel in Switzerland), Dr. Azamat Junisbai (Pitzer College, California), Dr. Oleksandr Polianichev (Södertörns högskola, Sweden), host Maksym Eristavi dives deep to explore why understanding these untold stories is crucial to understanding Russia today. Listen to personal stories and expert analyses that challenge the myths and reveal the true nature of Russian imperialism. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Dmytro Volkovinskyi and Anastasiia Fedoskina, co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Consider subscribing on a platform that is convenient for you: https://pod.link/1729375002 Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

    19 min

  8. 05/17/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Episode 0: Myth feat. Val Voshchevska and Mariam Naiem

    In our season premiere, we challenge the propaganda narratives surrounding Russia. Ukrainian journalist and author Maksym Eristavi takes you on a journey to uncover the deeper story and expose serial imperial and colonial behavior. We'll meet Ukrainian human rights advocate Val Voshchevska and imperialism researcher Mariam Naiem, who share their personal experiences and the stories passed down through generations. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, author of the illustrated guidebook "Russian Colonialism 101," and Ukrainska Pravda. Unveil the hidden truths and discover the power of untold indigenous stories. This show is written by Yev Kopiika, produced by Alina Poliakova, mixed and sound design by Dmytro Volkovinskyi and Anastasiia Fedoskina, co-produced and narrated by Maksym Eristavi. Support the journalism of Ukrainska Pravda. Learn how at www.pravda.com.ua/eng

    11 min

  9. 02/06/2024

    Matryoshka of Lies. Podcast Teaser

    Ukraine's not the first one. Russia's colonial grip has choked nations for centuries. Gaslighting, invading, erasing. But this time, the world is watching. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, a Ukrainian author, and Ukrainska Pravda. Unpack the myths, expose the truth. The empire will fall.

    1 min
  • 9 Episodes

5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Ukraine's not the first one. Russia's colonial grip has choked nations for centuries. Gaslighting, invading, erasing. But this time, the world is watching. Dive into "Matryoshka of Lies" with Maksym Eristavi, a Ukrainian author, and Ukrainska Pravda. Unpack the myths, expose the truth. The empire will fall.

Information

  • Creator
    Ukrainska Pravda
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Ukrainska Pravda
  • Show Website
    Matryoshka of Lies