The Cultural Landscape of Ukraine: Between War and Comedy

Sat Nov 08 2025 14:53:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Ukraine grapples with ongoing conflict, its cultural scene has shifted to reflect the harsh realities of war, leaving audiences yearning for light-hearted entertainment amidst the pain.

In Ukraine, the arts are increasingly dominated by themes of war, overshadowing the desire for lighter entertainment like comedies. From solemn documentaries to poignant rock operas, artists express the nation's struggle. While some find solace in this reflection of reality, many audiences long for a return to joyful narratives, highlighting the complex emotional landscape in a country still fighting for its identity amidst a relentless conflict.

Ukrainians would like to watch comedies - but for now their culture is defined by war

I've never heard an audience so silent.

When the credits rolled on a screening of 2000 metres to Andriivka, no-one in the Kyiv cinema moved. Their popcorn and beer were mostly untouched.

The documentary by Mstyslav Chernov is a frontline film so intense you feel like you're trapped in the terrifying trenches alongside the soldiers.

Watching that in Ukraine, a country under fire, the intensity is multiplied.

At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, as society mobilized to defend itself, Ukraine had little capacity for culture. Venues were closed or repurposed, some were attacked, and artists became refugees or soldiers.

Almost four years on, the arts are back - but everything is now permeated by the war.

The change struck me on a recent trip to Kyiv. I realized that city walls were plastered with two kinds of poster: fundraisers for forces on the frontline - or films, plays and exhibitions about the war. Andriivka wasn't the only hard-hitting film on offer: there were also ads for Cuba and Alyaska, another powerful documentary that follows two female combat medics in a way that manages to be funny, frightening, and tragic at the same time.

Just over the road from the cinema, I spotted a banner for the latest offering from the Kyiv Opera: Patriot, a rock opera in two acts. The story takes the hero through Ukraine's recent history - from revolution to war, with popular anthems of Ukrainian independence.

Some locals shy away from the artistic examination of war, expressing a longing not to relive painful experiences. But others embrace the stories told, feeling it vital to remember and honor the sacrifices made during this time.

As expressed by a cinema-goer named Natalia, many would wish to enjoy light-hearted films again, but acknowledge the necessity of confronting their reality through film and art. With a shift in cultural narrative, Ukraine’s artistic voice continues to echo its resilience, amidst an ongoing battle for peace and identity.