I am Mariam Naiem, a Ukrainian of Afghan origin. I have a degree in cultural studies, and I speak, teach, and write on topics of culture.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I have been trying to make the broad English-speaking community understand the cultural context of the Russian war in Ukraine. In particular, I aim to bring understanding of the colonial and racial aspects and practices of Russian culture with respect to Ukraine and other peoples colonized by Russia. I also work on decolonizing the discourse on Ukraine in order to center Ukrainian voices and de-center Russian and pro-Russian imperialist narratives. I aim to be a bridge between English-speaking audiences and Ukrainians due to my personal experiences with Ukrainian and Western cultures.

This website currently serves as an index of selected pieces of writing. I am most active on these social networks:

• 📸 mariaaamnaiem on Instagram
• 🐦 mariamposts on Twitter