Russell Brand: On Trial

Despite being thousands of kilometres from Kyiv, war with Russia continues for the refugees who Oksana meets in Brussels.

In Kyiv, recording in the middle of an air raid alert, Ilyas offers yet more insight into the war through the eyes of his grandmother — a survivor of World War II.

And in Poland, Ilyas’ wife Natalia goes to therapy.

BACKGROUND

Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. 
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.
 
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
Ilyas is now back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various projects.
 
Natalia is the wife of Ilyas. She fled to Poland with her two young sons then aged 4 and 1, at the beginning of the war. Her mother followed soon after.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 17 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note.
 
From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.
 
Producer Rob Mulhern
Editing Paul Stanworth

Against the backdrop of further Russian advances in the east - and while returning from another mission - Seva reflects on a significant supply drop to the frontline.
In Kyiv, despite soaring temperatures, |lyas begins to worry about the winter to come.
Meanwhile, Oksana charts an emotional, and wandering, first journey beyond the borders of wartime Ukraine - recording this week’s diary from Brussels.

BACKGROUND

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.
 
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of July 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various projects.
 
Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. 
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.
 
EP16 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note.
 
From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

Series producer: Robert Mulhern
Editing: Paul Stanworth

Ilyas wrestles with issues of personal and national identity while at the same time trying to figure out ways to see his sons in Poland.
Meanwhile, Oksana finds inspiration in the simple but significant actions of an 11-year old girl.
*Seva is away.

BACKGROUND
 
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of July 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various projects.
 
Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. 
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.
 
Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.
 
Week 15 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note.
 
From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

Ilyas has a near miss when Russian missiles strike his neighbourhood and discovers a new way to connect with his son in Poland.
Seva is given permission to leave the country for the first time since the war started - an experience that leaves him with a new perspective.
Meanwhile Oksana measure the toll of unrelenting air raid sirens on her and her girlfriends.

BACKGROUND-

Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of June 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various projects.

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.

Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 14 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

Against the backdrop of fierce fighting in the east and a growing feeling that international interest in Ukraine's plight is now waning, Seva experiences a surreal dining experience in a Kyiv now flip-flopping between conflict and a strange kind of normal.
Meanwhile, Oksana hears from two friends who fled to Canada and Belgium respectively, about the challenges of starting again in a new country.
And an unexpected parcel from Poland stirs up old feelings for Ilyas.

BACKGROUND-
Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of June 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various projects.


Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 13 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

CREDITS-
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth

Ukraine War Diaries returns in July.

In Kyiv, Oksana finds a bittersweet escape from the war.
In Poland, Ilyas’ wife, Natalia speaks for the first time about her experiences as a refugee trying to make a functional life for her and her children, alone.
Meanwhile Ilyas, writes something of a love letter to his wife Natalia and the two sons he still cannot see.

BACKGROUND-
Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of June 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 12 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note and first published on the Ukraine War Diaries podcast feed. To follow this series when it broadcasts, on weekdays, subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

CREDITS-
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth

Ilyas seeks an escape from the war.
Seva begins to prepare for a long and protracted conflict.
And Oksana explains the Queen's popularity in Ukraine.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

BACKGROUND -
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of May 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.

Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 11 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note and first published on the Ukraine War Diaries podcast feed. To follow this series when it broadcasts, on weekdays, subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

CREDITS-
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth

It’s more than three months since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, changing millions of lives, including those of Ilyas Verdiev, Oksana and Seva Goshel, forever.
In that time, Ilyas, Oksana and Seva have shared intimate insights into how war has redefined their priorities and their lives.
But what did a typical day in their lives, and life in Ukraine, look like before the Russian invasion?
This special episode features a Ukraine that never made the news because the country had yet to be consumed by war.
 
BACKGROUND
 
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife and two young sons are now taking refuge in Poland.
As of May 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.
 
Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. 
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.
 
Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.
 
Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.
 
Week 10 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice notes and first published on the Ukraine War Diaries podcast feed. To follow this series when it broadcasts, on weekdays, subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.
 
From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.
 
CREDITS
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth

Ilyas old life and his new normal collide when he tries to sources toys for his sons birthdays.
Oksana continues to come to terms with a Russian home invasion in Hostomel.
And Seva receives a letter of gratitude from the front line after using online crowd funding to secure vital military equipment.

BACKGROUND

Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of May 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.

Oksana, 34, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

Week 9 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice notes and first published on the Ukraine War Diaries podcast feed. To follow this series when it broadcasts, on weekdays, subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

CREDITS
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth

In Lviv, Ilyas is reunited with his wife and sons for the first time since they fled to Poland.
In Kyiv Oksana reflects on how war has wiped birthdays from her social calendar.
And in Eastern Ukraine, Seva makes a resupply of medical aid to soldiers waiting to be sent to the frontline. Here, he finds a band of brothers in buoyant mood, despite the possibility some may never return.

Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.

BACKGROUND -
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife and two young sons are now in Poland.
As of May 2022, Ilyas has returned alone to Kyiv. He’s living in the family apartment and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.

Oksana, 34, works in overseas education and is married. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started.
Oksana has adopted an abandoned budgie but many of her closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never returned. Her determination has always been to stay.

Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. In another life Seva travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular resupply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the frontline in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.

Week 8 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice notes and first published on the Ukraine War Diaries podcast feed. To follow this series when it broadcasts, on weekdays, subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.

From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.

Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production support - Paul Stanworth