Ukrainian Cultural Diplomacy Expands Global Reach, Raises Funds for Military
The Watch Ukrainian Association says it has organized more than 800 cultural events in 268 cities across 55 countries since March 2022. Its chairman, Andriy Rizol, describes how these projects share Ukrainians’ wartime experiences and build international partnerships. The association says its non-state-funded work has raised about Hr. 16 million for Ukraine’s armed forces, military intelligence, and rehabilitation, with events held at major international institutions.
The association’s chairman, Andriy Rizol, is a producer, Babylon CEO, and honorary ambassador for cultural diplomacy. Its initiatives include CinemAid Film Marathon, Culture vs War, The Will to Win, and Empowered; in 2024, Culture vs War became the umbrella label for these efforts.
CinemAid began on the war’s fifth day, drawing over 70 events in 15 countries and creating a global coordinator network. Culture vs War, launched in April 2022, uses documentaries, photo shows, and art books to center Ukrainian artists’ wartime accounts.
This effort may broaden international awareness of Ukrainians’ wartime experiences through cultural venues, potentially influencing audiences, diaspora groups, artists, and policymakers who encounter the events. Funds raised could support military and rehabilitation needs, while partnerships may strengthen long-term cultural ties. However, impact depends on audience reach, local context, and how cultural diplomacy is received. It may also create opportunities for Ukrainian artists abroad.