Kyiv Independent’s 'Dare to Ukraine' travel series launches dedicated YouTube channel

What happened

The Kyiv Independent reports that its travel series 'Dare to Ukraine,' which documents life across the country during wartime, now has its own dedicated YouTube channel. The channel hosts both seasons, consolidating eleven episodes that explore Ukraine's cities and rural life amidst ongoing Russian aggression.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure or battlefield claim should be read as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source. Initially launched in August 2024, the first season highlighted major cities and regions including Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv, the Carpathians, and Chornobyl, combining cultural exploration with the impacts of the Russia invasion. A second season in August 2025 shifted focus to rural Kyiv Oblast, depicting daily life under intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities.

According to Deputy Chief Editor Toma Istomina, the series aims to deepen global understanding by presenting Ukraine’s history, culture, and people beyond the war. The show’s premise rests on countering reductionist perceptions shaped by conflict reporting alone.

Known from the source

• The Kyiv Independent’s travel series 'Dare to Ukraine' now has a dedicated YouTube channel.
• Both seasons of the series, totaling 11 episodes, are available on the new channel.
• The first season premiered in August 2024 featuring six episodes focused on major cities and regions.
• The second season premiered in August 2025 and centered on rural life in a Kyiv Oblast village.
• Deputy Chief Editor Toma Istomina described the series as capturing the heart and soul of Ukraine beyond war.

What remains unclear

The new channel effectively centralizes access to this content, making it simpler for viewers—both existing and new—to engage with Ukraine's social fabric during wartime. It complements the Kyiv Independent’s frontline reports and documentaries found on its main YouTube channel.

What remains unclear: Confirm that all direct quotes attributed to Toma Istomina are accurate and sourced. Verify the exact subscriber and view metrics once published to gauge audience reach. Ensure no inadvertent war-related casualty or strike claims are embedded in promotional material. Validate all hyperlinks for accuracy and live status.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has treated the source material as confirmed within the supplied source context, while retaining attribution to the original publisher.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.