«I felt like I was in a Second World War movie. There were no people around, the sirens were so loud, and my kids started to cry», Yuliya Tychkivska

A conversation between Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive director of Aspen Institute Kyiv, and
Elliot Gerson, Executive vice president of the Aspen Institute USA, recorded and published by Aspen Ideas to Go.

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, reporters bring us more and more heart-wrenching stories and images of suffering caused by the conflict. The scale of the damage can feel overwhelming, but a firsthand account can sometimes help us process the impact and ground us in what’s happening in the region. Yuliya Tychkivska is a longtime activist and the executive director of Aspen Institute Kyiv. She recently fled the war in Ukraine with her three children, traveling through at least six countries before finding temporary stability. Her husband is still back home, fighting in the war as a soldier. Tychkivska spoke with Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute, at the 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival about her harrowing experience during the war, hardships experienced by friends and family, and her hopes for Ukraine’s future.

Listen to the podcast bellow.