Home World A reading listicle on the war on Ukraine
A reading listicle on the war on Ukraine

A reading listicle on the war on Ukraine

by host

Throughout the Ukraine crisis and the ensuing Russian invasion, we have been following events closely and from diverse perspectives. We have tried to stick to our mission: to provide the best articles, analysis and commentary, if possible from independent sources and with a local or cross-border angle.

As a European country is invaded and bravely resists, the European Union for once seems to be rising to the full scale of the challenge. While the risk of a continent-wide war if not worse looms, our mission remains to contribute to the circulation of ideas and information – and in this case to the understanding of this defining event of our time, which affects us deeply, beyond the stories we publish on Voxeurop.

👉 Read more on Ukraine and the Russian invasion

This is why we have created a (non translated) curation thread of the most interesting articles, commentary and analyses among those we have spotted in the European press. It will be updated and ampliated regularly. We do not claim to be exhaustive, and invite you to let us know which articles you think deserve to be included. We will do our best to read them and include them in our selection.

Enjoy your reading and do not hesitate to send us your comments, suggestions, and proposals 👉 [email protected].


Useful resources

UkraineFacts | By the International Fact-checking Network Signatories

Russia, Ukraine & International Law: On Occupation, Armed Conflict and Human Rights | Human Rights Watch

Civilian harm in Ukraine | Bellingcat

Explaining Ukraine podcast | Ukraine World


La guerra in Ucraina e il progetto imperiale di Putin

Il cerchio si Ăš chiuso. Dal crollo dell’Unione Sovietica Ăš bastata una generazione per far precipitare la nuova Russia all’inferno. Trent’anni di promesse mancate, speranze bruciate, segnali mal interpretati, da Eltsin che si arrampica sui carri armati nell’estate del 1991 e ferma il golpe dei sostenitori del regime sovietico fino alla messa in scena del 18 marzo 2022 allo stadio LuĆŸniki: un carnevale ultranazionalista in cui il kitsch patinato dei video della musica pop russa degli anni duemila si Ăš fuso con il gigantismo posticcio delle parate nordcoreane di Kim Jong-il. La fine di un’epoca.

Andrea Pipino | Internazionale | 28 March 2022


Russie : l’information Ă©conomique, victime collatĂ©rale de la guerre en Ukraine

« Toute quantification change le monde ». C’est ainsi que l’économiste Olivier Martin rĂ©sume l’enjeu politique de ce qu’il appelle « l’empire des chiffres ». À mesure que s’affirme devant nous l’ambition impĂ©riale du pouvoir en Russie, la statistique et l’information Ă©conomique Ă©chappent de moins en moins Ă  l’emprise du politique dans ce pays. Ce processus a des consĂ©quences trĂšs concrĂštes.

Julien Vercueil | The Conversation France | 27 March 2022


Jonathan Littell : « Mes chers amis russes, c’est l’heure de votre MaĂŻdan »

Evoquant la rĂ©volution Ă  Kiev en 2014, l’écrivain s’adresse, dans une lettre ouverte, Ă  ses « amis d’ñme et d’esprit » restĂ©s silencieux face aux agressions commises par leur pays en TchĂ©tchĂ©nie, en CrimĂ©e et en Ukraine. Il les appelle Ă  reprendre leur libertĂ© en faisant tomber le rĂ©gime.

Jonathan Littell | Le Monde | 27 March 2022


Ukrainian journalist released from Russian captivity: ‘They were most interested in finding organizers of pro-Ukrainian rallies’

Oleh Baturin, a journalist for the Novy Den, a newspaper in Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast, was kidnapped by the Russian military on March 12.

Ivan Antypenko | The Kyiv Independent | 23 March


Mykola Riabchuk : « Il y a entre la Russie et l’Ukraine toute l’essence du colonialisme »

En septembre dernier, le politiste Mykola Riabchuk est arrivĂ© de Kyiv pour un an de rĂ©sidence Ă  l’Institut d’études avancĂ©es de Paris avec pour objectif de « revisiter la crise ukrainienne », un projet largement rattrapĂ© par l’actualitĂ©. Pour AOC, il livre ses analyses d’un conflit qu’il qualifie de dernier espoir pour l’Europe face Ă  l’impĂ©rialisme russe.

Benjamin Tainturier | AOC | 26 March


L’Ukraine, nouvel alibi de l’agriculture productiviste

« Toute quantification change le monde ». C’est ainsi que l’économiste Olivier Martin rĂ©sume l’enjeu politique de ce qu’il appelle « l’empire des chiffres ».

Julien Vercueil | The Conversation | 27 March 2022


Russie : l’information Ă©conomique, victime collatĂ©rale de la guerre en Ukraine

Les syndicats de l’agriculture intensive profitent de la panique sur l’approvisionnement causĂ©e par la guerre en Ukraine pour imposer leur agenda. Leur objectif : faire reculer les progrĂšs europĂ©ens vers une agriculture plus Ă©cologique.

Marie Astier | Reporterre | 7 March 2022


Ukraine: When things fall apart

A collective account from behind the scenes of a month of AFP’s reporters and photojournalists in Ukraine work.

Dave Clark, Sophie Estienne, Dmytro Gorshkov, Antoine Lambroschini, Karim Menasria, Daphné Rousseau, Olga Shylenko, Arman Soldin, Daniel Leal, Michaëla Cancela-Kieffer | AFP | 24 March 2022 | EN, FR



OCCRP Russian asset tracker

A project to track down and catalogue the vast wealth held outside Russia by oligarchs and key figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lara Dihmis, Misha Gagarin, Karina Shedrofsky, Alina Tsogoeva | OCCRP | 21 March 2022


The war for democracy

The governments now sanctioning Russian oligarchs forget to mention that it was the free-market policies of the ’90s that created them. In order to regain the initiative after misreading Russia’s aggression, the Left needs to point out how the war for democracy in Ukraine is part of its own struggle for global justice in the 21st century.

Eirik HĂžyer Leivestad | Vagant/Eurozine | 21 March 2022


De Brusselse vrienden van superoligarch Oleg Deripaska

Two Brussels-based non-profit organisations occupy a prominent place in the network of the Russian super-oligarch Oleg Deripaska. One of these non-profit organisations was at the centre of a money-laundering investigation that was shelved remarkably quickly. European Commissioner Didier Reynders (MR) belongs to the ‘circle of friends’ of this non-profit organisation.

Tom Cochez | Apache | 18 March 2022


20 days in Maroupol: The team that documented the city’s agony

AP’s reporters and photojournalist’s account on the Russian army’s attack on the Ukrainian port city of Marioupol, the inhabitant’s struggle and their evacuation.

Mstitslav Chernov, Lori Hinnant, Vasylisa Stepanenko | Associated Press | 22 March 2022


Ucraina, neppure le bombe fermano il mercato delle madri surrogate

La seconda meta mondiale per numero di neonati commissionati da coppie committenti ad aziende che gestiscono centinaia di “mamme in affitto” cerca di tranquillizzare i clienti. Con i bunker.

Antonella Mariani | Avvenire | 12 March 2022


«Could Russian nuclear missiles be intercepted in time?»

Readers asked the NZZ editorial team over 1,000 questions about the war in Eastern Europe. We have selected a few and provide the answers here.

Andreas RĂŒesch, Reto Stauffacher | Neue ZĂŒrcher Zeitung | 17 March 2022 | EN, DE


Guerre en Ukraine : Marta et Svitlana, deux exilées entrées en résistance en Roumanie

Les deux Ukrainiennes ont fui Kherson au lancement de l’offensive russe. AprĂšs un pĂ©riple de neuf jours, elles se sont rĂ©fugiĂ©es Ă  Calarasi, dans le sud-est de la Roumanie, d’oĂč elles s’organisent pour mener la lutte.

Marie-BĂ©atrice Baudet | Le Monde | 19 March 2022


«For anyone who wants to breathe freely, life in Russia is no longer possible»

The fighting in Ukraine is driving tens of thousands of Russians to leave their country. Why? And where are they going?

Inna Hartwich | Neue ZĂŒrcher Zeitung | 17 March 2022 | EN, DE


What do ordinary Russians really think about the war?

Surveys suggest most Russians support the use of military force in Ukraine. Is this an accurate picture?

Ksenia Kislova, Pippa Norris | Social Europe | 17 March 2022


How the war in Ukraine is changing European media and journalism

So far, the biggest impact of Russia’s invasion on the media landscape in Europe (and beyond) has been the EU-wide ban of Kremlin-backed media outlets.

David Tvrdon | The Fix | 8 March 2022


EU member states exported weapons to Russia after the 2014 embargo

Missiles, aircraft, rockets, torpedoes, bombs. Russia continued to buy EU weapons until at least 2021. Despite the ongoing embargo, ten member states exported € 346 million worth of military equipment, according to public data analysed by Investigate Europe. Some of these weapons could be used against the Ukraine now.

Laure Brillaud, Ana Curic, Maria Maggiore, Leïla Miñano, Nico Schmidt | Investigate Europe | 17 March 2022



What Does Defending Europe Mean?

Europe’s double standard on refugees, exposed yet again by the war in Ukraine, is morally deaf and geopolitically dumb. The best way Europe can defend itself is to persuade other countries that it can offer them better choices than Russia or China can.

Slavoj ĆœiĆŸek | Project Syndicate | 2 March 2022 | EN, FR, ES, DE


The western elite is preventing us from going after the assets of Russia’s hyper-rich

Why has no progress been made on an international financial registry? One simple reason: wealthy westerners don’t want one.

Thomas Piketty | The Guardian/Le Monde | 16 March 2022 | EN, FR


‘People from my country came to kill me’

Every year, thousands of Russians move to Ukraine. Putin’s invasion has turned their lives upside down. 

Kristina Safonova | Meduza | 14 March 2022 | EN, RU


Timothy Snyder on the Myths That Blinded the West to Putin’s Plans

The renowed historian on Putin’s myths, Ukrainian identity and the West’s “politics of inevitability.”

Ezra Klein | The New York Times | 15 March 2022


The Fringe Left and Not-So-Fringe Right

The Polish supporters of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. There is no mercy in Poland for Western public figures who supported Putin in the past.

Adam LeszczyƄski | Visegrad Insight | 15 March 2022



Not One, the West Needs to Win Three Wars in Ukraine

Victory needs to be achieved on the physical battlefield itself, in the information space and in the economy.

Martin Ehl | Visegrad Insight | 14 March 2022


Ukraine : la France a livrĂ© des armes Ă  la Russie jusqu’en 2020

Entre 2015 et 2020, la France a livrĂ© des Ă©quipements militaires dernier cri Ă  la Russie. Un armement qui a permis Ă  Vladimir Poutine de moderniser sa flotte de tanks, d’avions de chasse et d’hĂ©licoptĂšres de combat, et qui pourrait ĂȘtre utilisĂ© dans la guerre en Ukraine.

Elie Guckert, Ariane Lavrilleux, Geoffrey Livolsi & Mathias Destal | Disclose | 14 March 2022


War can be ended, but peace would be tough for Ukraine to swallow

Defeating Putin in long run means accepting face-saving Russian ‘victory’ in immediate term

Gerard Toal | The Irish Times | 12 March 2022


Ukraine, le prix du temps

L’invasion de l’Ukraine nous a fait basculer dans un nouveau rapport au temps. D’une part le temps court, oĂč des centaines de vies sont brisĂ©es ; de l’autre, le temps long qui verra l’effondrement du rĂ©gime de Poutine. Entre les deux – il faut tenir.
En peu de mots, le poĂšte et traducteur AndrĂ© Markowicz dit cette tension qui dĂ©finit aujourd’hui notre horizon.

André Markowicz | Le Grand Continent | 12 March 2022


In the Ukraine conflict, fake fact-checks are being used to spread disinformation

Researchers at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub and ProPublica identified more than a dozen videos that purport to debunk apparently nonexistent Ukrainian fakes.

Craig Silverman and Jeff Kao | Pro Publica | 10 March 2022



In the Ukraine conflict, fake fact-checks are being used to spread disinformation

Researchers at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub and ProPublica identified more than a dozen videos that purport to debunk apparently nonexistent Ukrainian fakes.

Craig Silverman and Jeff Kao | Pro Publica | 10 March 2022


Why Putin is beholden to Stalin’s legacy

The Russian president has embraced the Soviet cult of fear and control. His invasion of Ukraine is a colossal gamble to secure his place in history.

Simon Sebag Montefiore | New Statesman | 9 March 2022


“Sanctioning oil and gas will become critical”: What the War in Ukraine Means for the EU

The invasion of Ukraine has reshaped European politics in a matter of days. The European Union has imposed unprecedented financial sanctions on Russia yet trade in oil and gas continues to flow. Is energy the next step and, if so, are nuclear and coal back on the table? With Russia advancing and the United States absent, are we set to see a real push for a European army? We discuss key questions for the EU with economist Shahin Vallée.

Shahin Vallée | Green European Journal | 10 March 2022



How Vladimir Putin Brought the West Together

The Ukraine war is uniting the West – politically, militarily, morally. But what will the world’s democracies do with this newfound unity? Can they succeed in preventing further escalation?

Markus Becker, Georg Fahrion, Katharina Graça Peters, Ralf Neukirch, René Pfister, Maximilian Popp, Jan Puhl, Britta Sandberg, Lina Verschwele, Bernhard Zand | Der Spiegel | 4 March 2022

EN, DE


Une entrĂ©e en guerre de l’UE aux cĂŽtĂ©s de l’Ukraine est-elle possible ?

La guerre russe en Ukraine est un Ă©vĂ©nement puissant en ce qu’il contient sa dynamique propre. Ce qui arrive tient davantage Ă  l’enchaĂźnement des faits qu’à des causes prĂ©existantes.

Or, ce qui se passe incite Ă  imaginer un fait jusqu’alors inenvisageable et inenvisagé : Ă  savoir que l’ensemble des pays de l’Union europĂ©enne pourraient collectivement entrer en guerre contre un adversaire commun.

Sylvain Kahn | The Conversation FR | 7 March 2022


“An information dark age”: Russia’s new “fake news” law has outlawed most independent journalism there

“Military censorship in Russia has quickly moved into a new phase
the threat of criminal prosecution of both journalists and citizens who spread information about military hostilities that is different from the press releases of the Ministry of Defense.”

Joshua Benton | Nieman Lab | 7 March 2022


Putin is Evil, Not Mentally Ill, a Psychological Explanation

The west’s attempts to rationalise Moscow’s moves miss the point — Interview with Roman Kechur: ‘He is a colossus on clay feet. Putin will do one or more other evil things. This will kill more people. But the verdict has already been passed. And it will be implemented soon enough.’

Volodymyr Semkiv | Visegrad Insight | 4 March 2022

EN, RU


Wir haben doch alle kaum eine Ahnung

In der westlichen Welt hört man offenbar nicht richtig zu: Der postsowjetische Raum war und ist nicht friedlich – damit er es werden kann, mĂŒssen wir dringend ĂŒber unsere Vergangenheit sprechen. 

Olga Grjasnova | Der Spiegel | 2 March 2022


We must confront Russian propaganda – even when it comes from those we respect

The grim truth is that for years, a small part of the ‘anti-imperialist’ left has been recycling Vladimir Putin’s falsehoods

George Monbiot | The Guardian | 2 March 2022


„Die naheliegendste Analogie sind die Jahre 1938/39“

Es ist Tag acht im russischen Krieg gegen die Ukraine. Aber ist es nur Wladimir Putins Krieg? Bei aller Ohnmacht mĂŒssen alle jetzt herausfinden, wo die eigene Verantwortung liegt – und was nötig ist, um weiter mit sich leben und in den Spiegel schauen zu können.

Swetlana Reiter, Grigori Judin | DEKODER | 1 March 2022

DE, EN, RU


From shock therapy to Putin’s war

Putin is alone responsible for the war in Ukraine but prominent westerners played a key role in Russia’s post-Soviet trajectory.

Katharina Pistor | Social Europe | 1 March 2022


Russia’s war

When war becomes a reality, time is of the essence. Slow political responses raise questions about underlying reasons for reluctance. And as Russia wages war on Ukraine, how the situation is described at distance also matters. How can Putin’s position be pulled back from the black hole of media and political acquiescence?

Mykola Riabchuk | Eurozine | 27 February 2022


Sofort TrÀnen in meinen Augen

“Ich schĂ€me mich”, schreibt ein russischer Kommentator, und das trifft mich, weil er plötzlich etwas benennt, was ich auch in mir spĂŒre. Obwohl ich elf Jahre alt war, als ich Russland verließ. 

Lena Gorelik | Der Spiegel | 25 February 2022


Beyond the fog of war: books to help us understand the invasion of Ukraine

From Ukrainian history to Putin’s kleptocracy and Gogol’s stories, author and former Russia correspondent Oliver Bullough chooses the best titles.

Oliver Bullough | The Guardian | 4 March 2022

In English


Comment Chypre et les Pays-Bas protĂšgent la Russie des sanctions mondiales

Les statistiques de la banque centrale de Russie montrent Ă  quel point les paradis fiscaux europĂ©ens sont au cƓur de l’argent opaque russe. Ce qui plombe l’efficacitĂ© des sanctions prises Ă  l’encontre des oligarques russes.

Christian Chavagneux | Alternatives Economiques | 3 March 2022

In French 


The Wars in Bosnia and Ukraine: Can We Learn from Sarajevo?

Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine should make the West pay more attention to the divisive and destructive political games being played by nationalist leaders in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nicolas Moll | Balkan Insight | 3 March 2022

In English, Albanian and Bosnian


You can’t silence us Russia’s president will lose, too, when the nation’s free press is gone

We’re publishing this text while there’s still time for us to mark the beginning of yet another historic development: Russia has officially introduced state censorship. What do we mean by “still time”? Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia. Very soon, it’s possible that anyone in Russia seeking information from the “enemy voices” of independent sources will need to make the same efforts as those who lived behind the Iron Curtain.

Meduza | 3 March 2022

In English


War brought Vladimir Putin to power in 1999. Now, it must bring him down

Putin believed he could invade Ukraine because everything we failed to do over the last 22 years taught him that we are weak.

Jonathan Littell | The Guardian, Le Monde, Ukrainska Pravda | 3 March 2022

In English, French, Russian, Ukrainian


« Le bilan de Poutine Ă  la tĂȘte de la Russie est une longue descente aux enfers d’un pays dont il a fait un agresseur »

Pour rendre Ă  la Russie son statut de grande puissance militaire, le chef du Kremlin a sacrifiĂ© tout le reste. Il rĂšgne aujourd’hui sur une Ă©conomie bloquĂ©e et un pays en guerre dont il a Ă©touffĂ© l’innovation et la crĂ©ativitĂ©, observe dans sa chronique Sylvie Kauffmann, Ă©ditorialiste au « Monde ».

Sylvie Kauffmann | Le Monde | 3 March 2022

In French


AsĂ­ rima la guerra de Ucrania en la historia: volver a 1709 para entender la invasiĂłn de hoy

VladĂ­mir Putin quiere recuperar las tierras originales de la Rus de Kiev, Bielorrusia y Ucrania. La primera estĂĄ en camino, pero Ucrania lucha como ya lo hizo hace tres siglos.

Argemino Barro | El Confidencial  | 2 MArch 2022

En español


What is Belarus’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

To the West, Lukashenka hopes to appear impartial; to Putin, he hopes to appear a loyal ally. Juggling both is backfiring.

Igor Ilyash |OopenDemocracy | 2 March 2022

In English


Keep Ukraine’s media going

Support independent Ukrainian news outlets. They have shown extraordinary courage, but the reality on the ground is that most operations cannot continue from Ukraine alone. This fundraiser on GoFundMe is aimed at helping media relocate, set-up back offices and continue their operations from neighbouring countries.

Dåvid Tvrdoƈ | The Fix | 1 March 2022

In English


Russie, Europe et or noir sous fond de guerre – Hashtag PFUE avec Anna Creti

L’invasion de l’Ukraine soulĂšve la dĂ©licate question de la dĂ©pendance Ă©nergĂ©tique europĂ©enne, en particulier vis-Ă -vis du gaz et du pĂ©trole russe.

CĂ©cile Dauguet | Euradio | 1 March 2022

in French


From shock therapy to Putin’s war

Putin is alone responsible for the war in Ukraine but prominent westerners played a key role in Russia’s post-Soviet trajectory.

Katharina Pistor | Social Europe | 1 March 2022

In English


The Return of the Brezhnev Doctrine

Despite the warnings, the invasion of Ukraine took the world by surprise. For many, Ukraine was assumed to be a bargaining chip in a wider geopolitical game. What this view tragically overlooked was the central place of Ukraine in Vladimir Putin’s worldview and the much longer history of Russian imperialism.

Richard Robert | Green European Journal | 1 March 2022

In English


L’Europa apre le porte ai profughi ucraini

“C’erano bombe giorno e notte, carri armati per strada”. Ha il viso segnato dalla stanchezza, ancora fatica a parlare quando ripensa alle sirene e alle urla che l’hanno svegliata la mattina che Kiev, la sua cittĂ , Ăš stata bombardata. Ha detto ai genitori che non poteva piĂč sopportare quella paura: Ăš un’ossessione che ancora la immobilizza, anche adesso che Ăš in salvo.

Annalisa Camilli | Internazionale | 28 February 2022

In Italian


Putin’s worrying defeat

Putin is on the ropes. This is as worrying as it is pleasing, since he will stop at nothing to try to regain control, but we must already think about the new relations that we could propose to post-Putin Russia.

Bernard Guetta | 28 February 2022

In English and in French.


Le jour oĂč la politique Ă©trangĂšre allemande a changĂ©

Le dimanche 27 fĂ©vrier 2022, l’Allemagne est entrĂ©e dans une nouvelle Ăšre. Pour la premiĂšre fois traduit en français, nous donnons Ă  lire le discours historique d’Olaf Scholz devant le Bundestag.

Matheo Malik | Le Grand Continent | 28 February 2022

In French


Sanctions on Russia are potentially revolutionary

Sanctions on the Central Bank of Russia are pivotal. They will only work if complemented by oil and gas rationing.

Shahin Vallée | Geoeconomics | 27 February 2022

In English


‘Just short of nuclear’: the latest financial sanctions will cripple Russia’s economy

Denying Russia’s central bank access to its offshore reserves threatens hyperinflation, a recession and massive unemployment.

Steven Hamilton | The Conversation | 27 February 2022

In English


Russia’s war

When war becomes a reality, time is of the essence. Slow political responses raise questions about underlying reasons for reluctance. And as Russia wages war on Ukraine, how the situation is described at distance also matters. How can Putin’s position be pulled back from the black hole of media and political acquiescence?

Mykola Riabchuk | Desk Russie | 27 February 2022

In English


Pourquoi Poutine a déjà perdu la guerre

CoĂ»t de la victoire militaire, bourbier de l’occupation, renforcement de l’OTAN, isolement de la Russie, dĂ©stabilisation de Poutine en interne… L’invasion de l’Ukraine sera, quelle qu’en soit l’issue, une guerre perdante. 

Jean-Baptiste JeangĂšne Vilmer | Le Grand Continent | 27 February 2022

In French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish


A letter to the Western Left from Kyiv

The ‘anti-imperialism of idiots’ meant people turned a blind eye to Russia’s actions.

Taras Bilous | openDemocracy | 25 February 2022

In English, Spanish


Not about NATO

It was only after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 that NATO broke off cooperation with Russia. Until then, Ukrainians themselves were largely against NATO membership. To frame NATO as a security threat to Russia caters to Kremlin propaganda.

Mariia Shynkarenko | Eurozine | 23 February 2022

In English


Documenting and Debunking Dubious Footage from Ukraine’s Frontlines

As Russia’s military escalation in and around Ukraine continues apace, a number of questionable videos and claims have appeared on social media and in Russian state media outlets. All appear to suggest Ukrainian aggression near the country’s border with Russia and two self-declared republics (occupied regions controversially recognised by Russia earlier this week) in the east of the country.

Yet as many researchers and journalists have pointed out, there has been little solid evidence to support many of the claims that have been made thus far. In some cases, open source information even appears to contradict what has been stated.

Bellingcat | 23 February 2022

In English


Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday


Source link