The Other Ukraine

A Ukrainian political organization registered in Russia, led by oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, the former leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party and the Ukrainian Choice movement, who is accused of treason in Ukraine. The organization also has a branch in Serbia.

According to journalists from "Scheme" (Radio Liberty), the The Other Ukraine movement is being joined by refugees from Ukraine to Russia: political commentators from television channels closed in Ukraine, local council members from the Opposition Platform – For Life party, and political strategists accused of treason and separatism in Ukraine.

In January 2023, following the exchange of Viktor Medvedchuk, accused of treason in Ukraine, for Ukrainian soldiers from the Azov Regiment, Medvedchuk gave an interview to the Russian television channel RT. In the interview, Medvedchuk stated that he was creating a new political movement in Russia, the goal of which was to "debunk the idea that Ukraine is monolithic in its views." After announcing his intention to create the movement, Medvedchuk began appearing in the Russian information space through social media and television channels.

In late July 2023, journalists from the "Schemes" project (Radio Liberty) discovered that the public movement "Regional Public Movement "For the Development of Civil Society 'Another Ukraine'" had been established and registered in June 2023. Denys Zharkikh has become the Chairman of the organization's Executive Committee, and Viktor Medvedchuk is the Chairman of the Movement's Council, according to the Other Ukraine Facebook page. Zharkikh previously participated in the activities of Medvedchuk's "Ukrainian Choice" movement.

The Other Ukraine holds public events in Russia that Radio Liberty journalists describe as anti-Ukrainian. Specifically, on 19 July, a roundtable discussion entitled "Ukrainian Russophobia: Origins and Mechanisms for Overcoming" was held at the Solzhenitsyn House of Russia Abroad. The Other Ukraine page states that "Medvedchuk's article 'Two Ukraines as a New Political Reality' served as the basis for the discussions."

In September 2023, Medvedchuk outlined three conditions for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. In his opinion, "it is necessary for the West to recognize the interests and sovereignty of countries that are not part of it, to understand the priority of human life over any political interests, and to build a new security system."

Medvedchuk claims that today's Ukrainian state "has turned into a Frankenstein creation, hating all living and natural things, wanting to destroy peace on the planet." According to Medvedchuk, "peace and prosperity have been taken away from Ukrainians because the Zelenskyy government is unwilling to admit its mistakes and lies to its voters." Medvedchuk believes that Ukraine can overcome all existing challenges if it unites with Belarus and Russia, "who are close to it in spirit."

Medvedchuk also supports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in its religious conflict with the Ukrainian authorities and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Leader: Viktor Medvedchuk (January 2023 – present)

Executive head: Denis Zharkikh (9 June 2023 – 2 October 2023), Roman Kovalenko (2 October 2023 – 19 March 2026), Kamil Kirpichev (19 March 2026 – present)