The names of us: stories of national communities affected by the war — event at the Cafe Kyiv
An event “The Names of Us: Stories of National Communities Affected by the War” will take place in the framework of Cafe Kyiv 2026 in Berlin. It will be held at the Silent Stage on February 23, 14:00-14:45.
Russia’s war against Ukraine is destroying the country’s ethnic landscape and causing irreversible damage. Entire national communities have been forced to flee: Meskhetian Turks from Vasiukivka near Bakhmut, Roma from Toretsk in the Donetsk region, Swedes from Zmiivka in the Kherson region, the North Azovian Greeks of Mariupol, Jews of Kharkiv, and Crimean Tatars from Crimea.
These communities have been dispersed, yet they continue to hold on to one another, creating new environments in order to preserve their language, culture, and identity. Experts will discuss the consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the situation in the occupied territories.
Speakers:
- Olesya Yaremchuk, Journalist and Programme Curator at Index Lviv
- Olga Tsuprykova, Head & Co-Founder of North Azovian Greeks NGO
- Viktoria Nesterenko, Human Rights Activist & Project Manager at Human Rights Centre ZMINA
Moderator:
- Franziska Davies, Co-President DUG & Historian from ZZF Potsdam
Moreover, a photo exhibition “Crimea through the Eyes of Citizen Journalists: 10 Years in Captivity” will be presented at the Colosseum Berlin on February 23, 09:00-21:00. It highlights life under Russian occupation in Crimea and the persecution of journalists, activists, and families of political prisoners. Through photographs and personal stories, it documents repression, arrests, and the human cost of occupation.
At the exhibition venue, throughout the day, you can also write postcards to Ukrainian civilians unlawfully imprisoned in Russia. Materials and instructions will be provided on site.
An exhibition was organised by LIBERECO – Partnership for Human Rights in partnership with the Human Rights Centre ZMINA.
Find out more in the program.
