In our project we created two podcasts that are interviews of Ukrainian researchers, artists and activists, Darya Tsymbalyuk and Iryna Zamuruieva. We wanted to talk to different people who position themselves in between academia and activism, or were pushed to this intersection after the full scale invasion. There were many questions we wanted to address in these conversations, for instance, we wanted to find out how these people situate themselves in the moment when concrete actions (such as call to arming Ukraine) need to be taken and how to use your position within academic field in order to amplify the call; we were interested in exploring the issues of decolonial solidarity from below — how people from different contexts can support each other in struggle against imperialism and colonialism, what are the current situation in the grass-root solidarity networks; another large concern was connected to the ruptures in knowledges that are created by dramatic shifts in the living experiences. Also we wanted to talk to Russian decolonial activists but being limited in time and having to leave Austria when our residence permit expired we didn’t manage to do since we wouldn’t have access to the recording studio.

Episode with Darya Tsymbalyuk:

The Russian war against Ukraine has had a devastating ecological impact on Ukrainian land and the environment, particularly in the East where the main battles are taking place. In a conversation with Darya Tsymbalyuk, a decolonial, environmental, and feminist scholar, artist, and activist from the Ukrainian Steppe, we delved into the colonial perspective on the Donbas region's landscape, its people, and environments that are usually separated from a colonial perspective to hide the violence caused by the displacement, destructions and other kinds of material violences. “Our bodies are vessels of knowledge, ” wrote Darya in the first months of the Russian invasion. The latter part of our discussion focused on recentering bodies that go through the war in academic knowledge production. We explored the necessity of fostering genuine and meaningful solidarity, emphasizing the importance of amplifying local voices without falling into tokenism. Darya also touched upon feminist standpoint theory and how our knowledge is embodied, highlighting the significant shifts in subjectivity during wartime.

Episode with Iryna Zamuruieva:

This conversation revolves around feminist decolonial solidarity with Ukraine and the significance of shedding light on the privilege of pacifism often associated with wealthy countries. In a poignant and empathetic manner, ecofeminist scholar and activist Iryna Zamuruieva narrates her personal journey as a scholar who initially embraced pacifism, holding a German master's degree, but shifted her advocacy towards supporting air defense for Ukraine when the war erupted. Throughout the conversation, Iryna and Yulia explore feminist perspectives on reconnecting with one's homeland and navigating the ability to care for it despite physical distance. Iryna expresses her profound connection and eco-awareness of the steppe environment from her upbringing. Lastly, Iryna and Yuliia delve into the imperative need to construct solidarity against colonialism, emphasizing the importance of establishing connections from grassroots levels, especially with indigenous groups and the oppressed communities in the Global South.