a report questions, what's behind the vassal over national identity? close up on d w. if you ever have to cover up a murder, the best way is to make it look like an accident. raring to me. you've never read a book like this. w literature list under germany. last reads blue is you serve on a curly. huh? oh huh. a ukrainian folk song in 1914 has become the new protest anthem and ukraine. it tells of the ukrainian

military unit that fought against czarist russia in world war one. 0 oh, oh my yes v o a big mary. now to be very like my little much reality, like the big in the wave of patriotism has brought ukrainians together footing a powerful sense of determination in the face of russia's invasion. national sentiments are also growing in other post soviet states culture and language play key role here. singer songwriter jerry hale and wrapper, a loaner,

a loaner travel to berlin at the end of june to give a concert for their homeland. even before the war, the pair sang exclusively in ukrainian boy with a thing in my own language, just natural worth battery artic. bye. it's just natural. it is just like elemental being ukrainian if your brain in, if you are in your brain, you speak ukrainian, you st. ukrainian, with russian president vladimir putin denying ukraine statehood. the issue of language has become hugely political. it's considered a key component to national identity. so ukraine is fighting back on this front to banning some russian music. russian musicians who don't explicitly condemn the war, can no longer performance ukraine or have their music played on the radio. a decision that jerry hale and elona and now now support i have to leave them

and be with them. and in a view that they are volunteer. why are they not so nice to me? not friendly to me to listen to their music. it's painful, escobedo, she rosky hub sooner. vladimir dantes grew up speaking mostly russian and rose to feign with russian language songs. now he is trying to write ukrainian there. oh sure tara know others have continued singing in russian face criticism. oh, you know, people are always pointing with people like me. for example, still has russian language. busy songs in my in my least, ah, hello, my name is one book. i'm a musician. you great. even

dorn is one of ukraine's most successful pop star is mix of house, disco, jazz and funk has broad appeal and also includes many russian numbers. ah, even dawn is not affected by the law banning russian music. he's a ukrainian citizen and clearly opposes the war. but he is still not ready to switch languages. performing the rosalyn songs. i don't want to get rid of them doesn't matter which language is it? because i'm full of ukrainian mentality and dna, russian culture and the story at the city. the music could a lot of us. ready i heard in the, in the child who the anguish i'm hearing every, every day it. busy all printing the dna in my, in my music, a russian artist who take post

inclusions, public. and i, even with my t and a pop singer, paulina gardena had older events and ukraine cancelled immediately. we needed law 14 years ago musical station ukraine was very, very sharply. ready russia with the grand a lead wish. ready it was really, really problem to get to. ready right, and our next trip, or to know he's considered iraq legend and a pioneer of ukraine in music. a . even back in the soviet era, he wrote his songs in ukrainian. and in 1986, he formed the country's 1st rock band. in 2021. he and his son

in recorded a patriotic boy scout song that was more than a 100 years old when the war broke out. it went by, well let me know some some people are. busy russian culture but. ready russia, they changed their mind. mm. mm hm. hello, my name is ashley young. i'm before the 24th of february, february i was singer or crated director of a political party democratic. i'm now on

medic, if you see me on the streets and the piece time to you never said that i someone who can be identified that resume should always ah, i train my soldiers, my guys and girls are yes. oh, and pray that they will be enough goods not to be wanted. oh anastasia, a woo veteran in the don bus region performs under the name star sick. his songs blend techno with traditional ukrainian folk music. oh, no, we get our unique national identity, but it, well,

it's not new. you won, which huge history and huge culture we held before and how much it was totally destroyed by now. it's only showing a union by but by are i sure age is by. yeah, just it's not being used, corey. ah, well, tried to get back home. it's not bringing my good bush, little guy in the bus with you guys, then you would you, would you this way? wouldn't in the missile distance? fortune is ridiculous because like, you know, ukraine and russia are the countries been created in the same year in 1991.

so like, if russia exists, it means that you, grain oh, ukraine's buddhist internationally recognized for do ordinary russian supports patients, narrative. hello, gus and them fennel. i met with joseph horse and 20. let me quickly sell you a quick introduction on this topic as russians, if they think that ukraine is so that a state right. and i person to fee that of course it's sort of in state, you know, in the ninety's ration as well. soviet concerts, i believe they signed on the agreement that the board there's are, is it these right? no, i do you believe ukraine is a sovereign state about oh yes. so they had their own constitution, their own symbols of power, the so it's an independent state. it's not up to one person to decide yet to do

more. i don't think expanding our borders will serve our country well known is not so good on you. yeah, especially not when it comes to regions that many would like to see as part of the russian federation, which so many people have family ties and friends there for the past 70 years we've been so closely tied. and now we're just cutting everything off and, and saying we no longer know each other. with over 3 decades ago, some 2000000 people took to the streets in former soviet countries to demand independence. in august 1989 protesters in estonia, lithuania and latvia formed a human change stretching over 600 kilometers. it was dubbed the baltic way. since then, questions of national identity have been central in the baltic states to russia's

war in ukraine has reopened old wounds. in latvia, an age old conflict has resurfaced between the countries, ethnic russian minority and the latvian majority. i'm david romanov ski. i have polish roots and i'm on my way to the latvian capital rica. i want to find out what defines latvian identity today after more than 30 years of independence. and what impact the ukraine war has had a day when in my name is autumn, fall through hawkins. i'm calling for are active. i am interested in

latvia, latin history, latin identity, in kind of things that i feel related to the thinks i love and hate on the same time. so most of my countries, my, my and so for my artistic artistic breakfast, thinker, latin nation density is pretty much based on the suffering using that recent past and of soviet path is kind of very significant elements. source always we being single ourselves as victims so this is the missouri with the patient. this is the all part. and then that is a new abroad, which symbolizes that. we can get rid of our history. instead of like, you know, let's have another page now history, let's, let's leave it, let forget it. you know, mirabelle the like. why brides, you know, a new likes car. you know, hey, we wanna keep suffering. we want to keep talking about our pain. you know,

i'm familiar with this kind of past from poland, this collective trauma. in latvia, it's still shapes relations with russia and with light b as russian speaking minority which make up a quarter of the population. the soviet era victory monument was one focal point, pretensions, ethnic russians used to gather here to commemorate soldiers who fought against nazi germany in the 2nd world war. in august 2022, the latvian government had demolished and protest over the ukraine war for years. our ne spout shoes documented the russian commemorations that took place here. ah, that was not for demolishing because i don't think that change anything but the window. what is your crane start? if we tell that this is our enemy and on the monument and i've help, okay, let's just do it in our spontaneously. let's go there, demolish. it was our hands, you know, like berlin wallet, this is, oh my be way of like relieving some kind of dis,

whatever pain or suffering that we have jowl, then neither i should have said i was going to drop by and thanks show that i the i think i think it's a bit different with young people because i think that i don't think in these kind of categories and all that fans, russian. so whatever else i was like, let me i i don't even look on the stakes. me this is ashley. why? like i'm on deuce young people also the ones that i take pictures of the day. i kind of free i eve. maybe they are more like natural is because they are not yet part of the system with

in both young and old are now taking to the streets to protest rushes war in ukraine. i'm wondering what this all means for the russian speaking minority in latvia. both of them maybe don't feel very comfortable. i'm not talking about the signal so cult 5th colony that they always felt okay. they live in a brown country talk about kind of reasonable like russians. natasha. they've been seen as a kind of local animation away, and they have to pool once again themselves. okay. you know, we are, we're not, we don't agree was put in all the way we want this to be the independent state. so our russian latvians feeling the pressure i decide to visit the russian theater enrica, to find out more. mm

hm. martian brucell, my name is maxine bosom. i come from reger in latvia and i work as an actor in theater and televisions, 3 hacker crews commission. sure, as a russian speaking person in latvia, i've always felt that i have to make more of an effort to own people's attention and respect to remind you of him. when the war started, he broke off all his theater commitments in russia, mac of withdrawal, to give of some corner. there's a double stand and, and there are 2 sides to everything. certainly not. on the one hand, our country has not sought to integrate russian speakers into latvian culture, but on the other, many russian speak is in our country, have themselves failed to integrate for many years or per song. or could i'm talking about people who think that ukraine is bombing itself. people who think that russia is a great power and does everything right. good. our. so that's really what these people think. i think a chicago with global la floor,

it's difficult globally because our society is divided nealus. that's why we're seeing these radical measures to cut off everything associated with russian politics as much as possible. so we can finally move forward to service, but it's most complicated for people who are in the public eye because some way constantly being asked to express an opinion. and thankfully, or my opinion is, is of just said it will, can browse for books of history for gretel b, whether russian or latvian speaking. the vast majority of the population is strongly opposed to the war and ukraine. could this create a new collective sense of national identity among lack v as young people? patriotism also has a dog side. in the serbian city of navisites residence awoke one morning to find a number of house facades painted in the colors of the national flag. who was

behind it. and what did it mean? lou village, i grew up in the leman neighbourhood of novi, sad through the 2nd largest city in serbia. it's mainly middle class and upper class neighbourhood, mallard leim, and as close to the city center, the university is here. it is. and the river danube yard. some lane. ugh, well, i'm nina, acrobat. i'm 21 years old and studying journalism. i've spent my entire life in layman valley manor, some prov. ella taps where she had her lee money and has always been known friends, open culture punk and rock'n'roll. good 30 graffiti. could the widget there when you look at the names in the mail,

but this is in the apartment block. if you'll soon notice that it's a multi national neighborhood or a quite multi not good . they bought to it when you get 5 years slap. so at politics became central in our lives, you are not at the new authorities brought nationalism into this multi ethnic setting them law due to the governing. you ha, she controls all aspects of life, pressuring every one in one way or another doctor. it's been that way through 30 years. ah,

on the sebastian. mm hm. and then the unthinkable happened right here in my neighbourhood, damascus and local elections. the residence of layman didn't vote for the governing party. they voted for independent candidates from the neighbourhood, dark launched, yet most of them women, which num janet vulgar ability, because our society is so politicized. we are aware that party members don't act in the interests of the people or it's certainly not guaranteed that instead they serve the agenda of their political party. that's why we have so many problems and corruption, it could i but i rather to part of the governing heart. he couldn't let that stand and decided to punish us using the tools i know best thought nationalism mccoy. so all the key kelly notes in elisa dot com overnight. lehman was painted in the color of the serbian flag

or is this is really it was done by the people who lost the election to show us whose boss around here when it was not they'd have done better to set up a few trash cans. instead, even we have none here any more, said the bots, the somers, the bye will change the order of the color is and add a symbol. it may be a heart that it, that would remind me of the past of the days of yugoslavia. none more, but a man are you was lab hearing the said the noise austin, when the worst thing about these flags was that they're trying to enforce patriotism. it's desecrating the city. what can you st either which wall nation. honestly, i think president booted did this because we didn't vote for him. me. they juno, new glossy. and that must mean we're not serbians if we don't vote for him called ammunition or should of the are ca glosson isn't your i haven't noticed the flag regular. there's one right behind you. oh, what does this thrash?

it was pretty scary because it gives you a feeling of helplessness tie off it. you know, it's a demonstration of the howard that says, or we can do whatever we want to. you probably can paint a flag over your face whether we can spit in your face, sought to minimize. this is the problem and this is the general mode in our society to again arm of pharaoh national rossclovis the back on the saliva. leon, after that teenagers were brought from other parts of the city to protest on the main street. down to intimidate us. we mantis from the people of lee man responded by adding red stars to the flags. if that turn of the serbian flies into yugoslavian one, the over swab esc may adam some one graffiti word to crying in nationalism. yet the next one activists went further,

right in the names of unresolved state scandals on the flags iroquois that double blast for the some be saw not be sir phillips. i wrote the names of the scandals in broad daylight. and so, because i didn't want to be like them who broke hiding in the night, cha, mobil, 4 bill on. and i think truth is the greatest form of patriotism up there. and i rich, but there is a misty was that a seem a moment, but i am but hello everyone. yas, i'm brian brockovich is good. i'm a civil rights activist fighting for the common good. what is those an act goldstein, fitness bob or nick? this analogy, well, we're short of this place here is called shaudra us. well, morgan garage, anyone all saw the many people see it as the grain long of novi. sad was of course, of as, as all a garage, the platform where camping he had to protest, look sad because they want to shut down this forest. ology more, he spoke jagger. com. where more to it?

they want to cover this entire area. so concrete, shlomo e, double danita, fuji model, flock. jenny gust, ronald blace. i've been called the surveyed armika, a croatian mercenary mac, and a traitor to the country of the tune. of course 3rd, she, they claimed that i have millions in my bank accounts, which isn't true problem, bro. yet for the nationalists, i've become public enemy number one or not soon a low, but i did any. i think the russian influence in serbia is pretty strong because we are russia supports the nationalist policy here. anyone who tries to address a real problem get stigmatized, dynamic would be, we'd pick up. i've encountered real difficulties below below problem osbee. bottom it's our kirk is to the red stars were painted, i fancy our bits, but once again, the police didn't intervene to google. the whole thing was captured on surveillance cameras. after that, they put stickers with opposition, party slogans at the entrance to our buildings, to denounce at sac or ballard. because sympathy is there any who we fully typically

brought in is i think that they also changed the name of the main street in li, manually. billy to radco melodic boulevard library. he's a convicted war, criminal general grap, ms. lapkins owned and then someone to painted hearts on the flags. it's not clear who or which site painted the hearts the fight of a national symbols and no visits continued. sh. oh oh, we return now to ukraine. several years ago, an artist embarked on a journey across the country to see if you could spot any changes as he headed east

. he wanted to find out what unites you, crane, and it's people i'm will work for an artist based in give you credit. so i started from graffiti a very important part of my development in the early in the late ninety's. i was born in the west in western ukraine in mining town children, the rocks on the pollution. so the border in 1979. ah, i brought a piece of coal from my area and i brought it by you walk by feet or 2 of them, but you know, it worked for $1000.00 plus to see took with me one month with

the western new queen was under the austrian empire, before i was under the books and then if you are slowly walked to the area where she was part of the empire, you immediately noticed some cultural changes. not said, oh i basically, at the same time you not to snow changes. ah, so did her that she's in way more powerful away more powerful it any narratives on ukrainian territory before. so like in the west or the east, you just realized that you're in the pacific country. so is ukrainian identity

still shaped by the days of a soviet union? those of us me off noted that although the architecture changed, the people's mindset remained the same across the country. or look simply, i felt like i went to if i went back home, i'd been bust is because nobody knows that the people thing like old don't boss is broke or russian whatever and west desert mo, like west, more similar to europe. no. the entire done boss is a european project. this industry was in the 1st place created by the western business, like by the belgium, by french, by english capital. mm . ukraine. yes. are different to russians because they are european i, we like deeply believed that we are part of europe. it's our, like a heritage. so he was with

quite up to own or not to own. mm. what about a sharing economy? did a change in thinking is changing the economy to create something new the economics magazine made in germany in 30 minutes on d. w. ah

ah ah ah this is the w news coming july from berlin condemnation, as russia declares victory in its so called referendums, moscow installed officials claim up to 99 percent of voters and occupied ukrainian regions. want to join russia. formerly asked the kremlin for annexation.