iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

LONDON — 11 DAYS TO GO 🇺🇦 #HowNOTtoFleeaWar is coming to #HollandPark on Sunday 4 October. From the Senedd and Aviva Studios to universities, museums and festivals across the UK — now it’s #London’s turn.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Who on here is reading me from #London? This one is for you! On Sunday, October 4, my partner Jez and I are finally bringing our #HowNOTtoFleeaWar show to the capital!

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

One of the questions I get asked most often in radio and TV interviews these days is whether #Ukraine should hold presidential elections before the war is over.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Waking up at 4:30am is made much better by getting to cuddle these three alpacas. 🦙🦙🦙 Sure, that BBC Radio Manchester interview I did at 7:20am was great, but HAVE YOU SEEN THESE CUTIES??!!!

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One day I will think about Ukraine and my mind won’t automatically spring to danger and war. I will think about home and what it means to me. 1/5

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

1/ You should know by now that if I’m going in front of a camera something important is happening! Lots of new #hownottofleeawar shows to announce, including our first #London event! Want to attend that one? Message me. Here’s a full list of upcoming shows:

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Congratulations to @bevcraig.bsky.social, the new duly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #Manchester #gmelects #GreaterManchester

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Thank you so much for attending, @snitsova.bsky.social ! What a night it was with 200 people in the audience 😍

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

1/ MANCHESTER, are you ready??? One week to go until Jez and I bring #HowNOTtoFleeaWar to Aviva Studios as the centrepiece event of #RefugeeWeek in #Manchester. All 200 tickets have now been snapped up (someone pinch me), but walk-ins are welcome, subject to available space.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

When I bought this scarf, I hoped there would be a time and place to wear it. And look — now is the time, and this is the place! 💙💛 #EnglandvsUkraine #Ukraine #HillDickinson

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

1/5 A fortuitous coincidence that today is #JournalistDay in #Ukraine and this week is #VolunteersWeek in the UK. 4 years ago, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport highlighted my volunteering work for Ukraine. Since then, I’ve received the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister…

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

What the hell has happened — we’ve sold out Aviva Studios in #Manchester!!! All 200 tickets gone just like that, with 2 weeks to go till showtime! This is incredible. But fret not, there’s still a way to get involved, so read on 👇🏻

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

1/ April was probably the busiest month of my life. It turned out that almost all of May was needed to recover from it 😬 But I’m finally feeling like myself again, and I’m ready to share what’s coming up this month with my and my partner Jez’s How NOT to Flee a War talk tour 👇

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Exactly 29 years ago, on May 24, 1997, the very first McDonald’s in #Ukraine opened its doors in #Kyiv. In the early hours of May 24, 2026, that same #McDonalds was destroyed in a #Russia n attack. One of the countless places shattered overnight in my hometown.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

1/ On Sunday, my partner Jez and I spoke at the #LewesSpeakersFestival near Brighton. We were invited to close the entire festival, following speakers such as Liam Byrne MP & Johnny Teague PhD. Which still feels slightly surreal, considering they are all serious people with proper books published!

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

BIG UPDATEEEE, south of England folk: I am nearly in #Lewes as I am headlining #LewesSpeakersFestival tomorrow. May 10, Sunday, 6:50pm. Don’t tell me you’ve got better things to do than to listen to a story that will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you know about…

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

How NOT to Flee a War is heading to #Warrington next! If you live in or near Warrington, get yourself a free ticket here to hear our story of escape from Russia’s full-scale invasion and what happens once you’re physically safe. Wed, March 11, 6:30-8pm bookwhen.com/westbrookfri...

bookwhen.com

FREE TALK - How not to flee a war - Booking by Bookwhen

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Shwmae from #Cardiff, the capital of Cymru! Really looking forward to delivering our How Not to Flee a War talk at the Welsh Parliament tomorrow afternoon, followed by a talk at Le Pub in #Newport! Come see me and my partner Jez at one of the two — drop me a line and I’ll give more info.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

An anniversary we never wanted to mark. A date we never wanted to remember. Four years since #Russia launched its full-scale invasion of #Ukraine. For every Ukrainian, life split into “before” and “after”.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

“Memory is a verb” is a phrase I first heard in a speech given by a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl Anna. It stuck with me — because memory doesn’t live on its own. We have to do something for it. 🧵⬇️

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Why expectations around the upcoming Ukraine–US–Russia talks remain very modest in Ukraine. #Russia hasn’t shifted its position, attacks continue during winter, and #Ukraine is negotiating under pressure. From my interview on BBC Radio Ulster this morning ⬇️

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

What #Ukraine actually needs for peace. Talks only work when they’re backed by pressure, enforcement, and real security — not just announcements. @bbc5live.bsky.social | Part 2 of 2

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Talks don’t work when one side is negotiating under pressure and the other feels it can wait. Peace only works when #Ukraine goes into negotiations from a position of strength — and that’s not what’s happening right now. Part 1 of today’s @bbc5live.bsky.social interview.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

🧵1/ Last month, I led a private walking tour of #Manchester. It wasn’t just about history — it was about helping #Ukraine. Together with Europia charity and one participant’s extra donation, we raised £140 to support the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre in #Lviv.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

#Ukraine is freezing. –15°C outside. Around 5°C inside apartments. People move from café to café just to warm up. At home, there’s no heat, no power, no way to live normally.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

On @bbc5live.bsky.social last night: Intent is welcome — but without guarantees, it doesn’t equal security. #Ukraine needs weapons, real sanctions, and for #Russia to stop being treated as a good-faith actor.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Just before Christmas, I spoke on @lbc.co.uk about how #Ukraine was heading into the holidays — with some relief, but also fear and no illusion that the war would pause for #Christmas. Half-measures don’t end wars. They make them drag on.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Ukrainians spend 16 hrs without electricity every day and have their friends & family killed. But they don’t want to live under r**sian occupation as that would invite more violence. Europe needs to understand that. My @bbc5live.bsky.social int w @connorphillips.bsky.social #ukraine #Trump #russia

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Ukrainians don’t want to hear yet another stream of encouraging words. We want more weapons, sanctions on russia, and for russia to go home. My interview on @bbc5live.bsky.social with @connorphillips.bsky.social last night. #Ukraine #russia #trump

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Yesterday on @bbc5live.bsky.social with @connorphillips.bsky.social on the #Trump merry-go-round #Ukraine is tired of finding itself on. Every time badly designed, unworkable ‘solutions’ designed to bully us into capitulation. A ‘peace plan’ so bad it might as well have been written in #moscow.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Last night, Russia hit my district in #Kyiv —Podil —3 times. Too close to home. My heart aches for everyone whose homes were damaged, for the injured, and for those who lost loved ones. It’s horrifying that this is still happening nearly 4 years into the full-scale invasion. #RussiaIsATerroristState

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Honoured to receive a Certificate of Gratitude from 🇺🇦 Ambassador General Valerii Zaluzhnyi at the Stronger Together forum in #London — recognition of my work supporting Ukrainians in the UK and beyond 💛💙 #Ukraine

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Proud to present All For Ukraine’s community work at the #StrongerTogether forum by British-Ukrainian Aid and the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK. If you’re near Holland Park today, come say hi and discover more about mine and Jez Myers’s award-winning initiatives 💛💙 #London #Ukraine

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

On my way to #London for the first-ever #Ukraine Forum, organised by British-Ukrainian Aid and the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK 🇺🇦🇬🇧 Excited to share our story and the work of All For Ukraine over the next two days 💛💙 (with Pes Patron in tow as a symbol of resilience 🐾)

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

I am in #Kyiv, #Ukraine. In a spectacular fashion only I could manage, I slept through all the explosions. Kyivans I’ve spoken with today had a sleepless night.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Last night in #Kyiv I asked a friend: “Do you think it’ll be bomby tonight?” He said: “Of course it’ll be bomby.” Me: “No, I mean… extra bomby.” This is what passes for small talk in wartime Kyiv. #Ukraine

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Breakfast one moment, explosions the next. That’s life in #Kyiv — and somehow, even so, I’m just worried about being late to the dentist.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

One of the craziest yet most accurate photos of life in #Ukraine since 2022: Two young women calmly getting their hair done in a #Kyiv salon, minutes after it was damaged by a russian missile. Because life goes on. 📸 Ivan Antypenko / Suspilne News

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

A fantastic show of solidarity from Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge for Ukraine’s Independence Day today. Scotland stands with Ukraine 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦 Slava Ukraini! Happy Independence Day of #Ukraine!

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

I am in #Edinburgh for the next couple of days. Does anyone know of any Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations in the city? I couldn’t find anything apart from an opera concert. Also, if anyone is here too, give me a shout. I will have some free time 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Happy Day of the National Flag of #Ukraine! Colours of freedom 💛💙

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Ceding land to #Russia is just waiting for the next war. 2014 proved it: giving up #Crimea only paved the way for the 2022 invasion. My answer on #BBCBreakfast👇🏻 #Ukraine

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

#Russia must go home — and pay for what it’s done. And when the #BBCBreakfast presenter asked me if I’ll go back to #Ukraine one day, my answer was a resounding yes — before she even finished the question.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Me on BBC Breakfast this morning: Talks in #Washington may sound optimistic – but #Russia tortured & killed my journalist friends Maks Levin and Victoria Roshchyna. No paper signed in DC will erase that reality, or #Moscow’s imperialism. #Ukraine #BBCBreakfast

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

It was great to join Stephen Nolan on @bbc5live.bsky.social as the Alaska summit was unfolding. In hindsight, it turned out exactly as many feared — more spectacle than substance. #Ukraine #Russia

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Thanks to @lbc.co.uk and @natashadevon.bsky.social for having me on to discuss the Trump–Putin talks. My main message: ceding land doesn’t save lives, it rewards killing. Ukrainians are fighting for sovereignty, not to be pushed into an imperialism deal. #Ukraine #Russia

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

I’m appalled that the Royal Opera House & Royal Ballet plan to host Anna Netrebko—tied to Putin & the Russian state—while #Ukraine is under daily attack. I joined others in an open letter in @theguardian.com urging them to reconsider. Read here and please share: www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

theguardian.com

The Royal Ballet and Opera must reconsider its invitation to Anna Netrebko | Letter

Letters: The Russian singer is symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime that is responsible for serious war crimes in Ukraine, say co-signatories including Sergiy Kyslytsya, Andriy Kurkov, Helen Cla...

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

🧵on Ukraine, Russia, and Trump 1/ I am aghast at the suggestion that #Ukraine should cede land in exchange for yet another Russian “promise” not to invade again. #Russia has broken every such promise before. Why trust the aggressor now?

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

My wonderfully brave and incredibly dedicated former colleague, Victoria Roshchyna, was buried in #Kyiv, #Ukraine today. Kidnapped by the russians whilst on duty working as a journalist, then tortured until death in a russian prison.

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Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

🇺🇦From Wembley — to your headphones I spent the week in #London reporting on the #UsykDubois2 fight for @telegraphnews.bsky.social’s #Ukraine podcast, capturing the voices of fans, fighters & journalists. 🎙️🥊 🎧 My 10-minute report starts at 38:19: youtu.be/7q_GTHMpMRw&...

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