For more than ten years, Ukrainian affairs have continually drawn the attention of Borja Lasheras, a principal researcher at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). His work there, and his frequent movements between Spain and Ukraine, brought him not only policy lessons but also friendships, stories, and a sense of finding more than one place to call home.
He describes a double life—one foot in Spain and the other in Ukraine. It feels strange, he says, because a different Ukraine has emerged. When you step there, the sky becomes a daily reminder that life may depend on it.
All these experiences are chronicled in Ukraine Station (KO Books, 2022), a portrait of the country before Russia’s 2022 invasion that shifted geopolitics and touched millions worldwide. Even as the toll climbs into tens of thousands of deaths, the text argues that the conflict has already altered Ukraine forever. And it is a change Lasheras has not imprisoned within the pages of his latest book.
This work is not a journalistic chronicle or a war diary. It’s a documentary shaped by Ukrainians and the author, tracing what Ukraine could become if the war were halted and if the country could maintain its path forward. Zelensky appears as a pivotal figure—viewed by Lasheras as a capable leader who never sought war. The European Union is a central reference point, while a revival of hero-worship emerges in a society determined to pivot away from a Soviet legacy.
Question: Ukraine caught you long before the invasion.
Answer: Lasheras does not claim to be a war historian. He often reaches conflicts ahead of or behind their defining moments. He arrived late to the 2014 fighting and early for the 2022 crisis, recently returning from a stay around the time the book was prepared. The book is not a simple conflict chronicle but an effort to listen to Ukrainians through years of exploration. It isn’t nostalgia, yet it carries a melancholy because some figures appear at the front or have since disappeared.
Question: How many memories can this war erase?
Answer: Many friends remain on lists that could trigger danger, and entire districts lie in ruins. Kyiv remains shielded by its air defenses, while cities like Mariupol have suffered catastrophic destruction. Before the war, discussions about ecological projects or curbing oligarchs seemed possible; since then, priorities have shifted. Homes where people gathered in Kharkiv were razed, as were other favorite places that became battlegrounds.
Question: What exactly attracted you to Ukraine?
Answer: In 2015, a country came alive with diverse currents—democratization efforts, a lingering Soviet imprint, war narratives, and radical ideas all coexisting. Kyiv resembled a cultural renaissance, a nightlife energy reminiscent of post-reunification Berlin, a thriving cultural scene amid ongoing conflict. Russia’s pressure was constant, but the country pressed forward with resilience.
Question: How was Ukraine on the streets before this year’s invasion?
Answer: Ukraine appeared as a mosaic, continually striving toward a brighter European path while grappling with internal tensions. A clear European aspiration persisted, along with a desire to leave the Soviet past behind. The mood hinted at modernization, even as the country wrestled with persistent challenges.
Question: Was the European project a factor at that time?
Answer: The pull toward Europe was strong, yet not the sole explanation. Ukrainians have long associated Europe with freedom and contrast to Russia. The EU represented opportunity, though there were real frictions, such as visa delays that prompted some to rethink their options.
Question: Why did the effort falter?
Answer: Putin’s February 24 act interrupted a process he foresaw ending in a different direction. The imperial logic of Russia was exposed as more Ukrainians shed Soviet nostalgia and leaned toward Europe. The shift had been underway for years, even before the invasion.
Question: Does the initial surge of enthusiasm collapse when war starts?
Answer: The author feared a collapse, yet many characters endure. Ukraine remains alive, pursuing potential EU membership, and readers witness a culture of heroism and united purpose that persists despite hardship.
Question: Does Zelensky fit this new reality well? Has the view changed?
Answer: The author recalls watching from Moncloa as Zelensky rose, a leader from modest beginnings who faced down Putin’s miscalculations. He is seen as pragmatic, willing to seek mediation when needed, and deeply committed to his people. Ukrainians appreciate the resolve that has defined his leadership.
Question: What will war change in the consciousness of citizens?
Answer: The country bears deep scars from a protracted resistance. Yet the image of the wealthy fleeing borders hints at future questions about what remains when the conflict ends. It’s a national tragedy that will shape collective memory for years to come.
Question: In which direction will this war take the author?
Answer: Support for Europe is clear but not uniform. Polls show a nuanced stance toward the EU. The hoped-for separation from Russia includes breaking cultural, religious, and linguistic ties, depending on how the war concludes. The trajectory remains dependent on events yet to unfold.