Resistance abroad: the long middle finger of Ukraine Fire in Russia: five children found dead in the house

The hot phase begins in the desert. It is the last hours of the World Climate Conference in Egypt and negotiations are still stalled. In particular, reparations for climate damage and a clear stop sign for gas and oil are still anything but certain.

In a corner of the ice-cold exhibition halls, however, there is already a clear success. For the first time in the country’s history, Ukraine will have its own pavilion at the UN climate summit. Where other countries use their exhibition space for the supposedly sustainable aspects of their companies (Kuwait), espresso bars (Italy) or art made from old plastic bags (Turkey), the war-torn country has devoted almost 50 square meters to the Russian terror.

“The design of our pavilion is reminiscent of a rocket crater,” says Julia Solovey. The surface, a symbol. Within the architectural impact, 16 rows of small boxes line the wall. A range for each soil type found between Zakarpattia in the west and Donbass in the east of Ukraine.

There is also “Chornosem”, the deep brown soil that has made the country the breadbasket of the world. Photos show what happens to it when Russian phosphorus bombs hit: the once fertile soil turns to stone.

Before Russia attacked Ukraine in violation of international law, she worked as a curator in Kiev, where she helped open the country’s first science museum, among other things. Now she heads public relations for United24, the Ukrainian president’s official fundraising campaign.

«Walk a mile in the shoes of Ukraine»

“We don’t need exhibitions in Ukraine right now. It’s about protecting the most valuable works of art from the Russians and surviving,” says the 24-year-old. Six months ago, Zelenskyj launched the initiative because international donations were slow to arrive in Ukraine.

Solovey claims that 85 percent of the more than $2 billion in aid is still in the accounts of foreign NGOs, foundations and authorities. That is difficult to control. Since the start of direct fundraising, her campaign has already raised more than 222 million.

The money will go to demining, basic equipment for Ukrainian soldiers, medical supplies and civilian emergency aid. A small part flows into the reconstruction. Two virtual reality headsets show how necessary this is. “Walk a mile in the shoes of Ukraine,” the sign next to it invites.

The tour goes to Kiev, to Mikolayev, Zaporizhia, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and to other places violated by the Russian army: apartment buildings torn to pieces, cars burnt out, bridges destroyed, apartments bombed, rubble with broken plates, torn books, the inventory of a long-gone everyday life. Plus melancholic piano playing.

“When I see these recordings, I almost always cry,” says Solovey. The young curator will be in charge of the Ukrainian pavilion in the Egyptian desert for a total of two weeks. Then it’s back to Kiev: “I don’t feel more at home anywhere than there”. It was difficult for her to come to the climate conference at all.

“Leaving Ukraine is a very strange feeling: everything is normal abroad, although I am burned inside,” she says, taking a deep breath. “I’m mostly afraid that something will happen while I’m gone.” Your partner used to work as a lawyer, now he’s on the frontline.

Protecting a tree recently saved his life, she says. Could the shrapnel-riddled oak trunk from near Irpin also cover someone? She and her team took him from there to Egypt. She strokes a piece of metal dug particularly deep into the bark, “imagining it should actually be in someone’s body,” she says softly.

At the tree trunk, on the headphones, on the soil samples, there are stickers everywhere that call for donations via QR code. “Losing the war is not an option,” Solovey is convinced. She helps make this wish come true by beating the donation drum.

Also supports Barbra Streisand

When she is not in charge of the small exhibition at the climate summit, she is responsible for the ambassador program of the fundraising campaign. The band Imagine Dragons managed to win Solovey, as well as singer Barbra Streisand, American astronaut Scott Kelly, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, fashion brand Balenciaga design director Demna Gvasalia and several other well-known names.

As Solovey leads through the pavilion, her colleagues put up a poster with a quote from President Zelenskyj: “Ukraine can and will – I am sure – become a center of green energy in Europe.” The conditions are ideal for the production of green hydrogen. “To use this potential, however, we must first restore the validity of international law, free our entire territory from the Russian occupiers and create lasting peace,” it read in black and yellow.

Although Russia will not have its own stand at this year’s climate conference, a government delegation will be present. It can be assumed that she will give the Ukrainian pavilion a spacious berth, which must seem like a particularly long middle finger to her.

“We’re not ready to live in fear,” says Solovey. “That may be normal in Russia, but not in Ukraine.”