Lorenzo Pallavicini for Caffè Geopolitico interviews Dmytro Nikiforov, founder of War Tour Ukraine (https://wartours.in.ua/en/), a project carried on by a young and brilliant team of ukranian people whose aim is to preserve the memory of war crimes committed by russian army during the invasion of the country. They are carrying people and foreigners in the places where these crimes happened and although Russian propaganda is hard to be defeated, due to projects like War Tour Ukraine it can emerge the truth and the real reasons behind the war. War Tourism in Ukraine is not for all and it’s strictly linked to the remembrance of the victims and the construction of a new memory for Ukraine.Caffè Geopolitico thanks Dmytro and the War Tour Ukraine association for their availability and courtesy.
Do you have any plan to involve any European association to promote a shared culture of memory and human rights, like it has been happening in other european nations which experienced the Soviet Union’s regime?
We have plans to involve the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine to collaborate with European associations in promoting a shared culture of memory and human rights. We are already in communication with them and hope for their support in this initiative. However, it would be challenging for us to implement such large-scale projects independently, as they require not only financial resources but also political backing.
Media’s attention for the war in Ukraine could decrease in the future, a risk that could benefit Putin, undermining the considerable efforts made by the Ukrainian government and its citizens to convince the West and the world of the importance of this conflict. In your opinion, how it can be avoided this threat?
One of the biggest risks Ukraine faces is the decline of media attention, which could benefit Russia’s narrative. The most effective way to counter this is through continuous engagement in the global information space, through personal stories, documentaries, international exhibitions, and war tourism itself. War tourism allows foreign visitors to witness the consequences of war firsthand, which makes them powerful advocates for truth in their own countries. Personal experiences and direct observations are much more effective than news reports in conveying the reality of Ukraine’s situation.
Additionally, we believe that expanding cooperation with international journalists, bloggers, and historians will help keep Ukraine relevant on the global agenda. Countries like Poland and the Baltic states have successfully preserved the memory of past conflicts through education and international collaborations, and Ukraine should follow a similar approach.
War between Ukraine and Russia is also a conflict of information, in which the Russian Government’s propaganda aims to make inroads into European citizens, in order to obscure the experiences told by Ukrainian citizens. Which measures do you consider to be the most effective to contrast Russian disinformation?
Russian propaganda relies on manipulation and distortion of facts, making transparency and access to reliable sources the most effective tools to counter it. War tourism plays a crucial role in this, as it creates independent witnesses who can share their observations with the world.
Furthermore, documentary projects, investigative journalism, and independent media platforms must be actively supported to expose Russian disinformation. Encouraging citizen journalism and ensuring international media have firsthand access to Ukraine’s realities will help discredit false narratives.
Combining an activity such as tourism with war may seem like a gamble. However, War Tour Ukraine has become an operator that plays a significant role in the culture of memory of conflict’s victims. How can you succeed in making a balance between the curiosity of visitors and the respect for the memory of the victims who suffered the Russian invasion?
Balancing the curiosity of visitors with respect for the memory of war victims is fundamental to our approach. Our tours are built on education and commemoration, not sensationalism. Visitors are not just here to see ruins, but to understand the war’s impact, the resilience of Ukrainian people, and the global significance of the conflict.
We work closely with local communities to ensure that tours are conducted respectfully. There is no theatrical element, only real stories told by those who lived through them. Every tour is designed to provide historical context, personal narratives, and a deeper understanding of the consequences of war.
Many times people feel a morbid attraction to horror and go to places of war without thinking about how much suffering has occurred. How can you filter people who intend to join your guided tours so that only the ones with good intentions and respect can take part?
We do not conduct mass tours, and we carefully screen visitors’ intentions before confirming bookings. Before each trip, we clearly explain ethical guidelines that must be followed. If we have concerns about a person’s motivation, we reserve the right to refuse their booking.
Most of our visitors are journalists, researchers, historians, and individuals who genuinely want to understand Ukraine and share its reality with the world. We also work with local communities, and if they express discomfort with media presence in certain areas, we respect their wishes. War tourism should inform, not entertain, and that is a principle we strictly adhere to.
There are millions of families in Russia and Ukraine who are connected to each other. The war and the Russian invasion have put one against the other. Could there be a possible reconciliation in the future between people involved in this conflict, passing through a shared memory of the atrocities committed?
I believe reconciliation is possible only after Russia admits its crimes, brings those responsible for war crimes to justice and pays reparations to Ukraine. At the moment, the answer is simple. Ukrainians cannot ‘share’ the memory of the war with Russians, because for Ukrainians it is a struggle for survival, and for Russians it is a consequence of their country’s policy.
Europe is seen by young Ukrainians as a promised land, where they can build a future of life and work. For many years, thousands of Ukrainians have been flocking to European countries in search of a better future. In your opinion, what measures should EU take, apart from the post war’s reconstruction, to create working and living conditions in Ukraine for the young Ukrainians?
In order for young people to stay in Ukraine, we need not only reconstruction, but also economic development prospects. Will there be financial incentives for entrepreneurs and investment, and the creation of conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses? If so, there will be jobs for young people. If there is access to the EU labour market for Ukrainian specialists, this will allow young professionals to gain experience and then return to Ukraine.
Ukrainian youth see a future in Europe, but the main goal is for Ukrainians not only to go to Europe to study or work, but also to see the point of building their lives at home.
Lorenzo Pallavicini
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