Yellow Van Stories Bastian Fischer

Today with us in the Yellow Van is Andriy Dubchak, a correspondent and photographer for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty as well as the founder of the interactive media platform Donbas Frontliner. He specializes in telling the stories of soldiers and civilians caught up in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He received a 2022 Free Media Award from the Fritt Ord and ZEIT foundations for his "courageous professional reporting from battle zones." Andriy also received a Lovie award for coverage of the Maidan protests in 2014 and a Gold Medal in the LifePressPhoto competition in 2020, and more. Andriy has captured the main pivot points of the younger Ukrainian history and I am thrilled that he has found the time to join us on the Yellow van today.
I had the chance to speak to him after he had just returned from Bachmut, where heavy fighting is taking place.

FOLLOW DONBAS FRONTLINER
Web [https://www.frontliner.com.ua/]Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/donbas.frontliner/]Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FrontlinerUA]Twitter [https://twitter.com/frontliner_ua]YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh_kbW4p8By8rg3d9x30zDA]Telegram [https://t.me/donbasfrontliner]

SUPPORT DONBAS FRONTLINER
Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/donbasfrontliner]

MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de/] Production.

With us in the Yellow Van this week are Dafna Rachok and Ivan Shmatko.
Dafna Rachok is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University Bloomington. Her research seeks to understand how vulnerable groups in Ukraine respond to existing HIV prevention and treatment programs and how their attitudes to the state shape their desire or reluctance to seek those programs. Ivan Shmatko is a PhD student in sociology at the University of Alberta (Canada). Ivan has been a part of the volunteer movement in Ukraine since February 24. He has done research on policing in Ukraine and the imaginaries that shape how police officers see their work and interact with others. His doctoral research project focuses on the experiences of newly mobilized soldiers in Ukraine. Being on leave from their universities in February 2022, they decided to stay in Ukraine [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=ukraine&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] when Russia [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=russia&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] assaulted their home. Rather than escape to safety across the Atlantic [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=atlantic&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] Ocean, they looked for ways and means to support their homeland [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=homeland&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] and their fellow Ukrainians.  Join us as we talk about their #volunteering work, the importance of humour [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=humour&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400] in times of darkness and why Ukrainians collectively dislike  Elon Musk [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=elonmusk&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7042191701821542400].
And, as always, a lot more. Thank you, Dafna and Ivan, for joining the Yellow Van.
Your bravery and empathy are an inspiration.

SHOW NOTES
Sociological group "RATING" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rating_(sociological_group)#:~:text=Rating%20(Ukrainian%3A%20%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3)%2C,approved%20by%20the%20ESOMAR%20and]
International Red Cross and Red Crescent [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement]
World Food Programme [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Food_Programme]
Leonid Kuchma [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Kuchma]
Article by Dafna Rachok: On Trust, Transparency, and Learning from the Experience of the Extraordinary [https://huri.harvard.edu/trust-transparency-and-learning-experience-extraordinary]
Article by Ivan Shmatko: A Voracious Beast - Emotional Energy in the Tsunami of Suffering [https://huri.harvard.edu/voracious-beast-emotional-energy-tsunami-suffering]

DONATIONS
Come Back Alive [https://savelife.in.ua/en/]
Hospitaliers [https://www.hospitallers.life/]

FOLLOW DAFNA AND IVAN
Dafna's Twitter [https://twitter.com/DafnaRachok]
Dafna's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafnarachok/]
Ivan's Twitter [https://twitter.com/shmatkoivan]
Ivan's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.krakun]

MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Nick Torzhevsky is a film director and producer from Kyiv with over 10 years of experience directing and producing broadcast TV series, commercials, and feature films.
Nick's latest project, Ukraine Rebirth, is putting a focus on the rebuilding of Ukraine after the war - something that struck me as extraordinary as the war is still raging on without an end in sight. On the website of Ukraine Rebirth, the project is introduced as follows:

"Our main message within the series, as seen from the title, is to show rebirth. Everyone has fallen, and it takes heart and strength to get up and keep going. Ukraine is very strong, and now this is noticed by the whole world. Ukrainians are brave, fierce, united and valiant, but also kind, passionate, full of love and hope. In the face of the enemy, we don't just prepare for the last stand, we prepare to win and then to rebuild our country, to rise from the ashes, better and stronger than before.We want to capture this spirit which helps Ukrainians keep going and to share it with the world, so that this hope and passion will blossom in the hearts of every viewer around the globe."


How exactly the idea for the project was born and how Nick is feeding his seemingly inexhaustible optimism is something we will be discussing in today's show. And, as always, a lot more.

SHOW NOTES
Find Nick Here
Ukraine Rebirth [https://ukrainerebirth.com]
Instagram [https://instagram.com/n.torzhevsky]
Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nick.torzhevsky/]

Ukraine Rebirth Collaborators
LGBTQI+ Story
Stanislav Morozov (director) [https://www.facebook.com/stanislav.morozov.796]
Stanislav Medvedev (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/stas.medvedev.37]
Olexiy Gladushevskyi (creative producer) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014720767273]
Evgeniy Usanov (director of photography) [https://www.facebook.com/evgeniy.usanov]

Kyiv Story
Nataliya Torzhevska (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012951876046]
Stanislav Savchenko (director of photography)
[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004601086095]
Cherson Story
Julia Tribrat (director) [https://www.facebook.com/reallyjuliet]
Lana Iermakova (screenwriter) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081946741835]

Support the Kickstarter Campaign here
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ukrainerebirthlgbtq/ukraine-rebirth-lgbtq

MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind The Bump [http://www.mindthebump.de/] Production

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Alex Kraev is a musical multi-talent who gave his soul to punk rock. He plays the drums, bass, and guitar in multiple bands and is an absolute musical powerhouse. His influences are many, but his goal is one and the same: to challenge stereotypes and self-imposed laziness of body and mind. His music is loud and gets under your skin. Challenging riffs, vocal cascades, energetic rhythms and climactic melodies tear you out of your comfort zone, sharpen your senses and abduct your body before they spit you out on the cold, ashen, concrete ground of human construction - only to find yourself naked, lusting for more. No more comfort, only raw emotion. Thank you very much!

Punk, in its conception, has always been about protest and societal unrest, a mirror to the polished, self-righteous facade of civil society and, therefore, at the root of democracy - at least, according to me. Sid Vicious, the godfather of punk, said this once: "Undermine their pompous authority, reject their moral standards, make anarchy and disorder your trademarks. Cause as much chaos and disruption as possible but don't let them take you ALIVE." How this translates to the war in Ukraine and the simultaneous democratic process, I will discuss with Alex today! I am so happy to have you on board!
SHOW NOTES
Sid Vicious [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Vicious]
Sex Pistols [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Pistols]
Odessa Grain Shipments [https://www.politico.eu/article/odesa-port-ukraine-first-ship-carrying-grain-food-crisis-russia-war/]
Kalush Orkestra [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalush_(rap_group)]
The Offspring [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Offspring]
Black Fly [https://www.facebook.com/blackflyofficial/]
NoFX [https://www.nofxofficialwebsite.com/]
Bad Religion [https://badreligion.com/]
Greenday [https://greenday.com/]
Simple Plan [https://officialsimpleplan.com/]
Yellowcard [http://yellowcardrock.com/]
Radio Havanna [https://www.radiohavanna.de/]
Black Flag [https://www.blackflagband.com/]
Bezlad [https://www.facebook.com/bezladoi]
ALEX' FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LeXXKraev
ALEX' MUSIC & BANDS
ВІДСІЧ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/11snryEzY3apIX8Axx9uZ1?si=4Cbkqqs7QyyGKFkY3iYV7g]
FLAME [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mrDHK5DN8juEGSjsKCqgz?si=XHREHDlNQFq-rkkXYA9iag]
RAGTAG [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CbSQPfhWQIZmlpSysVkXO?si=mWWBMI5rQT-6vZYyU2KAKQ]
CONCRETE CONTROL [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1BEFfDquf0mT2aeXTYXS0e?si=FFG7F6ylSoi4C7tq0Y2w6Q]
REDEMPTION [https://open.spotify.com/album/7AdiZek73SChGaLm9l35kn?si=IjRUin-kQI23lqLz2RLXRg]
Дело Дрянь [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Qg2FUvMtNlbUxEOtMF6C7?si=M-ES50O4SrWu7dMBf013zw]
ALEX NEXT SHOW
More Music Club [https://facebook.com/events/s/the-cow-ragtag-wild-weed-super/367349802141404/]
DONATIONS
Alex' Volunteer Org [http://spilnameta.com/en/]
Their Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/spilna.meta.ua]
MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind The Bump [http://www.mindthebump.de/] Production

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.

Oleksiy Martsenyuk is the Executive Director of the Center for Defence Strategies in Kiyv, an organisation that helps to monitor defence reforms and develop key government policies that will affect the country's security and defence sector. This certainly needs a little more explanation from you, Oleksiy! And we will get into that in the course of the podcast. Also, he served as a Civilian Deputy Minister in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence for just under a year. Originally, Oleksiy has a business background though. And because of this, Oleksiy's and my relationship actually goes way back. When I studied photography in Gent, Belgium, at the end of my first year all students had to choose a topic and project outside the curriculum, entirely self-sufficient and motivated by our own interests. This is now almost 18 years ago. As a foreigner myself, I chose the topic of migration and opted to take black and white portraits of people far away from home in Belgium. I put it all in book form, presenting them on a double page with their portrait in black and white on one page and the most cherished and valuable photo they brought with them in colour on the other.  Oleksiy was introduced to me by my dear friend Apoorva, studying with him at the time. A big shoutout and a big hug to you, Apu, who I don't see or hear nearly often enough! I remember the portrait of Oleksiy still so well after all these years. Standing in his rather modest and empty student cave, but with a big, bright Ukrainian flag on his wall. Leaning in, curiously observing me with a gentle smile while I was trying to create something lasting with the little that I knew at the time. But, in a way, I have; by having him with me today - 18 years after that photo was taken. I am so happy and grateful to have you with us today, Oleksiy, after all this time!

SHOW NOTES
New York Times, The Bodies Lay Dead in the Street [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/world/europe/bucha-ukraine-bodies.html]
BBC News, Bucha Killings [https://www.bbc.com/news/60981238]
VOX News, Ukraine Kidnappings [https://www.vox.com/23012456/ukraine-russia-war-disappearances-kidnappings]
Deutsche Welle, Russia Uses Kidnappings to Intimidate Ukrainians [https://www.dw.com/en/russia-uses-kidnappings-to-intimidate-locals-in-occupied-ukraine/a-61309858]
Golda Meir [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golda_Meir]
Weimar Republic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republic]
Friedrich Ebert [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ebert]
Philipp Scheidemann [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Scheidemann]
The Ebert-Groener Pact [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebert%E2%80%93Groener_pact#:~:text=The%20Ebert%E2%80%93Groener%20pact%2C%20sometimes,%2C%20on%20November%2010%2C%201918.]
Sinking of the Moskwa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_Moskva]
Bayraktar Drone [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baykar_Bayraktar_TB2]
HIMARS [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M142_HIMARS]
Nord Stream 2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord_Stream_2]
Rheinmetall builds military training center [https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/russian-army-orders-training-centre-from-rheinmetall-as-military-modernises/]
The Orphanage, Serhiy Zhadan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serhiy_Zhadan]
Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani), Twitter Thread [https://twitter.com/kamilkazani?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor]
MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bu [https://www.mindthebump.de]

Anna Pykhtina is a communication and PR expert from Kyiv, Ukraine, focusing on Ukrainian NGO work and civic education, currently living in Warsaw, Poland. After the outbreak of the war, Anna and her boyfriend fled Ukraine to Poland, where they are currently living with friends. Anna was the president of AEGEE-Kyiv [https://www.facebook.com/1aegee.kyiv/], Europe's biggest interdisciplinary student organization. She has been travelling extensively in Europe and is, I think it is safe to say, a strong proponent of the European idea. Additionally, she worked for the Free Russia Foundation, which supports civic society and democratic development in Russia, for almost two years and has, therefore, many Russian acquaintances and friends. Anna's work and experience are exceptional and I couldn't be happier to have her on board the Yellow Van today to hear her opinions and perspectives on a variety of topics.
Welcome to the Yellow Van, Anna!

SHOW NOTES
Anna's Reading List [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bo0ZefEBzEBT0HW6pwnoKyCN6Sla6xHg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100501379425446497566&rtpof=true&sd=true]

INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT
NGO "Girls" [https://divchata.org/en/]
USCD [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense_in_the_United_States]
Timothy D. Snyder [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_D._Snyder], American historian
Eurotrip [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356150/], USA 2004, Jeff Schaffer
Free Russia Foundation [https://www.4freerussia.org/]
Tango of Death, Yuriy Vynnychuk [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriy_Vynnychuk]
Tiger Trappers [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Trappers], Ivan Bahriyanyi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bahrianyi]
Maria Berlinska [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Berlinska], Ukrainian film producer
MUSIC
Love In The Face Of Fear [https://jimkroft.bigcartel.com/product/love-in-the-face-of-fear], Jim Kroft [http://www.jimkroft.com/]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind The Bump [http://www.mindthebump.de/] Production

Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yellowvan]

Yellow Van Stories is a Mind the Bump [https://www.mindthebump.de] Production.