Now playing Next Culture news 'Rock star' Russian dissident Limonov gets film tribute Ben Whishaw will play the founder of the National Bolshevik Party in a film by Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov, who was recently released from a suspended prison sentence. 12/05/2022
Now playing Next Ukraine Ukraine's first President Leonid Kravchuk dies aged 88 Kravchuk was a driving force in Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. 10/05/2022
Now playing Next no comment Russian envoy to Poland splattered with red liquid on Victory Russian envoy to Poland splattered with red liquid on Victory 09/05/2022
Now playing Next Belarus Belarus' first president Stanislav Shushkevich dies aged 87 Shushkevich is best known for informing Mikhail Gorbachev about the end of the Soviet Union and leading Belarus to independence. 04/05/2022
Now playing Next no comment Soviet 'friendship monument' taken down in Kyiv Ukrainian authorities dismantled the Monument of People's Friendship on Tuesday, a statue overlooking the Dnieper River in Kyiv, representing Russian-Ukrainian friendship. 27/04/2022
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe From Pushkin to Gagarin, Ukraine removes Russia one symbol at a time A statue of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin was removed in April. Now other parts of Ukraine are questioning why Soviet-era monuments remain. 21/04/2022
Now playing Next Czech Republic Czech MPs vote to recognise Soviet-era famine in Ukraine as genocide Up to four million people are believed to have died during the great famine between 1932 and 1933. 06/04/2022
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe For Soviet-Afghan war veterans, Ukraine is a conflict 'without honour' Iurie Cibuc, 62, was proud to fight for the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He doubts that a new generation of Russian soldiers feel the same about the war in Ukraine. 24/03/2022
Now playing Next Lithuania Lithuanians accuse ex-Soviet leader Gorbachev of war crimes The former Soviet leader is accused of ordering an attack on Vilnius in January 1991, which killed 14 people. 13/01/2022
Now playing Next Russia It's 30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union The USSR was formally dissolved on 26 December 1991. 24/12/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe Mikhail Gorbachev tried to get Russia on the wagon. He failed Mikhail Gorbachev is remembered for dismantling the USSR and bringing about the end of Communism in the Soviet Union, but when he took power in 1985 his ambitions were far less radical. 23/12/2021
Now playing Next Russia Hail Vladimir? Putin says he drove a taxi after Soviet Union's fall Putin once called the collapse of the Soviet Union "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century". 13/12/2021
Now playing Next Culture news Saving Culture: Meet the man preserving Russia's forgotten voices A digitisation project that catalogues tape recordings from as early as 1890 is reconnecting Russia with forgotten voices, stories and songs from its Arctic north. 29/11/2021
Now playing Next Destinations Visit Transnistria: The breakaway state that's in the Champions League If you’re looking to visit somewhere really off-the-beaten-track, the self-declared independent state of Transnistria should have you fumbling for your passport. 11/11/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe How Ukraine's Soviet legacy is helping derail its COVID fightback Just 14% of Ukraine's population has been vaccinated. With COVID infections increasingly sharply, there are fears of a tough winter ahead. 25/10/2021
Now playing Next no comment Russians celebrate 65 years of the Volga GAZ-21 Russians have taken to the streets in an old Volga GAZ-21 in celebration of the car's 65th anniversary. 11/10/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe Why has it taken Moldova so long to shake off its Soviet legacy? It's exactly 30 years since Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union. 27/08/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe It's 30 years since the failed coup to oust Soviet leader Gorbachev The world held its breath 30 years ago when a group of senior Communist officials attempted to oust Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and flooded Moscow with tanks. The August coup collapsed after just three days and precipitated the breakup of the Soviet Union. 19/08/2021
Now playing Next People Ukraine’s Soviet mosaics are more than just old propaganda Soviet mosaics in Ukraine were neglected after the end of the USSR. Now artists and locals are trying to restore this important piece of Ukraine’s art history. 28/06/2021
Now playing Next Czech Republic Czech town Milovice marks 30 years since withdrawal of Soviet troops The former Soviet military base has marked the moment with a parade of floats reconstructing this important moment in its history. 28/06/2021