Every loss changes the world: the “Memoria Orbis” evening at Crimea Global dedicated to artists killed by Russia

As part of the Third International Conference “Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South”, a special commemorative art evening was held — “Memoria Orbis: Memory Holds the World.” The event was dedicated to Ukrainian artists whose lives were taken by Russian aggression, but whose art continues to support and unite our shared world.

The evening was moderated by poetess and manager of literary projects Olha Olkhova. She opened the event by saying that memory not only hurts — it unites us and keeps us in a world where war tries to leave a void behind.

“Every loss changes the world. Memory does not fill the void, but it prevents it from falling apart” — this message became the leitmotif of the entire evening.

The event began with a traditional minute of silence — in memory of the heroes who were discussed that evening, and of all those we lost in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Photo: Olha Olkhova

Veronika (Nika) Kozhushko: a 19-year-old artist who researched the Executed Renaissance and became its part herself

The first story was that of Nika Kozhushko, a young artist from Kharkiv who died on 30 August 2024 during a Russian air strike. The video introduction featured her poems recited by Serhii Zhadan, Ihor Kozhushko and artist Hamlet Zinkivskyi, accompanied by her linocuts and drawings on the screen.

Nika was a first-year university student, volunteered at the Kharkiv Literary Museum, created shopping bags and postcards featuring Ukrainian writers, and researched the Executed Renaissance. One of her drawings was included in Queen guitarist Brian May’s album Another World 2022, and in 2025, her book “Time to Start the Tango” was published by Folio.

Her parents, Ihor and Tetiana Kozhushko, who came from Kharkiv for just a few hours, spoke about the activities of the Nika Generation Charity Foundation, created in memory of their daughter and all the talented children killed by Russia. They shared how every step they take now is connected with Nika’s name and the continuation of her work.

Photo: Ihor and Tetiana Kozhushko

Yaroslav Levytskyi: a cameraman, documentarian, entrepreneur, and soldier who dreamed of crossing the Mediterranean Sea

The second story is about Yaroslav Levytskyi, a cameraman and soldier from Chernivtsi. The evening began with a video in which Yaroslav talks about searching for his grandfather’s embroidered shirt, who had been sent to labour camps in Norilsk for participating in the Ukrainian resistance movement.

Yaroslav worked as a cameraman for Channel 5 and the ACC media agency, documented history, and co-founded the iconic Contrabanda bar — a place for new ideas and conversations. He was remembered by director Dmytro Sukholytkyi-Sobchuk and friend and business partner Anton Panov.

With the start of the full-scale invasion, Yaroslav first volunteered, and then joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to his wife, Iryna, he was the one who read books and exercised even at war – and in doing so changed those around him. He dreamed of becoming a captain, making his own wine, and travelling after victory. These dreams became part of the world we must protect.

Davyd Chychkan: an artist, anarchist and fighter who subordinated the personal to collective resistance

The third story was dedicated to artist and activist Davyd Chychkan. The podcast about him described him as “an anarchist, artist, and mortar operator” — three roles that most accurately define the scope and integrity of his life.

The audience heard an excerpt from Davyd’s interview about art as a form of political responsibility. His friend and brother-in-arms, Illia Vlasiuk, who had just arrived from the front line, took to the stage and spoke about their more than twenty years of joint fight for freedom and justice.

Photo: Illia Vlasiuk

Davyd’s wife, Anna Tsyba, also spoke: “Davyd had the opportunity to go abroad, as far away from the war as possible. But he couldn’t agree to that because it would not contribute to building a more egalitarian and just society in Ukraine. In other words, he subordinated his personal interest — to be safe and enjoy the authority he had earned as a recognised artist, including in the West — to the collective interest of fighting fascism and the possibility of political change for the better“.

His latest art series, works from 2022–2023, was presented in the hall. Artist and curator Oksana Briukhovetska spoke about Davyd as an artist, colleague, and person who always chose honesty. The block ended with a video about memorials in his honour.

Photo: Oksana Briukhovetska

Illia Chernilevskyi: a musician, poet, and translator of world studies who volunteered to go to war

The last story was about Illia Chernilevskyi, a musician, poet, and translator who worked on localisations for Disney, Universal, Sony, and Netflix for ten years. Quiet, focused, always with his guitar — that’s how the moderator remembered him.

After 24 February, Illia repeatedly appealed to the military registration and enlistment office until he was mobilised.

His parents, poet Olha Chernilevska and film director Stanislav Chernilevskyi, spoke about their son. Their words became one of the most emotional moments of the evening: Illia remains in texts, music, and everything living that a person leaves behind.

Photo: Olha Chernilevska and Stanislav Chernilevskyi

Guests heard his songs “Youth” and “Blizzard”. There was also talk of Illia’s poetry collections and that composer Lesia Dychko is working on a triptych based on his poems.

Mosaic of Memory

In the end, Olha Olkhova drew attention to a specially created visual image — a mosaic of puzzle pieces woven with the names of deceased artists. It symbolises that the memory of each person is part of a shared global canvas.

“To carry the memory means to be worthy of that memory,” was the message at the end. Guests received small commemorative souvenirs, and after the official part was over, they could look through Nika and Illia’s books, examine Davyd’s works, and speak with their loved ones.

The evening event “Memoria Orbis: Memory Holds the World” became a space where art, personal stories, and collective memory came together to remind us that the war continues, but so does the light that these people left behind. It resonates in music, shines through in colours, lives in words — and keeps us on the side of dignity and light.

Conference and evening organisers: Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea / Office of the Crimea Platform, Human Rights Centre ZMINA, Media Initiative for Human Rights.

Event partners: Ukrainian Institute, PEN Ukraine, Truth Hounds, Media Centre Ukraine, Transatlantic Dialogue Centre.

The event was organised with the support of: Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, International Renaissance Foundation, Prague Civil Society Center, Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia and UN Women.

Photo credit: Artem Halkin