Ukraine and Poland are neighbours and close allies in today’s conflict with Russia. But the ghosts of victims of an earlier war have returned to divide them. Tens of thousands of Poles were murdered by Ukrainians in Volhynia, in what's now western Ukraine, in 1943. Most of the victims still lie in unmarked graves, and Ukraine has only just lifted a ban on exhuming the bodies. That followed heavy diplomatic pressure by Poland, which threatened to block moves towards Ukrainian integration with the EU unless the ban were lifted. But Poland’s demand has stirred a controversy inside Ukraine about one of the darkest periods of its history. Ukrainian nationalists who were involved in the massacre - and their leader Stepan Bandera - are regarded by many Ukrainians as heroes. Reporter Tim Whewell travels through Poland and western Ukraine to try to find out what really happened in 1943, and ask whether Poland and Ukraine can ever lay a fiercely-contested history to rest. And can the record of Ukraine's Second World War nationalists be openly discussed without giving a propaganda victory to Russia, which has tried to use the subject to vilify Ukraine?
Produced and presented by Tim Whewell
Sound mix: Rod Farquhar
Research by Grzegorz Sokół, Taras Shumeiko and Serhiy Solodko
Translation by Eugenia Maresch, Grzegorz Sokół and Serhiy Solodko
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy Wild bird recordings by Izabela Dłużyk
"Lecieli Żurawie" (Cranes Were Flying) sung by Franciszka Bydychaj
"Ave Maria" from "Kres Kresów" oratorium, composer Krzesimir Dębski
"Siadła Hanula Na Posażeńku" (Hanula Sat on her Dowry) sung by Olga Kozieł and Anna Jurkiewicz, of the "Wołyń w Pieśniach" ("Volhynia in Song") project
Kultur & Gesellschaft
Crossing Continents Folgen
Stories from around the world and the people at the heart of them.
Folgen von Crossing Continents
401 Folgen
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Folge vom 24.12.2024Poland's Ghosts, Ukraine's Heroes
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Folge vom 17.12.2024Argentina - Milei's ChainsawIt has been a year since chainsaw-wielding Javier Milei won the Presidency in Argentina. During his campaign, his chainsaw became a symbol of how quickly and drastically he wanted to cut the Argentine state. And he has slashed government budgets and sliced subsidies on power, food and transport. He stopped printing money to try and halt inflation which was running at 211.4% annually when he was sworn in. How have his actions changed life for ordinary Argentines? Buenos Aires based reporter, Charlotte Pritchard, talks to Argentines about how they're feeling now. From the gauchos at the annual event to show off their herds of horses, to those taking advantage of a scheme to 'whiten' black-market money they have hidden under their mattress - is there hope or despair? Produced and presented by Charlotte Pritchard Studio Manager: Donald McDonald Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy
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Folge vom 10.12.2024Mining the Pacific – future proofing or fool’s gold?Climate change is intensifying, sea levels are rising and the very existence of low-lying Pacific Islands is under threat. The Cook Islands, though, has a plan to assure their peoples’ future. Enter deep sea mining, harvesting metallic nodules on the bottom of the sea floor for use in things like electric car batteries and mobile phones. Its supporters say it’s a climate change ‘solution’- a better alternative to mining on land. And one that could make Cook Islanders very rich indeed. Its detractors worry we’re messing with its Moana - or ocean – with no real idea of the impacts. Katy Watson travels to Rarotonga to find out how islanders feel about searching for ‘gold’ on the sea floor.Producer: Lindle Markwell Presenter: Katy Watson Studio Manager: James Beard Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy
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Folge vom 03.12.2024France: trouble on the vineLow harvests, economic and climate batterings, changing tastes - is French wine in crisis? The French wine harvest has dropped 18% in one year. For some famous French wine-making regions the reduction has been much more. A combination of factors, including climate, finances and changing drinking habits has brought some wine-makers to the brink. Thousands of hectares of vineyards are being pulled up. Others are struggling to survive. For Crossing Continents John Murphy travels to Bordeaux and Languedoc - the world’s biggest wine-making region - to find out what is going on with wine, France’s most symbolic of products. Producer: Alex Last Studio Mix: Rod Farquhar Programme Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Series Editor: Penny Murphy