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Bolt has permanently banned a female taxi driver who insulted Ukrainian women in Milan
The Bolt taxi service has permanently banned a Russian-speaking female driver from its app after she insulted and used foul language towards Ukrainian female passengers in Milan. This was reported by representatives of Bolt. “The safety of all users is our absolute priority. The behaviour shown in the video is unacceptable and incompatible with Bolt’s standards. We take reports of discriminatory and hateful behaviour extremely seriously and investigate every such case thoroughly,” the company stated. As a reminder, a high-profile incident took place in Milan a few days ago. After the journey had ended, a Russian-speaking female taxi driver began to insult two Ukrainian women, using foul language and xenophobic remarks. In particular, she shouted offensive phrases such as “sluts” and “immigrants”, and displayed openly aggressive behaviour. A video of the altercation quickly went viral on social media and caused a widespread public outcry. Anna Danylyuk, who had previously spoken about the incident on social media, confirmed that the company had informed her of the results of their investigation, reimbursed her travel expenses and offered her discount codes for future orders. She added that they had not reported the driver’s behaviour to the police because her “time in Milan was limited”.
‘Sluts, you’ve all turned up here’: a Russian-speaking female taxi driver in Milan insulted Ukrainian women
An unfortunate incident stemming from linguistic animosity took place in Milan. Two Ukrainian women claimed they were subjected to verbal abuse by a Russian-speaking taxi driver after their journey had ended. The incident was reported by the Instagram channel Kyivbreaking, which also published a video of the altercation. According to the women who filmed the video, they did not speak to the driver at any point during the journey, but only spoke to each other in Ukrainian. At the end of the journey, one of the passengers thanked the driver by saying ‘Thank you’. It was immediately after this, the Ukrainian women claim, that the driver began to speak aggressively, using foul language and offensive gestures. “Throughout the entire journey, nobody spoke to the driver, Tetyana; we spoke to each other in Ukrainian. At the end of the journey, as we were getting out of the car, my friend said ‘thank you’, to which we received a response consisting of insults, swear words and gestures. The video shows only a fragment that I managed to film. Before that, there were a great many offensive words and gestures. We were in shock,” said the authors of the video. In the published recording, the driver can be heard shouting offensive remarks at the Ukrainian women, including: “You’re driving me mad, Ukrainian women,” and “Sluts, you’ve all turned up here.” There is currently no information as to whether the victims have lodged a complaint with the police or the taxi service. UA Service Hub reminds readers that in Italy, as in other EU countries, insults, discrimination or harassment on the grounds of nationality may constitute grounds for reporting the matter to the police or the service provider’s management if the incident occurred whilst the service was being provided. If you have been the victim of such behaviour, it is important to preserve evidence (videos, photos, journey details) and report the incident to the relevant authorities.
‘Literature is also a weapon’: Ukrainian writer wins prestigious award in Italy
Ukrainian writer Yaryna Hrusha has been awarded one of Italy’s most prestigious literary prizes — the Viareggio-Versilia International Prize, which forms part of the prestigious Viareggio-Répaci Prize. The award ceremony took place in the seaside town of Viareggio on the Tyrrhenian coast. Over the years, this international award has been presented to outstanding figures in the world of culture, including Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass and the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. This year, the jury honoured Yaryna Hrusha ‘for her significant contribution to the dissemination and promotion of Ukrainian culture in Italy and Europe, as well as for her literary work, which combines memory, identity and civic testimony’. Special mention was made of her novel *The Blue Photo Album*, which explores themes of memory, personal stories and the search for identity. During the ceremony, the writer thanked the award’s president, Paolo Mieli, the members of the jury, the Bompiani publishing house and the editor, Giulia Ikino. In her speech, she emphasised the symbolic significance of receiving the award in Viareggio — the town where the world-famous Ukrainian opera singer Solomiya Krushelnytska lived from 1915 to 1939. “Being here today means that, despite all attempts to destroy, erase and silence it, Ukrainian culture has survived thanks to courageous people,” noted Yaryna Hrusha. The writer dedicated her award to Ukrainian authors who died during the war, to those who were forced to take up arms instead of a pen, and to those who continue to fight with words. “Literature is also a weapon,” she concluded, ending her speech with the words: “Glory to Ukraine!” The Viareggio-Rèpaci Prize, established in 1929, is considered one of Italy’s most prestigious literary awards. It is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in prose, poetry, essay writing, journalism, literary debuts and international cultural activities. Yaryna Hrusha was born in Ukraine. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology, specialising in literary studies and translation. For many years, she has been working at the intersection of Ukrainian and Italian cultures, engaging in translation, literary projects and cultural diplomacy.
Ukrainian singer YAMARYNA has released a new music video filmed in Naples
Ukrainian singer YAMARYNA has released a new music video for the song ‘Vidchuvayu’. According to UA Service HUB, the music video was filmed in Naples — one of the most colourful cities in southern Italy, which has become an important part of the artist’s personal history. Following the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, the singer moved to Italy, where she continues to pursue her creative endeavours and develop her musical career. According to the singer, the song ‘Vidchuvayu’ is dedicated to genuine emotions and the ability to hold on to hope even during the most difficult periods of life. The music video is now available on the singer’s official YouTube channel and marks a new creative chapter in the artist’s career, as she continues to represent Ukrainian music abroad. Listen to the track on all platforms: The single ‘Vidchuvayu’ is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music and Deezer: https://social.tunecor. The following people worked on the release: • Videographer: @anastasia.video.alikas (©/anastasia.video.alikas) MUA/HAIR - @•/ m.olga.muh Lyrics: Serhii Pashchenko Music: Arturo Mass @ / mass_productionua Music Production (mixing & mastering): Mass Production.
Republic Day: free entry to Italy's national museums
On Tuesday, 2 June 2026, Italy will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Republic Day. To mark the occasion, the country’s Ministry of Culture is offering free admission to all state museums, archaeological parks, monuments and villas. These include the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery in Florence, the National Art Gallery of Bologna, the Royal Palace of Caserta, Pompeii, the Royal Palace of Naples, the Colosseum and the Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome, Ostia Antica and the Villa d’Este in Tivoli. According to UA service HUB, free tickets can be obtained at the museum ticket office on the day of your visit or via online booking. For example, the Royal Palace of Caserta has made a number of tickets available on the TicketOne platform from 26 May. You can also use the Musei Italiani portal or the app of the same name. A list of state-run sites participating in the Festa della Repubblica initiative on 2 June is available on the Ministry of Culture’s website. Please note that on Sunday 7 June, admission to Italy’s national museums will also be free.
Ukrainian community in Italy is invited to meet the new Ambassador of Ukraine
The Embassy of Ukraine in Italy invites the Ukrainian community to a meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador, Ihor Brusyl. The event will take place on 18 April 2026 in Rome. Representatives of the Ukrainian community in Italy and leaders of Ukrainian associations are invited to attend. The meeting is organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy. The main aim of the event is to facilitate dialogue between the new Ambassador and the Ukrainian community, as well as to discuss current issues regarding cooperation, support and the development of Ukrainian initiatives in Italy. 📥 To take part in the event, you must pre-register by completing the online form: 👉 https://forms.gle/Au4RSsEnAkNaXqwf7 Registration is mandatory for all participants. The invitation is addressed to: • representatives of Ukrainian associations in Italy • activists and volunteers • representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora • civil society organisations. Such meetings are an important part of cooperation between diplomatic missions and the Ukrainian community abroad. They help to strengthen communication, coordinate joint projects and support Ukrainians in Italy. 📍 Date and venue 📅 Date: 18 April 2026 🕒 Time: 15:00 📌 Venue: Rome, Italy (the exact location will be announced in due course).
Italy tightens control over cash
Financial oversight of cash transactions is being stepped up in Italy. Banks, in collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza, are monitoring ATM withdrawals, large transactions and customers’ financial behaviour more closely.The aim of these measures is to combat tax evasion, money laundering and the shadow economy. 💳 What exactly are banks monitoring? According to UA Service HUB, financial institutions in Italy are using automated risk analysis systems. The following transactions may attract attention: -large or regular cash withdrawals over the course ofa month - frequent withdrawals of small amounts over a short period- atypical activity (e.g., withdrawals at night or in series) - discrepanciesbetween expenditure and officially declared income. ⚠️ Important: there are no ‘automatic penalties’ Acommon myth is that there are clear limits such as ‘€10,000 = investigation’ or ‘€1,000 at an ATM = suspicion’. In reality, the system works differently: - banks do not penalise automatically - there isno fixed ‘prohibited’ threshold for withdrawals -decisions are based on risk analysis and the context of transactions. Financial monitoring takes place in several stages: - the bank records all thecustomer’s transactions - algorithmsanalyse financial behaviour - suspicious transactions are flagged as “risky”- if necessary, the data is forwarded to the Guardia di Finanza. An investigation may then be launched. 🧾 An investigation may be initiated if: - expenditure does not match declared income-there are regular abnormal cashmovements- there are signs of hidden economic activity.
Ukrainian karaoke evening in Naples: how it happens (video)
Naples sounded in Ukrainian. It’s an evening where the voice becomes home, and strangers become friends. Where they sing as if no one is listening… and at the same time – as if the whole world is hearing. Watch this video – it captures the entire atmosphere of the Ukrainian karaoke evening: a bit of nostalgia, a lot of freedom, and genuine emotions without filters. Let us remind you, in Naples a warm and soulful tradition has already formed – once a month, Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine gather together to spend an evening of karaoke. The Ukrainian karaoke takes place in the popular pub Miseria e Nobiltà Vomero, located in the Vomero district, and the initiative belongs to Ukrainian women from the Lalla club community. This place has already become a kind of magnet for those who wish to spend an evening in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. The informational support for the event is provided by the CRASA aps association together with the UA Service HUB platform, which actively promotes the development of the Ukrainian community abroad.
It has become a tradition: an evening of Ukrainian karaoke was organized in Naples.
In the very heart of Naples, a warm and soulful tradition has formed — once a month, Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine gather together to spend an evening of karaoke. This is not just entertainment, but a special space of unity where everyone can feel closer to home. Far from their homeland, it is especially important to hear their native language, sing familiar songs from childhood, and feel the support of people who share your culture, memories, and emotions. Such meetings create an atmosphere of true community, where new acquaintances are born and friendships are strengthened. The Ukrainian karaoke takes place in the popular pub Miseria e Nobiltà Vomero, located in the Vomero district, and the initiative belongs to Ukrainian women from the Lalla club community. This place has already become a kind of magnet for those who wish to spend an evening in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. After two evenings, true favorites of the audience can be highlighted. The most popular songs are about the Ukrainian berry: “One viburnum outside the window” and “Oh in the meadow, the red viburnum” — compositions that particularly unite the guests and create a sense of community and strength. The informational support for the event is provided by the association CRASA aps together with the platform UA Service HUB, which actively promote the development of the Ukrainian community abroad. Such evenings are more than just songs. They are about the home we create together, even while being far from it.