This episode was made with AI.
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FUNKE war correspondent Jan Jessen traveled across Ukraine and spoke for our podcast “Im Krisenmodus” with people who have been living with the devastating consequences of Russia’s war for four years.
What does everyday life look like in Odesa, where power outages have become routine and life is suspended between resilience and grief? What drives an entire city like Kherson to carry on despite unimaginable losses? And how do political figures such as Andrij Melnyk assess Europe’s role in the war?
What do these four years of war mean for the people on the ground – and for the future of Ukraine and Europe’s ability to act?
Guests / Voices in This Episode
Andriy Melnyk – Former Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany
Oleksandr Prokudin – Governor of Kherson
Svetlana – Resident of Odesa, living in an emergency tent without electricity
Captain Tomych Oleksandr Stepanovych – Head of a recruitment unit of the Ukrainian Navy
Natalia Filenko – Head of the Regional Bureau of Forensic Medicine in Kherson
Mitja – Former journalist and former soldier, now back in Odesa
🧭 Chapter Overview
1 – Four Years of War: What Has Changed?
Loss, suffering and resilience in the lives of Ukrainians – from Odesa to Kherson.
2 – Everyday Life in Wartime – Voices from Odesa
Svetlana and Mayor Oleksandr describe how people preserve their will to live despite power outages and missile attacks.
3 – Natalia and Oleksandr Prokudin in Kherson
The governor and the head of forensic medicine speak about work shaped by trauma and resistance as Kherson continues to endure daily attacks.
4 – From Journalist to the Frontline – Mitja from Odesa
Mitja shares his personal journey from journalist to soldier – and his return to civilian life.
5 – Europe’s Responsibility and Criticism – A Conversation with Andriy Melnyk
The former Ukrainian ambassador calls for a clear and determined European response and warns against the normalization of war.
6 – Resistance, Hope and Warnings – Jan’s Conclusion
Jan Jessen reflects on Ukraine’s resilience, Europe’s responsibility, and the risks of looking away.
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In Crisis Mode is a podcast by the FUNKE Media Group.
