Unity Day: How the Real History Project's TV show united Ukrainians in different parts of the world
On 22 January 2025, on the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, a special airing was held as part of the United News marathon and on the Real Story YouTube channel, hosted by 1+1 media producer Akim Galimov.
The project, implemented by the Real History team, has become a real symbol of the unity of Ukrainians around the world - in the Czech Republic, Poland, the USA, the UK, Belgium and even Antarctica. Throughout the show, viewers had the opportunity to hear the stories of soldiers, volunteers, politicians, artists, historians and ordinary Ukrainians who prove every day that Ukraine's strength is in each of us.
The participants emphasised the role of unity in times of war: Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine; Oleksandr Alfyorov, historian and soldier of the 3rd Assault Brigade; Ivan Handziuk, sergeant of the 59th Brigade; Rusya Danilkina, veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ambassador of the Superhumans prosthetic centre; Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine; Zlata Ognevych, singer; Vyacheslav Kornienko, Doctor of Historical Sciences; Ivan Zayets, co-organiser of the 1990 Chain of Unity; Wilhelm Vitiuk, veteran, author of Diary from Captivity; Tata Kepler, public figure, founder of the Birds movement.
Also during the show, the staff of the Akademik Vernadsky station organised a symbolic chain of unity in Antarctica, and activists from Prague organised a chain of unity on Charles Bridge. Volunteers from Warsaw spoke about the help of Ukrainians abroad. Ambassador of Ukrainian culture Oksana Senychak shared her experience of promoting Ukrainian heritage in Belgium, while Rory Finnin, head of the Ukrainian Studies Department at Cambridge University, drew attention to the promotion of the Ukrainian language in Britain. In addition, volunteers Victoria Petruk and Iryna Adud-Frolova spoke about the creation of an intercontinental chain of assistance.
The project was a reminder that unity is not just a historical term, but a living reality that unites us wherever we are. In dark times, it is unity that gives us the strength to move forward to Victory.
‘This is our country, it is in our hands. We have to be active and everyone has to do something in their place to ensure that we move towards Victory, and ‘unity’ is the most important thing in this context,’ Akim Galimov said at the end.
A recording of the broadcast is available on the Real History YouTube channel.
